What We Do
This office monitors business practices and works to prevent unfair trade practices through educating the community and financial literacy programs. If you have any questions or need general information, please leave a message and staff will return your call as soon as possible. If you wish to file a complaint against a retial business in the City of Alexandria, please contact the Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs at 804-746-2042 or toll free (Virginia only) 800-552-9663. The website address is http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/consumers/index.shtml.
How can the Office of Consumer Affairs help you?
Complaints: You should complain to the business involved so the merchant has the opportunity to settle your complaint. If you are not satisfied with the outcome of that encounter, then you should file a complaint with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Office of Consumer Affairs at 804-746-2042 or toll free (Virginia only) 800-552-9663. The website address is http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/consumers/index.shtml. If you have any questions or need general information, please leave a message and staff will return your call as soon as possible.
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Information and Advice: Before you do business with a local firm, call for advice. The Office of Consumer Affairs will not recommend or endorse any company but they can tell you whether complaints have been filed against a particular company, what they were about, and whether or not the complaints were resolved.
Consumer Education: The Office will tell you about Federal, State, and local laws which affect you and relate to retail transactions. They distribute free pamphlets on a wide variety of topics to inform you of your rights and responsibilities. In addition, Consumer Affairs staff is available to talk to your group or club.
Representation: The Office of Consumer Affairs represents consumers' viewpoints before law-making and regulatory agencies such as the City Council, Virginia State Corporation Commission, and the Virginia General Assembly.
Consumer Affairs staff provides the following helpful hints that will help you avoid problems and complaints.
Be an informed consumer!
Before you buy:
- Compare products and prices.
- Shop at reliable stores that provide good customer service and quality.
- Ask friends for their recommendations and call Consumer Affairs or the Better Business Bureau to check on a company's complaint record.
- Find out about the store's return and exchange policies.
- Ask about the layaway policy.
- Read your warranty. Make certain that you know who fulfills the guarantee. Is it the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer?
- Read all information labels.
- Obtain a written estimate for all repair costs.
Before you sign:
- Make sure you read the entire contract.
- Do not sign a blank or incomplete contract.
- Keep a copy of what you signed.
- Understand that most contracts do not have a "cooling off" period or "right of rescission" period.
After you sign:
- Keep all receipts, tags, care instruction, and warranties for future reference.
The Alexandria Consumer Affairs Commission reviews and analyzes consumer protection policies and regulations and makes recommendations to appropriate agencies for improved consumer relations. Their major responsibilities include providing guidance to the city's office of consumer affairs in the establishment and implementation of consumer affairs policies, recommend specific legislative proposals to the city council and administrative practices to the city manager designed to facilitate the resolution of consumer problems which have come to the attention of the commission, and to conduct consumer education programs in the city; and develop, publish and distribute consumer information through pamphlets and other means for the general public and business community.
OTHER AGENCIES WHICH MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU
City Agencies:
Landlord-Tenant Relations
421 King Street, Suite 200
Alexandria, Virginia 22313
703-746-4990
General District Court
520 King Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22313
703-838-4041
Citizen Assistance
City Hall
Alexandria, Virginia 22313
703-746-4800
State Agencies:
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services –
Office of Consumer Affairs
102 Governor Street
Richmond, VA 2319
Toll Free (Virginia Only) 1-800-552-9963
703-786-2042
Office of Attorney General
Antitrust & Consumer Litigation Section
900 East Main Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804-786-2071
Division of Motor Vehicles
2681 Mill Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
703-761-4655
Other Agencies:
Fairfax Department of Consumer Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 433
Fairfax, Virginia 22035
703-222-8435
District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
941 North Capitol St. NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
202-442-4400
Better Business Bureau Metropolitan Washington
1012 14th Street, N.W., 9th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
202-393-8000
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