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Consumer Protection Enforcement- All residents are safe, supported and able to care for themselves |
Strategic Priorities |
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7.7 Create and enforce a county-wide consumer protection standard
- All residents are safe, supported and able to care for themselves
About this measure |
This measure provides updates on major milestones and anticipated next steps associated with the creation, development and enforcement of the Cuyahoga County Consumer Protection Code.
Why is this important? |
It is critical that Cuyahoga County be empowered to protect residents from scams and unfair business practices. The Department of Consumer Affairs mediates consumer complaints and refers serious matters to civil or criminal law enforcement partners. With the adoption of the Cuyahoga County Consumer Protection Code, the Department of Consumer Affairs is now able to issue enforceable cease-and-desist orders, order refunds be issued to consumers, and take other action to keep scammers from cheating County residents. Violations of Weights and Measures standards are also considered violations of the Consumer Protection Code, giving the County opportunity to order companies to make wronged consumers whole.
How are we making an impact? |
The Cuyahoga County Consumer Protection Code is one of many tools in the Department of Consumer Affairs’ ongoing fight against fraud.
The Department is committed to changing the way agencies across the County respond to scam complaints. It accomplishes much of its work through Scam Squad, a senior financial fraud task force made up of local, state and federal agencies and nonprofits. Scam Squad’s goals are to encourage seniors to report scams, to refer scam reports to the agency best-suited to investigate and to mine scam reports for information that can better help older residents and their families protect themselves from fraud.
To that end, the Department of Consumer Affairs issues scam alerts, publicizes scams and consumer information on its Facebook and Twitter feeds (@CuyCoConsumers) and participates with Scam Squad partners on weekly Scam Squad spots that run Thursday mornings on WKYC Channel 3. Scam Squad also acts as a clearinghouse for law enforcement agencies dealing with scams.
Reporting Agency |
Cuyahoga County Department Consumer Affairs
Additional Resources |
Milestone Measure |
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Cuyahoga County’s new enforcement legislation was introduced to Cuyahoga County Council on Feb 13, 2018 and passed unanimously on April 24, 2018. The legislation went into effect May 25, 2018, giving the Cuyahoga County Department of Consumer Affairs enforcement authority over a newly created consumer affairs ordinance. This means Consumer Affairs can take enforcement action to stop unfair and deceptive business practices, including ordering companies to produce documents and issuing fines. Consumer Affairs is currently creating policies to implement the new code. Through engagement of the Cuyahoga County’s Department of Law, Consumer Affairs will be creating routine cease and desist letters, and other legal forms, that can be deployed without delay if consumers are in imminent danger of financial harm.