Recovered funds rise for Aiken County consumers from consumer advocate

COLUMBIA --- Aiken County consumers received 20 percent more money in the form of recovered costs from the state's consumer affairs agency last fiscal year than in the previous 12 months and saw 30 percent more resolutions to complaints they filed.

"The outreach really helped," said Alice Brooks, spokeswoman for the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs. She said a local TV station had done extensive coverage of the commission's efforts and raised the profile of the department's mission to the Aiken community. Part of the coverage included film footage of department staff members answering complaints. Staff members also visited the county to give community presentations on identity theft and mortgage fraud, Ms. Brooks said.

"We had tons of calls because we were there live," she said. "And we had follow-up calls for weeks afterwards."

In addition, she said, the department had increased awareness.

"We've also got spots on YouTube," she said.

The department advocates for consumers who feel they have been wronged by automobile and heavy equipment vendors, financial institutions, travel clubs, magazine subscription companies and unfulfilled rebates. The top complaint categories pertained to vehicles, financial institutions and debt-collection agencies.

In the past 12 months the department recovered $2.3 million for consumers and saved about $132 million for businesses, according to end-of-year reports compiled by staff members. In the previous fiscal year, ending June 30, 2007, the department recovered $2.5 million for consumers and $90 million for businesses.

Ms. Brooks said the consumer recoveries statewide were slightly higher last year because of a $1 million collection from a debt-collection company that had defrauded customers.

Reach Sarita Chourey at (803) 727-4257 or sarita.chourey@morris.com.