How Can We Get Refund And Replacement Services From Fraud Companies?
Introduction
If you're a victim of a fraudulent company, you may need to get help from government agencies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state consumer protection laws offer consumers many options for getting refunds and replacements from fraud companies.
How much has fraud cost consumers?
The FTC estimates that fraud costs consumers over $9 billion a year, with the average consumer losing $500 to $1,000. The average age of a fraud victim is 65, and most fraud victims are women.
It's not easy to win a lawsuit against a fraudulent company.
It's not easy to win a lawsuit against a fraudulent company. In addition to proving that the company was fraudulent, you need to prove that you were damaged by the fraud and that the company knew about it. And remember: if you can't get your money back from other sources, it's unlikely you'll be able to get it back in court either.
Don't hesitate to contact the BBB.
If you feel that a company has defrauded you, the BBB can help. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a nonprofit organization that provides education for businesses, monitors their performance and helps resolve disputes between consumers and companies. The BBB also has a Consumer Protection Department to assist in resolving complaints against local businesses.
If you think that your complaint may be too small for the federal government's attention but still need legal assistance and advice on how to get your refund or replacement product, consider contacting one of these local agencies:
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National Association of Attorneys General: This organization works with all 50 US state attorney generals in resolving consumer complaints about frauds and scams involving business contracts, unfair trade practices and securities fraud violations. You can contact them by emailing info@naag.org or calling 202-469-6000 ext 7042 (Monday through Friday 9 AM – 5 PM Eastern Standard Time).
All states have consumer protection laws which apply to out-of-state companies and products.
All states have consumer protection laws which apply to out-of-state companies and products. In some cases, these laws may even apply if the company is based in a different state from you, or if they ship their product from another state. The key question is whether your purchase was made online or over the phone (as opposed to in person).
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If your purchase was made online: Under federal law, you have a right to cancel purchases within three business days if they're made over the internet. As long as they're cancelled within three days of delivery and before any use of them begins (for example, booting up your computer), then you can get a full refund on any products that arrive damaged or faulty. This applies for all websites—even ones outside of your home state! So go ahead and order that expensive printer from Amazon Canada – we'll help make sure it arrives safely at its new home.
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If your purchase was made over the phone: Sometimes fraudsters will ask their victims for payments over the phone/email etc instead of requiring them all through credit cards directly through their website; this way there's no record available anywhere showing what has happened with those funds since being transferred away from account holder's hands into theirs instead."
The Federal Trade Commission also protects consumers nationwide.
If you have been a victim of fraud, contact the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC can help you get your money back and it also provides information on avoiding scams in the future.
The FTC does not provide legal advice, but it does provide information about how to get legal assistance if you need it.
You can submit a complaint by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). You can also file a complaint online at ftc.gov/complaint or click here for more information from the FTC's website.
You may be able to get help from state and federal agencies if you've been victimized by a fraudulent company.
If you suspect that a company is committing fraud, contact your state attorney general's office. The Federal Trade Commission can also help you; contact them by phone at 877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). If you've been the victim of fraud and want to file a complaint with the National Association of Attorneys General, see their website for more information.
If your local Better Business Bureau has an online presence—and most do—you can report any fraudulent companies there as well. You may also be able to get help from your BBB by calling them directly; many have customer service lines available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so they're always ready to take complaints from consumers in need of assistance with fraud cases.
If you feel like your case would be better handled if someone was able to explain things in person rather than over the phone or computer screen (perhaps because it will take more explaining), then visit your local BBB branch in person as soon as possible. They should be able to provide guidance on what steps should be taken next and how best to resolve this issue without having any further repercussions fall back onto yourself due largely because there wasn't enough time spent planning ahead before taking action now instead."
Conclusion
With these tips and resources, you can feel confident that you're getting the best service possible. If you have questions about how to get your money back or what steps to take next, contact us at 1-877-FTC-HELP
Tim Moseley