Provides consumer information, referrals and informal complaint resolution services for consumer complaints involving unfair and deceptive business practices.  
Assistance includes informal complaint resolution and help directing inquiries and contacts to the appropriate agencies for assistance. 
Also provides consumer education through online and written materials and speakers who are able to address a variety of consumer protection issues. 
Topics include:
-  Identity theft a private lawsuit may be necessary
-  Debt management 
-  Refund rights  
-  Scams 
-  Foreclosure 
-  Student loans  
Offers options if the business disagrees with the complaint. Cannot compel a firm to resolve a complaint. Options:
-  Bring a legal action, such as in Small Claims Court. 
-  A private lawsuit may be necessary if the amount claimed is over the limit handled by Small Claims Court. The state Consumer Protection Act allows the plantiff to recover the costs of bringing suit, including attorney’s fees if the suit is successful.

Consumer Resource Center offered by Washington State Attorney General's Office in Seattle

Provides informal complaint resolution services for consumer complaints about businesses in Washington state. Offers information on topics such as identity theft, debt management, refund rights, scams, foreclosures, and student loans.

Programs such as local consumer complaints offices that respond to a range of consumer issues rather than specializing in handling a particular type of complaint. These programs register complaints by consumers and, when possible, attempt to find a satisfactory resolution.

General Consumer Complaints

Programs that attempt to reduce the incidence of identity theft by making people aware of the means by which thieves obtain the personal information they use to assume another's identity and steps that can be taken to protect that information. Suggestions include regularly reviewing credit reports for fraudulent accounts; destroying important papers including pre-approved credit applications and credit card receipts using a crosscut shredder; taking care at ATM machines and in other public venues that there are no observers stealing PIN numbers or eavesdroppers recording information provided orally; picking up new checks rather than having them mailed home; omitting telephone numbers from checks; mailing bill payments from a post box rather than a home mailbox; regularly monitoring bank statements; and other similar precautions. Identity theft occurs when someone fraudulently obtains private information about an individual, e.g., his or her Social Security number, uses it to apply for credit in that person's name, runs up large bills and then disappears without paying the bills leaving the victim with ruined credit. Identity thieves may also purchase expensive medical services in the victim's name or give the victim's name and personal information to a law enforcement officer during an investigation or upon arrest leaving the individual vulnerable to large medical bills or subject to arrest.

Identity Theft Prevention

Programs that provide a hotline, website or other mechanisms that consumers can use to report the activities of telephone and Internet scammers and other con artists who attempt to persuade older adults, individuals who live alone, disaster victims and other vulnerable people to part with their savings. Common scams include fraudulent prize offers, "free" travel packages that have hidden costs or which never materialize, "get rich quick" investments that turn out to be worthless, tax debt/refund scams, phony charities with names that are similar to well-known organizations and schemes involving promises to recover an individual's money following their victimization by another scam. Reports may be filed by consumer fraud victims or by people who have information about individuals they know to be perpetrating these types of scams.

Consumer Fraud Reporting

Consumer protection offices that are part of federal, state, county or city governments which receive, investigate and resolve through direct action or referral to law enforcement or regulatory agencies, consumer complaints that are a result of transactions in the marketplace.  Most government consumer affairs offices also publish and disseminate a large selection of consumer education materials, initiate studies to improve standards of conduct for businesses and consumers, and analyze and recommend changes in consumer protection legislation.

Government Consumer Protection Agencies

Programs that provide information about government offices and services that interested individuals can access on a website or in person, or by telephone, email, chat, text or other communication channel. In some cases, assistance is available to help identify and locate an appropriate office.

Government Information Services

The chief law officer for the state who supervises the legal affairs of the state, provides legal counsel to the administrators of state government and to county legal officers, supervises the activities of law enforcement agencies, has supervisory authority over county district attorneys and serves as the chief legal counsel in all litigation involving the state. While varying from one jurisdiction to the next due to statutory and constitutional mandates, typical powers of the Attorneys General include the authority to issue formal opinions to state agencies; act as public advocates in areas such as child enforcement, consumer protections, antitrust and utility regulation; propose legislation; enforce federal and state environmental laws; represent the state and state agencies before the state and federal courts; handle criminal appeals and serious statewide criminal prosecutions; institute civil suits on behalf of the state; represent the public's interests in charitable trust and solicitations; and operate victim compensation programs.

State Attorneys General

Programs that provide assistance for people who have cases involving violations of federal and state statutes governing sales and credit practices involving consumer goods, in situations where appeals to consumer complaints organizations have not resolved the issue. Consumer law cases involve deceptive or unconscionable advertising and sales practices, product quality, credit financing and reporting, debt collection, leases, and other aspects of consumer transactions.

Consumer Law

Consumer Resource Center offered by Washington State Attorney General's Office in Vancouver

Enforces consumer protection laws and offers informal mediation services between consumers and businesses. Addresses issues such as false advertising, slamming, warranties, merchandise orders.

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Consumer Resource Center offered by Washington State Attorney General's Office in Seattle

Consumer Resource Center offered by Washington State Attorney General's Office in Vancouver

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Days Of The Week

Consumer Resource Center offered by Washington State Attorney General's Office in Seattle

Consumer Resource Center offered by Washington State Attorney General's Office in Vancouver