Complaint Information and Referral (A - D)

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Advertising
The Colorado Consumer Protection Act makes it illegal to advertise goods or services when the intent is not to sell them as advertised or to make false representations. The District Attorney's Office must be able to prove that the company, in fact, advertised for the sole purpose of misinforming the public. The District Attorney cannot get involved when a company makes a legitimate mistake. Before calling the District Attorney's Office you must contact a company official and determine if s/he can provide evidence that the advertisement contained a legitimate error (for example, after the error was caught the company published a correction notice in the newspaper). For more information, refer to the Federal Trade Commission's Web site.

Automated Dialing
Automated dialing systems are illegal in Colorado unless there is an existing business relationship between the parties. Colorado Revised Statute 18-9-311 prohibits using an automated dialing system with a prerecorded message for the purpose of selling goods and services.
 
Accountants
The State Board of Accountancy regulates accountants and handles complaints. For more information refer to the State Board of Accountancy Web site.

State Board of Accountancy
1560 Broadway, Suite 1340
Denver, CO 80202
303-894-7800

Architects
Must be licensed through the State Board or Examiners and Architects. Check their Web site for more information.

Board of Examiners and Architects
1560 Broadway, Suite 1370
Denver, CO 80202
303-894-7801

Attorneys
Complaints concerning the ethics of an attorney, client representation, etc. should be directed to the:

Disciplinary Council
303-893-8121
 
Complaints concerning attorney fees and costs should be directed to:

Colorado Bar Association
303-860-1112

The Colorado Bar Association offers legal clinics for the general public. The clinics are designed to teach you how to represent yourself in a court of law.

Audiologists
See Hearing Aids in this Web site.

Automobile Dealers, Repairs, Sales, Repossessions
See Vehicles in this Web site.

Bad Checks
The District Attorney's Office launched the Bad Check Restitution Program in early 2000. The program was developed to assist merchants with losses from bad checks. The program works in conjunction with American Corrective Counseling Services. First time offenders are given the opportunity to avoid criminal prosecution by attending a mandatory eight-hour intervention class and by paying restitution. 
A bad check is eligible for the program if:

• The amount of the check is not greater than $5,000.00 (or multiple checks do not exceed this limit).
• The check was received in Jefferson or Gilpin County.
• A courtesy letter was sent to the check writer offering the writer ten days to make the check good.
• The complaint is submitted to the program no earlier than 31 days after the check was written and no more than 90 from the date on the check.
• A photo I.D. was recorded at the time of the transition.
• If your check is eligible for the program call or write for an application:

First Judicial District Attorney
Bad Check Restitution Program
PO Box 18169
Golden, Co. 80402-6037
www.checkprogram.com/1stjudicialco
phone 1-800-728-9341

A check is ineligible if:

• It is stolen.
• It is post dated or made to cash.
• Both parties knew there were insufficient funds in the account at the time of the transaction.
• It is a two-party, stop payment, rent, government issued, payroll or travelers check.
• The identity of the writer is not known.
• There is no amount, date, or signature on the check.
• A bank has not processed it.

If your check is ineligible for the program you may still have remedies under the law. First, check with the sheriff or police department where the check changed hands. Determine if that organization has a Check Fraud Unit and if your check meets the agency's check fraud criteria. If the check does not meet the criteria you can still sue in Small Claims Court or mediate through the Mediation Services Program. Generally, you will want to sue the person in the jurisdiction s/he resides.

Jefferson County Small Claims Court
100 Jefferson County Parkway
Golden, CO 80401
303-271-6228
Gilpin County Small Claims Court
Justice Center
2960 Dory Hill Road
Golden, CO 80403
303-582-5522

Contact the Economic Crime Unit for a referral (303-271-6931) or click here for a copy of the referral form.

To report fraudulent use of checks:

• Check Rite: 800-766-2748
• Equifax-Telecredit: 800-525-6285
• International Check Services: 800-526-5380
• Tele-Check & National Check Processing: 800-366-2425
• Chex Systems: 1-800-428-9623

Bankruptcy
There are several types of bankruptcies. Three chapters are as follows:

• Chapter 7: A portion of the debtor's assets are liquidated and distributed among creditors by a court appointed trustee.
• Chapter 11: Reorganization plan for businesses. Business may continue operating under a repayment plan outlined by the court.
• Chapter 13: Debt-protection action for individuals who need to repay their debts from current assets and income.

To determine if a person or company has filed bankruptcy contact the automated dialing system at 303-844-0267 and follow the prompts.
To speak to a representative of the bankruptcy court, write or call:

U.S. Bankruptcy Court
U.S. Custom House
721 19th Street
Denver, CO 80202-2508
720-904-7300
http://www.cob.uscourts.gov/default.asp

Bill Collectors
See Debt Collection in this Web site.

Building Departments/Permits Offices

• Arvada: 720-898-7600
• Golden: 303-384-8151
• Jefferson County: 303-271-8260
• Lakewood: 303-987-7500 (Licensing 303-987-7567)
• Littleton: 303-795-3751
• Thornton: 303-538-7250
• Wheat Ridge: 303-235-2855
• Westminster: 303-430-2400

Cable Television Complaints
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
1-888-225-5322

Cancellation Periods
See Rescission Rights in this Web site.

Chain Letters
Most chain letters are illegal. If the chain letter asks for money, asks you to send merchandise, contains an element of misinformation or suggests that you may receive some money you may want to contact the Postal Inspector.

Postal Inspector
Postal Inspection Service
United States Postal Service
1745 Stout Street, Suite 900
Denver, CO 80202-3034
303-313-5320
FAX: 303-313-5351

Charitable Fraud
Organizations that solicit for charitable contributions must be registered with the Secretary of State. Please contact the Secretary of State before donating money. They can be reached at:

Secretary of State
1560 Broadway, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80202
303-894-2200 x6409
FAX: 303-869-4871

The Better Business Bureau provides reliability reports free of charge to consumers. You may also want to contact the Better Business Bureau before sending money.

Better Business Bureau
1020 Cherokee Street
Denver, CO 80204-4039
303-758-2100 (to obtain a reliability report) 
FAX: 303-758-8321

Charitable Solicitations by Telephone
If a solicitor contacts you by telephone, the solicitor must:

• Include a statement that s/he is being paid to make a solicitation, if this is true.
• Provide the name of the telemarketing company that employs the solicitor.
• Give the name and telephone number of the charitable organization the telemarketer is soliciting for.
• Make a statement that the person being called has the right to change his/her mind about the contribution within three business days after the call is made or within one business day after the caller receives written confirmation of the agreement reached between both parties during the telephone call.
• Inform the party if the contribution is tax deductible.
• Provide, at the request of the caller, the percentage of the contribution that will be given to the charitable organization.
• Provide at the request of the caller the most recent tax information supplied to the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Ask questions before giving:

• Find out how the money is to be used.
• Who will benefit from your contribution?
• How much of your donation will go to the charity and how much will fund the administrative costs?
• Ask for past tax information to verify the information you have been told.
• Obtain an actual physical address for the company and a telephone number.

Check Fraud
See Bad Checks in this Web site

Civil Complaints
Civil cases often involve, damages, partial performance, shoddy workmanship, failure to perform warranty repairs, and defective goods. There are several avenues for resolving civil complaints. Start with the tips listed in the "Tips for Handling Complaints Effectively" section of this Web site.
Mediation is also a possible remedy. You can contact the Economic Crime Unit for a referral (303-271-6931) or click here for a copy of the referral form.

Jefferson County Small Claims Court
100 Jefferson County Parkway
Golden, CO 80401
303-271-6226
Gilpin County Small Claims Court
Justice Center
2960 Dory Hill Road
Golden, CO 80403
303-582-5522

Attorney 
Contact your own private attorney or call the Bar Association's Referral Service for a referral. (See Attorney in this Web site)

Construction
Construction problems occur frequently in Colorado. Do your homework before entering into a contract with a company.

• Check references. Call the homeowners who had work performed by the contractor you are considering hiring. Was the job done professionally? Was the job finished on-time and on-budget? Would the homeowner use the company again?
• Look at the job. Does the work satisfy your demands and needs? Do you plan on having the same amount of work performed? If the work you are seeing is a small job and your job is larger in scope you may want to ask the contractor for a referral for a larger project s/he has performed? If so, find out if this would be the contractor's first attempt to take on a job of this size.
• Find out how much of the comparison job was subcontracted. Determine who will subcontract the job and check references. Does the contractor always work with the same subcontractors or does he hire any available subcontractor? Will you have any say in who will be hired?
• Get at least three written bids for your proposal. Make certain the entire arrangement is in writing. Remember, you cannot prove a verbal conversation or agreement took place.
• Determine if the contractor is required to pull permits. Make certain the permit is pulled and on site before allowing work to begin and before paying huge sums of money.
• Write a detailed contract that includes dates, materials, change orders, inspections and payment schedules. Again, remember that you cannot prove a verbal conversation took place.
• Pay as you go. Make certain the payment schedule is put in writing. You may consider paying only after inspections take place and all corrections have been performed. Obtain lien waivers as you pay each installment.
• Request frequent bills. Ask to see invoices for materials before paying the bill.
• Consider making the check payable jointly to the contractor and supplier/subcontractor to guarantee the supplier or subcontractor are paid.
• Make frequent inspections of the work. Make certain all city/county inspections are done on time.
• Request that corrections be made as the job progresses. Don't wait until the job has been completed. It is difficult to level the floor after the flooring has been installed and it is difficult to move the outlet to the specified location after the job has been plastered and painted.

Partial performance is generally considered a civil problem and civil remedies are available. The District Attorney's Office can only become involved in partial performance complaints when there is a provable pattern of partial performance resulting in a monetary benefit for the contractor. Please remember that damages are not considered partial performance and damages can only be awarded through the courts.
Civil Remedies:

Mediation - Contact the Economic Crime Unit for a referral (303-271-6931) or click here for a copy of the referral form.

Jefferson County Small Claims Court
100 Jefferson County Parkway
Golden, CO 80401
303-271-6226
Gilpin County Small Claims Court
Justice Center
2960 Dory Hill Road
Golden, CO 80403
303-582-5522

Attorney
Contact your own private attorney or call the Bar Association's Referral Service for a referral. (See Attorney)

If there is a provable pattern of deceptive trade practices the District Attorney's Office may be able to become involved. Contact the District Attorney's office to determine if your situation meets the criteria for submitting a complaint.

Consumer Information
To order a catalog of consumer information, call the Consumer Information Center at 1-888-878-3256 or view their catalog on-line at their Web site (http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/).
 
Cooling-Off Periods
See Rescission Rights in this Web site.

Credit Cards
Attorney General's UCCC Division
Consumer Protection Office
1525 Sherman Street, 5th Floor
Denver, CO 80203
Consumer Hotline: 303-866-5189 or 1-800-222-4444

Credit Reports
Colorado law permits Colorado residents to obtain one free copy of his/her credit report per year. There are three main credit-reporting bureaus. You can call or write each of the reporting bureaus to obtain a report. To protect your privacy, you may be asked to provide your social security number, address, telephone number, and/or mother's maiden name. A credit bureau, or any other reputable company, will never call you and ask for this information. Never provide personal information to a company over the telephone unless you initiate the call, you know whom you are speaking to and you are confident the information will only be used for legitimate purposes.

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta Georgia, 30374 
1-800-658-1111
To report fraud complaints call 1-800-525-6285
To order report by phone call 1-800-685-1111

Experian (formerly TRW)
P.O. Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013
1-888-397-3742
To report fraud complaints call 1-888-397-3742
To order your free credit report:  (https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp)

Trans Union National Consumer Disclosure Center
P.O. Box 1000
Fullerton, CA 92834
1-800-888-4213
FAX: 714-447-6034
To report fraud complaints call 1-800-680-7289
To order your free credit report:
(https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp)

Medical Information Bureau
P.O. Box 105
Essex Station
Boston, MA 02112
866-692-6901

Credit Bureaus sell your name to perspective lenders. To remove your name from Credit Bureau Direct Mailing Lists call 1-888-5 OPT OUT (1-888-567-8688).

Debt Collection
The Federal Trade Commission has adopted rules pertaining to fair debt collection. A debt collector must follow these rules:

• A debt collector must not contact a consumer if the consumer sends a letter telling the debt collector to stop.
• A debt collector may contact you by mail, telephone, telegram or fax. You may not be contacted at inconvenient times or places such as before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. unless you agree. A debt collector may not contact you at work if your employer disapproves of these contacts. If your employer disapproves you will need to let the collector know.
• You can stop a debt collector from contacting you by sending a letter to the collector telling him to cease all contact. Once the letter is received the collector must stop contacting you unless the collector intends to take a specific form of action to collect the debt, i.e. sue.
• A debt collector may not disclose to anyone other than your attorney that you owe money. The debt collector may only contact other people to determine where you live, obtain a telephone number or to find out where you work. 
• Within five days after your first contact, the debt collector must send you a written letter indicating hat you owe money, the amount you owe, the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, and what action the debtor will take if you do not repay the debt.
• A debt collector may not use threats, publish a list of debtors, use obscene or foul language, repeatedly call a debtor for the sole purpose of annoying that person, make false statements or engage in unfair practices.
• If a debt collector violates the law you have the right to sue the collector within one year of the violation. You may also report the violation to the Attorney General's UCCC Department and the Federal Trade Commission.

Attorney General's Office
1525 Sherman Street, 5th Floor
Denver, CO 80203
303-866-4494

To obtain brochures from the FTC call 1-877-382-4357 or visit their website http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm.
 
Door-to-Door Sales
All sales made at the consumer's home or at a location that is other than the merchant's primary place of business are subject to a three-day cooling off period. This pertains only to sales over $25.00 and sales between a company and another individual. Consumers have a right to cancel and obtain a full and complete refund. Businesses are required to notify consumers that they are entitled to the three day cooling off period in writing. The consumers must also receive two copies of the cancellation form.
For more information please see the Federal Trade Commission's Web site.

Drugs and Food Labeling Complaints
Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Room 1675
Rockville, MD 20857
1-888-463-6332

Links to Additional Information: 
Tips For Handling Complaints Effectively
Outside Agencies
Mediation Referral Form 
 
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Last Modified: Oct 11, 2012 03:14 PM