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Events
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When a
business closes, there may be little warning,
and it may be very difficult to retrieve
merchandise or deposits left with the company.
To protect yourself from being stuck when a
business folds, consider the following:
TIPS FOR
CONSUMERS
 | Research the Company.
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Find out
how long it has been in business and
research its past successes and failures,
especially if you are leaving an expensive
item to be repaired or are making a hefty
deposit. Call your local Better Business
Bureau and government agencies like the
Florida Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services, the County Consumer
Affairs Bureau, the Office of the Attorney
General and the Federal Trade Commission to
determine whether any complaints or lawsuits
are pending. For an out-of-state company,
you may wish to call the appropriate
agencies and authorities in the state where
the company maintains its headquarters.
| Ask for References.
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Find out
if the company belongs to any trade
associations, and ask the association
whether the company is a member in good
standing. Ask friends, co-workers and
relatives if they are familiar with the
company.
| Look Around
Carefully. |
Take a
look around the shop before doing business.
Note whether shelves or showrooms are fully
stocked and ask yourself whether the
business location looks temporary.
| Stop by or Call
Often. |
If you
have left merchandise or made a prepaid
order or deposit, call or stop by regularly
to inquiry about the status of your repair
or order. If ordering a part and it is going
to take longer than thirty days to receive,
be skeptical. Be careful about leaving
repaired items over thirty days.
| If You Get Stuck.
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If a
business location has closed down, look for
some sign or indication at the business's
former address regarding how it can be
contacted. For businesses with other
locations, try calling another outlet or the
headquarters to determine what action to
take. If no other location exists and no
indication as to where the business can be
contacted is apparent, ask neighboring
business owners or competitors if they know
where the owner can be reached. You may also
wish to contact the owner or manager of the
building where the business was located
about a possible forwarding address.
Source: Originally developed by
the Florida Attorney General's Office |
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University Park Campus MARC 330
11200 SW 8th Street Miami, FL 33199
