PhilaNet.com

HARRISBURG, PA – Consumer complaints to the Attorney General’s Office, along with money recovered or saved for Pennsylvania consumers, both reached record high levels this past year, according to Attorney General Tom Corbett.

Corbett said the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection received a total of 52,481 complaints during 2009 – more than 1,000 complaints per week and an all-time high for the office. He added that as a result of investigations and legal actions brought by the Attorney General’s Office during 2009, consumers were able to recover or save $32,337,939 – which is also a record figure.

“With many Pennsylvania families struggling economically, it is clear that con artists are targeting our communities,” Corbett said. “The biggest category for complaints involves money, including scams, credit repair schemes, debt collection disputes and a list of other financial issues.”

Corbett noted that nearly 10,000 complaints involved some type of credit-related issue in 2009. Overall, they accounted for nearly 20% of all the consumer complaints received by the Office of Attorney General and were almost double the number of complaints in any other category.

“Helping consumers avoid scams and recovering money for the victims of fraud or deceptive trade are our highest priorities,” Corbett said. “In 2009 we returned or helped save consumers more than $32 million, the largest amount in recent history for consumer protection cases in Pennsylvania, but we continue to stress that prevention is the best way to save money.”

Corbett encouraged consumers to:

*
Watch out for offers that sound “too good to be true.”
*
Check the consumer advisories on the Attorney General’s website for updates about new scams.
*
Understand your rights as a consumer.
*
Contact the Bureau of Consumer Protection as soon as you suspect a problem.

Corbett said that consumer complaints in Pennsylvania increased by more than 13% between 2008 and 2009, with complaints about credit and financial issues topping the list.

“The quicker and earlier the Bureau of Consumer Protection can get involved in a situation, the more likely it is that we can save consumers money and prevent people from falling victim to fraud,” Corbett said.

The top five categories for consumer complaints in 2009 are:

1.
Credit Issues (including debt collection, credit services, credit ratings, credit repair and other financial issues).
2.
Do Not Call violations.
3.
Buying Services (including gift certificates, coupons & rebates, mail order & catalog services, auctions, promotional contests and sweepstakes).
4.
Motor Vehicle Sales.
5.
Home Improvement Contractors.

Corbett urged consumers to file formal complaints with the Attorney General’s Office in any situation where they suspect that a business has engaged in deceptive practices or unfair trade.

Consumers can visit the “Complaints” section of the Attorney General’s website to submit an online complaint or download a printable complaint form.

Additionally, consumers can call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-441-2555 to request a complaint form.

Information about consumer rights and other related materials are available in the “Consumers” section of the Attorney General’s website.

Philadelphia, PA — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Philadelphia Zoo are sponsoring an Earth Day poster contest for students in grades kindergarten through 12 in EPA’s mid-Atlantic region, which includes Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Students are invited to submit hand-created drawings on plain letter-sized paper using markers, colored pencils, crayons, pens or paint. Computer-generated images will not be accepted. Students can choose one of the three themes:

1) Protect Habitats, Endangered Species
2) Help Protect the Earth from Climate Change
3) The Meaning of Earth Day

Entries will be divided into four categories: K-2nd grade; grades 3-5; grades 6-8; and grades 9-12. The top three winners in each category will receive a combined prize package from the EPA and Philadelphia Zoo. Winning entries and others will be displayed at the Philadelphia Zoo on April 22-24 as part of EPA’s 40th anniversary Earth Day celebration. The posters will later be displayed at the EPA’s Public Information Center in Philadelphia. Entries must be postmarked no later than March 1 and should be mailed to:

Earth Day Poster Contest (3PA00)
U.S. EPA Region 3
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

The back of the poster should include the competition theme, name, age, school name, grade, parent/guardian’s name, address, telephone number and email.

For more information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region03/earthday/2010_poster_contest.PDF or call (215) 814-5100 or email
R3 40yearsofEarthDay@epa.gov.

Ft. Washington, PA — A severe snow storm covers the areas with total snow accumulations of 19 to 24 inches throughout the Philadelphia Area. Current Weather Condtions

Video (.mpg): Philadelphia area snow storm of Feb. 5th and 6th 2010 made into a music video. Filmed in Montgomery County, PA.

Made with an extemporaneous music soundtrack written and recorded during the storm by The End.

Related Article: Snow Storm 2010

More multi-meida from the Greater Philadelphia Region

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Harleysville, PA – 1/22/10

Due to the tremendous tragedy Haiti has suffered, Prudential Rittenhouse Realty Group, of Harleysville PA, wants to help in any way possible. We have decided to participate by sending very much needed personal care items. If you would like to help, we welcome and thank you for your participation.

We are collecting Hygiene Kits to send to Haiti. The following items are needed to assemble a kit.

* One hand towel measuring approximately 16. x 28. (no fingertip or bath towels)
* One washcloth
* One wide-tooth comb
* One nail clipper (no metal files or emery boards)
* One bar of soap (bath size in wrapper)
* One toothbrush (in original packaging)
* Six Band-Aids

No toothpaste please!

You can help in one of three ways.
1. Drop off one or more completed kits.
2. Drop off any items listed above and we will assemble the kits and mail.
3. Financial contribution towards shipping. The cost is $2.00 per kit to mail.

Call 215-256-6543 For More Info or Visit 418main.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sumneytown, PA – The Barndt Agency announce two new homes on the market

in Western Montgomery County. The first listing is a circa 1865 farmhouse on 2+ acres in Harleysville PA 19438. The home is in move-in condition.

The second listing is a 2 bedroom ranch style home in Red Hill PA 18076.

An $8,000 tax credit is still available for first time home buyers.

For more info or to see these homes call 1-800-254-3306.

Visit our website at BarndtAgency.com