D.C. starts site to crack down on unscrupulous businesses
By: Teddy Kahn
Special to The Examiner
March 4, 2009
The D.C. government has started a consumer protection Web site as part of a larger effort to crack down on unlicensed businesses that prey on consumers.
Consumer.dc.gov arms District residents with an array of resources to fight unscrupulous businesses, including tips on common scams, information on cases under investigation and ways to pursue a complaint.
“In these tough economic times, every dollar you spend is precious, and we want to be sure you are getting the services you pay for,” said Linda Argo, director of the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, which is leading the consumer protection initiative.
The DCRA is investigating more than a dozen specific consumer complaints in the area and has already received alerts from 152 consumers this year.
Home improvement contractors, unlicensed towing businesses and auto repair lots are singled out as the worst offenders. Together these businesses accounted for nearly half of the 371 consumer alerts the DCRA received in 2008.
The District also moved to crack down on unlicensed auto repair and towing businesses with a number of new regulations that took effect this week. Lots must have permanent signs with the businesses’ name and hours; vehicles cannot be stored for more than 60 days; and lots must be separated from neighbors by fences.
Officials hope to use the stricter regulations to shut down unscrupulous businesses that fail to comply.
The focus on towing and auto repair lots follows a three-month effort to clean up the city’s used car lots, which often pose similar threats to consumers.
A sweep of more than 100 lots in November found cars that had expired licenses, lacked titles and in some cases were stolen. The city has since closed 55 lots.
The new regulations will apply similar scrutiny to back-alley auto repair lots, which often overcharge for services, perform unnecessary work, and fail to meet safety and environmental standards, according to consumer.dc.gov.
The Web site helps residents steer clear of such operations, providing consumers a list of questions to ask before doing business with any establishment.
John Breyault of the National Consumers League agreed that consumers can do a lot to protect themselves.
“Consumers need to do due diligence before they hand over their money,” he said.
And be skeptical. “If a business does not seem on the up and up,” Breyault said, “don’t be so quick to ignore that instinct.”
