Gullible consumers are fraud's best pals

Some consumer complaints belong firmly on the shoulders of the complainer.

I’m appalled at how many people pay cash in advance without a written contract for goods that are ordered or services yet to be performed. If you do this you are either too trusting and naive or a complete ... well, not thinking too clearly.

NEVER pay in cash and never enter into an agreement for goods and services without a WRITTEN contract with your name on it and the name of the company and the individual with whom you are doing business.

Another hint: Don’t decide who you are doing business with just because they have a religious symbol on their business card or contract. Some of the worst scammers use religious symbolism to hook unwary consumers. This week alone I have talked with consumers who have lost, in total, more than $20,000 to scammers using religious symbols on their business cards. No contracts, but inspirational business cards.

Here’s another Quick Tip: If you feel that any salesperson is using high-pressure sales tactics, that is, anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, run, don’t walk away. If it’s truly a good deal today it will be a good deal tomorrow. This goes for purchasing RVs or vacuum cleaners.

My slogan is, “If you’re in doubt, check it out.” Call me. I’m available 24/7 and I’ve heard about every trick and scam in the book.

And now for something completely different.

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I’m minding my own business walking down the aisle in my local food store and this guy walks up and says, “Are you the Consumer Guy?”

“Why, yes I am. Do you regularly read the column?”

As I’m getting ready to thank him for reading my writings, he cuts me off and launches into a 15-minute tirade about people bringing their dogs into grocery stores.

He starts by telling me a story about a lady pulling a small dog along in the produce aisle. Problem is, the dog not only was pulling back, but it was in the middle of doing its doggie business, right there in the aisle next to the romaine and iceberg lettuce.

Adding further mayhem to the mess, the dog was afflicted with the worst case of “Montezuma’s Revenge” he’d ever seen. As he put it, it was “a four-legged manure spreader on a leash.” Undeturd — oops, make that undeterred — the woman kept dragging the dog down the aisle. You can imagine: “Cleanup on aisle seven” had a whole new meaning that day.

First, let me say, I love dogs. But there is a time and place for our fur babies to be with us. The grocery store is NOT one of them!

The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, defines service dogs as “a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.” The ADA does not apply to anyone who simply wants to bring his or her doggie into any store, business or restaurant they choose.

Again, I love dogs, but most dogs, unless they’re certified service dogs, should not be in public places like restaurants or food stores. My personal “pet” peeve is people who put their puppies in the child carrier of shopping carts. Sorry, not having little kids at this stage of my life, I sometimes put groceries there, like produce.

By law, there are a few different categories of helping dogs — service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals. I will further describe the legal differences on my blog. Just because you love your furry friend doesn’t, by law, entitle you to bring your pooch into the grocery store.

LESSON: This particular consumer problem was the fault of both the consumer and the merchant. Both need to start doing the right (and sanitary) thing.

Parenthetically, a famous writer once said people who have well-behaved dogs usually have well-behaved kids. I think it’s true.

CONSUMER ALERT: Positive Changes Hypnotherapy has “folded its tent” and closed its doors in our area. Unfortunately, the day before they closed up and left town they were quickly taking payments from their clients for future services. In one case, according to the consumer, over $2,000.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Remember to always use a credit card, ESPECIALLY when you’re in doubt. At least you have Federal Trade Commission rights to challenge any charges. You do not have these rights when you pay by check, debit card or anything else.

The blog is up and running. If you’d like to take a look go to www.cdapressconsumerguy.com.

I have many more interesting cases that I’m working on as The CDA Press Consumer Guy. Call me at (208) 449-7222, email me at CDAPressConsumerGuy @gmail.com or fax me at (866) 362-9266. Also include your full name and a phone number. I am available to speak about consumerism to schools, and local and civic groups.

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Bill Brooks is the CDA Press Consumer Guy. He is an active associate real estate broker for Tomlinson-Sotheby’s International Realty in Coeur d’Alene.