[ Browse by Service Category : Consumer Assistance and Protection : Sub-Topics of Consumer Complaints (67) ]

Adult Residential Facility Complaints

Programs, usually offered by licensing authorities, that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, cleanliness and safety of facilities, treatment of residents, quality of care, excessive fees, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of group residences for adults with disabilities, assisted living facilities, and senior residential care homes.

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Advertising Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding unfair, false or misleading advertising of consumer products or services on radio or television, in printed ads or in verbal sales presentations.

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Alcoholic Beverages Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the content, labeling, manufacture, importation, distribution or sale of alcoholic beverages.

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Amusement Park/Carnival Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve health and safety hazards encountered at travelling carnivals, fairs, theme parks, water parks, penny arcades or other amusement parks; or who wish to register complaints regarding parking facilities, entrance or parking fees, long lines for admission or rides, front of line privileges, overpriced or poor food, crowd control, inappropriate conduct of ride attendants, concessionaires or other personnel or other problems with these facilities.

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Automobile Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the companies that manufacture, sell, service or repair automobiles.

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Banking Institution Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the quality of service, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of national or provincial banks or chartered commercial banks. Included are complaints regarding errors in computing interest, late charges or impounds, improper foreclosures on real estate loans, failure to meet loan commitments, noncompliance with the terms of the contract loan agreement or other similar problems.

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Bar Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, unethical, illegal or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of organizations that serve alcoholic beverages.

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Bus Transportation System Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the rates, services, routes, treatment of passengers, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of bus companies.

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Cell Phone Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding companies that manufacture, sell, service or repair cellular telephone equipment.

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Cemetery Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, high pressure sales tactics, excessive fees, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of organizations that sell and maintain burial plots and other cemetery property.

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Charitable Organization Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, fund raising practices, use of contributions (how much money actually goes to the charity's clients or what the funds are used to support), unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of registered charities and other nonprofit organizations that solicit funds from the public.

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Child Care Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding individuals and organizations that provide child care services. Included are complaints concerning licensing, cleanliness and safety of homes or facilities, treatment of children, quality of care, excessive fees, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of child care providers.

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Children's Residential Facility Complaints

Programs, usually offered by licensing authorities, that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, cleanliness and safety of facilities, treatment of residents, quality of care, excessive fees, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of children's group homes, foster family agencies or other residential facilities for dependent children.

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Consumer Product Safety Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the safety of any of a wide variety of consumer products (usually those not the explicit responsibility of another agency) or report a product-related injury.

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Contest/Sweepstakes/Lottery Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other business practices of organizations that offer contests, sweepstakes or lotteries within the province or on an interprovincial basis.

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Finance Company Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding excessive charges, violations of truth in lending laws, deceptive advertising, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of finance companies, including payday lenders, that supply credit for the purchase of consumer goods and services and/or grant small loans directly to consumers, usually at a relatively high rate of interest.

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Food Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the purity, safety, wholesomeness, packaging, weighing, labeling or other problems with meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, produce, packaged foodstuffs or other food products. Included are complaints regarding food contamination, discolouration or adulteration; pesticide residues; false grading or marking; misbranding; content or quantity labeling errors; or other deceptive packaging or labeling practices. Also included are programs that accept and manage complaints about pet food and animal feed.

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Funeral Director Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, incompetence, quality of service, excessive fees, high pressure sales tactics, unethical or improper conduct or other inappropriate business practices of funeral directors.

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Gambling Establishment Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other business practices of casinos, card clubs, race tracks, jai alai operations, telephone or Internet gambling concerns and other organizations that offer legalized gambling.

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General Consumer Complaints

Programs such as local consumer complaints offices that respond to a range of consumer issues rather than specializing in handling a particular type of complaint. These programs register complaints by consumers and, when possible, attempt to find a satisfactory resolution.

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Government Complaints/Government Ombudsman Offices

Programs such as governmental, departmental or nonprofit ombudsman offices that provide assistance for people who want to register complaints about or have other issues which relate to the activities, actions or lack of action by public officials or civil service employees in local, county, provincial or federal government offices or the agencies they regulate and/or fund. Also included are programs that handle complaints about the availability and quality of services provided by any of these levels of government. The program provides an objective, neutral and independent review of complaints; offers reasonable remedies when complaints are substantiated; and uses information from the complaints and the investigations they trigger to identify and resolve problems within the agency or department and improve services.

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Health Facility Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing; incompetence of staff; cleanliness and safety of facilities; treatment of patients; quality of care; excessive fees; charges for services not rendered; unethical, improper or unprofessional conduct of personnel; or other inappropriate business practices of organizations that provide health care services.

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Housing Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding improper, unethical or illegal practices in the provision of housing.

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Immigration Services Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the quality of service, incompetence, availability, excessive fees, unethical or improper conduct or business practices of either licensed or self-styled immigration consultants or any other individual or company providing services relating to immigration issues.

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Insurance Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, services, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of companies that sell insurance or settle insurance claims.

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Internet Service Provider Complaints

Programs that provide assistance for consumers who want to register complaints regarding the availability, security measures, incompetence, negligence, quality of service, excessive fees, misrepresentation, fraud, unprofessional conduct or other inappropriate business practices of internet service providers.

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Judge Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the incompetence, negligence, unprofessional or unethical conduct or other practices of judges.

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Law Enforcement Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the quality of service, lack of competence, availability, unethical or improper conduct of peace officers or other law enforcement officials, or other problems with law enforcement agencies. Some programs also welcome and document compliments.

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Lawyer Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, incompetence, negligence, quality of service, excessive fees, fraud, misrepresentation, unprofessional conduct or other inappropriate business practices of individuals who are licensed to practice the law.

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Mental Health Facility Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, incompetence of staff, cleanliness and safety of facilities, treatment of patients, quality of care, excessive fees, unethical, improper or unprofessional conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of inpatient or residential facilities for people who have substantive mental, emotional or social problems.

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Newspaper Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints about the conduct of the press in gathering and publishing news, opinion and advertising. Also included are organizations that handle complaints from members of the press about the conduct of individuals and organizations toward the press.

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Personal Care Agency Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding agencies that offer the services of paraprofessional aides who provide assistance with personal hygiene (bathing, grooming and mouth care), clothing care, ambulation, seating, toileting, housekeeping (changing bed linens or other chores that are essential to the individual's health and comfort), food preparation and nutritional and environmental support for recently discharged hospital patients, elderly people and people with disabilities in their own homes or other settings. Typical complaints include confusion in communication when multiple caregivers are assigned to the same person, caregivers who are not punctual, inconsistent quality of care, lack of caregiver training, excessive amounts of time spent on the phone, payment issues and not being informed when a caregiver is ill.

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Postal Service Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding unordered merchandise; unsolicited or harmful mail; pornographic materials received through the mail; mail tampering, loss, damage or theft; late or delayed mail deliveries; unethical or improper conduct of personnel; or other illegal or inappropriate business practices of post offices or private mail carriers.

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Practitioner Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve regarding the licensing, incompetence, negligence, violations of laws relating to the use and prescription of dangerous drugs and narcotics, quality of service, excessive fees, unprofessional conduct or other inappropriate business practices of individuals who are licensed to practice in the health, mental health and veterinary science fields.

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Radio Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding companies that manufacture, sell, service or repair radios or handle radio programming.

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Realtor Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the licensing, violation of truth in real estate laws, misrepresentation, fraud, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of real estate companies.

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Rental Security Deposit Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding a landlord's failure to place rental security deposits in trust accounts, to pay required interest on rental security deposits or to return the security deposit (plus accrued interest) within legal timeframes when the tenant moves out.

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School Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding licensing or accreditation, quality of education or other practices of public and private schools, vocational/trade schools, correspondence schools, colleges, universities or other educational institutions.

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Teacher Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the certification or accreditation, incompetence, unprofessional conduct, refusal to obey laws regulating the duties of people serving in the public school system or other inappropriate practices of teachers.

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Television Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding companies that manufacture, sell, service or repair television sets or handle the programming for regular, cable or satellite television.

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Travel Agent Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the services, excessive fees, misrepresentation, fraud, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of travel agents and promoters.

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Utility Service Complaints

Programs that accept and, where possible, attempt to resolve complaints regarding the rates, services, equipment, unethical or improper conduct of personnel or other inappropriate business practices of companies that provide electricity, water, natural gas or telephone services.

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The above terms and definitions are part of the Taxonomy of Human Services, used here by permission of INFO LINE of Los Angeles.


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