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Attorney General Mike DeWine
Consumer Protection
Tips for Black Friday
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today offered
consumer protection tips ahead of Thanksgiving weekend, one of the
busiest shopping weekends of the year.
Last year, the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section
received over 3,700 complaints in November and December. This year, the
National Retail Federation expects holiday retail sales to increase as
much as four percent, and it says an estimated 69 percent of Americans
plan to shop over Thanksgiving weekend.
“It’s a busy time of year, and we want to help consumers avoid
problems,” Attorney General DeWine said. “Prevention and awareness are
critical.”
This holiday shopping season, consumers should keep in mind:
Sellers can set their own return policies. Under Ohio’s consumer
protection laws, sellers can choose to set their own return policies,
including policies of “no returns,” but they must clearly tell you what
the policy is before you complete the purchase. (For example, the
return policy shouldn’t be posted only on the back of a receipt.)
Important exclusions and limitations should be disclosed. Ads should
clearly disclose important exclusions and limitations of an offer, so
check to see if limited quantities are available, if a sale is valid
only during certain hours, or if other terms and conditions
apply.
Not all gift cards are alike. In general, most gift cards must last at
least five years, but fees may vary depending on the type of card it
is. For example, funds on a prepaid network-branded card that can be
used most anywhere may reduce in value faster than funds on a
single-store gift card. Also, promotional cards, such as those that
come free with a purchase, may not have the same protections and may
only last a short period of time.
Rain checks apply only in certain situations. If a seller advertises a
product at a certain price but sells out of that product by the time
you respond to the ad, you may have the right to a rain check. However,
sellers are not required to provide rain checks if they clearly
disclose the number of goods available at that price or if they clearly
state that no rain checks will be given.
Paying with a credit card usually offers greater protection. In
general, with a credit card, your responsibility for unauthorized
charges is limited to $50 and you have certain rights to dispute
charges that you may not have with a debit card or other form of
payment.
Attorney General DeWine also reminds consumers to beware of scams,
which operate year round. Common scams include the IRS impostor scam,
fake charity scams, lottery scams, and tech support scams. Consumers
who want to learn more about scams or get help addressing a consumer
problem should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at
www.OhioProtects.org or 800-282-0515.
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