NCJ Number
76313
Date Published
1979
Length
37 pages
Annotation
This annual report describes the activities of the Kentucky Consumers' Advisory Council and the State Attorney General's Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) during 1979 in the areas of litigation, mediation, intervention before regulatory bodies, and consumer education.
Abstract
The Consumers' Advisory Council is composed of 16 persons appointed by the Governor for 1-year terms and is chaired by the Attorney General. This report lists the council's members and outlines their legislative proposals which were recommended to the General Assembly but not passed. The duties and staff of the DCP are identified, followed by a summary of the 53 cases that were handled by the litigation division during the year. All consumer complaints are initially reviewed by the mediation section which decides the most appropriate methods of achieving settlement and mediates disputes when both parties are cooperative. Statistics on complaints about products and business practices are presented. The DCP received over 6,000 complaints during 1979 and helped return almost $70,000 to consumers. The Consumer Intervention Division intervenes in utility rate cases before the Energy and Utility Regulatory Commission. It also becomes involved in nonrate utility cases filed before the commission, such as discontinuance of services and fuel adjustment clause reviews. Major rate cases in which the division intervened are listed, along with the amounts requested and actually granted. At the request of the Attorney General, the CPD audited gasoline stations to determine if operators were overcharging and discovered several violations. Federal auditors assumed this responsibility in October 1979. The consumer education section, in conjunction with the council, surveyed citizens in Kentucky's second class cities regarding their attitudes toward consumer protection. The education staff also prepared materials for the media, held hearings to assess the need for a new car 'lemon' bill, and sponsored workshops to train persons in consumer matters. Additional methods of educating consumers included displays at various functions, speeches to community groups, and films. A list of the publications and films used and a table are provided.