Consumer News

Martin Gruber always made a backup. Of that, his former employees are sure. He probably made a backup of the backup, too, for that is prudent practice in Gruber’s business: creating the sort of slickly produced wedding-video packages that newlyweds pay upwards of $3,000 each for. Read the article here.

April 27, 2015

Consumer Protection Director on Kojo Nnamdi Radio Show WAMU

Eric Friedman, director of Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection recently appeared on the Kojo Nnamdi Show on WAMU 88.5 to discuss the issue of predatory towing. Appearing with Friedman was Fred Scheler owner of Henry's Wrecker Service and Windsor Towing Service. Listen Here If you need an alternative format for the above radio show please submit alternative format request.

January 21, 2015

Montgomery County's Office of Consumer Protection Featured on NBC Today Show News Release

Montgomery County's Office of Consumer Protection was featured today in a consumer report on the NBC "Today Show" alerting consumers to the nationwide problem created by certain towing practices. Read More

December 17, 2014

Ride Services Drive Regulators Crazy The Washington Post Letters To The Editor

Is our new "sharing economy" taking the consumer protection movement by full circle by returning us to a buyer-beware marketplace? Taxi rides are regulated; Uber and Lyft claim not to be in the taxi business. Hotels are built to code and inspected; Airbnb claims not to be renting rooms. Charities are rquired to register and disclose financial information; crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe collect thousands of dollars in "donations" minutes after tragedy strikes. Read More

November 24, 2014

Tipster Catches Alleged Tow Truck Drivers "Spotting" in Downtown Bethesda Bethesdanow.com

A tipster sent images of what appear to be two tow truck drivers from a Rockville-based towing company perched on the third floor of the county's Woodmont Corner Garage. The drivers appear to be watching the lot across the street at the Connor Building... Read More

October 27, 2014

7 On Your Side: Beware of Craiglist Car Repair Scammers abc7

ACar repair scammers show up in parking lots - or even in your own driveway claiming they can fix the dings and paint scratches on your car at little cost. But if you let down your guard, you ciould end up with even more damage and an empty wallet. Read More

August 6, 2014

Lawmakers Looking To Address Montgomery County's Pawn Problem WAMU

A nearly 30-year-old law in Montgomery County is frustrating customers who are looking to trade-in cell phones and other electronics to get the latest versions of them. Read More

August 5, 2014

Montgomery County To Reconsider Dated Pawn Shop Law WAMU

When they get back to work next month, Montgomery County lawmakers will take up a measure that would update parts of the county's nearly 30-year-old "pawn shop" law, which is causing unintended problems for consumers. Read More

June 17, 2014

High Water Bill In Montgomery County? Report Offers Possible Causes WAMU

In Maryland, a new report is shedding light on why some Montgomery County residents may be getting particularly high water bills. Montgomery county resident John Ashdam’s quarterly residential water bill can average around $250. Ashdam says in the first quarter of this year he received a bill higher than he'd ever seen before. Read More

WSSC Customers Challenging High Water Bills Need Arbiter Beyond Utility, Report Finds Washington Post

Utility customers in the Maryland suburbs who want to challenge high water bills need a way to dispute those charges outside the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, according to the Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection. Read More

Predatory Towing Continues In Downtown Bethesda Bethesda Now

Bob Silverberg claims it took only five minutes. By the time Silverberg returned to the Connor Building parking lot on Woodmont Avenue, his car had been latched on to a tow truck. A few moments after leaving the parking lot to pick up a sandwich order two blocks away, the tow truck driver pounced. Read More

Billing Cycles, Meter-Reading Problems May Be Behind WSSC's High Water Bills WTOP

The WSSC, which serves Montgomery and Prince George's counties, responded to a number of complaints. Roughly 60 complaints landed on the desk of Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner, whose district includes Bethesda and Potomac. And the answers he got didn't satisfy him or the WSSC customers. Read More

June 16, 2014

Report: No Definitive Cause For Higher Montgomery Water Bills Gazette

The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission uses “antiquated” technology for reading customers’ meters and lacks an independent means to deal with complaints of excessive water bills, according to a report from Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection. Read More

June 06, 2014

Montgomery County Warns of Unscrupulous Contractors Gazette

On Friday, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) announced a renewed effort by police and county departments to crack down on “rip-off artists” who target residents with fraudulent offers to do projects such as roof or driveway repair or tree work or removal. “We will not tolerate the victimization of our residents, particularly our seniors,” Leggett said. Read More

March 26, 2014

Office of Consumer Protection Investigating Complaints of High Water Bills Gazette

“Something is not right.” In response to the issue of higher-than-normal water bills plaguing many Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission customers, Councilman Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Bethesda quoted the children’s book “Madeline,” written by Ludwig Bemelmans. Read More

Consumer News

Comment: Scam claimed to aid firefighters; then it called one- Everett, Washington – HeraldNet

Gazette-Mail editorial: The season of the scammer- West Virginia Gazette

This scammer called the wrong guy asking for money- Washington Post

Local officials to FEC: Investigate Maryland man's ‘phony’ political committees- Center for Public Integrity

County warns residents about calls soliciting donations to benefit volunteer firefighters- Mymcmedia

A Double Scam Rolled Into One’: Montgomery County Residents Get Refunds After Donation Scheme- WAMU Radio

Deceptive Telemarketing Scheme Uncovered- Rockville Volunteer Fire Department:

Scam Calls In Montgomery County Used Volunteer Fire Companies As Cover: Officials- Patch.com

Montgomery-Co-Groups-Calls-for-Fire-Department-Donations-Were-Misleading- NBC TV-4

Officials: Scam Calls in Montgomery County Used Volunteer Fire Companies as Cover- Maryland Matters

Montgomery Co. gets residents donation refunds after misleading calls- WTOP

Montgomery County Uncovers Nationwide Telemarketing Scam- Bethesda Beat

Stopping Elder Fraud in Maryland- The Baltimore Sun

Warning About Air Duct Cleaning Scams- NBC4

Consumer Office Investigating Two Scams - Source of the Spring

Montgomery Co. officials warn of Pepco, EPA utility scams - WTOP

Rockville dry cleaner closes with customer's clothes still inside - I-270 News (WHAG-TV)

Too good to be true: Know your consumer rights about solar energy – My Green Montgomery

Maryland water utility partners with company accused of misleading customers – The Washington Post

3 Ways Scammers Can Find You U.S. News & World Report

Storm clouds gather over Maryland’s Blue Sky Films Washington Post