CONSUMER ACTION SERVICE - HOW YOU CAN DO IT! (FROM THE VALUE OF YOUTH, 1978, BY ARTHUR PEARL ET AL)

• NCJ Number: 53306
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: Responsible Action
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT, WRITTEN BY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ST. PAUL (MINN.), ADVISES STUDENT CONSUMERS ON MEASURES TO PREVENT BEING VICTIMIZED AND OUTLINES A PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW IN PROCESSING A CONSUMER COMPLAINT.

Abstract

STUDENTS ARE ADVISED TO RETAIN RECEIPTS OBTAINED DURING A PURCHASE, READ ALL CONTRACTS THEY SIGN, AND MAKE ALL AGREEMENTS IN WRITING. IN THE CASE A CONSUMER PROBLEM OCCURS, VICTIMS SHOULD DECIDE PRECISELY WHAT THEY THINK THEY ARE ENTITLED TO AND WRITE IT DOWN, LIST PEOPLE AND AGENCIES THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN PROCESSING A COMPLAINT, CONSIDER THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF VARIOUS STRATEGIES FOR FOLLOWING THROUGH ON A CONSUMER COMPLAINT AND THEN CHOOSE A STRATEGY, MAKE THE NECESSARY CONTACTS AFTER THEY ARE PREPARED TO DEFINE THE PROBLEM AND SUGGEST SOLUTIONS, KEEP A RECORD OF ALL ACTIONS WHEN PROCESSING COMPLAINTS, EVALUATE THE RESULTS, AND THEN WRITE UP AND FILE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE THE GOAL-STRATEGY-RESULT DESCRIPTION. THE ST. PAUL STUDENTS AIDED IN PROCESSING A TOTAL OF 75 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND WERE SUCCESSFUL IN 70 PERCENT OF THE CASES. CASE STUDIES ARE PRESENTED. IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT STUDENTS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE CONSUMERS BEFORE THEY LEAVE SCHOOL, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR ESTABLISHING A CONSUMER ACTION PROJECT ARE PRESENTED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)