NCJ Number
76317
Date Published
1980
Length
43 pages
Annotation
This booklet explains New Jersey's statutes and regulations which protect consumers and guide business conduct.
Abstract
Following a brief description of the organization and functions of the State's Division of Consumer Affairs, county and municipal offices of the Consumer Affairs Assistance Program are listed. Citizens should first report any complaints about business practices to these units. The responsibilities of the Office of Consumer Protection, the main State investigative and processing agency, are detailed. The booklet then discusses the following areas which affect consumers and tells where complaints should be filed: weights and measures, professional and occupational licenses, advertising, automobile sales and repairs, unit pricing, sales of precious metals, home improvements, and home appliance purchase and repair. Also covered are mail orders, deliveries of household furnishings, refunds and warranties, and sales of cats and dogs. Suggestions for writing effective complaint letters are also offered, and rules governing disuputes which can be taken into small claims court are explained. A total of 20 hotline telephone numbers which can help any citizen resolve a problem, register a complaint, or report an emergency which should be investigated by a governmental agency are provided. A list of taped messages on various consumer protection topics available by telephone is included.