Group created for local consumer mediations

By STEVE DANA
Collegian Staff Writer

Buyer beware -- but not if the new unit of a consumer protection agency can help it.

Attorney General Mike Fisher officially opened his Centre Region Consumer Mediation Unit at 417 E. Calder Way yesterday to assist his office with the numerous complaints filed each year by consumers in central and southern Pennsylvania.

Under the supervision of the attorneys and agents, Penn State students deal directly with the complaints and attempt to negotiate with business and customers in an effort to appease both sides.

"Everybody is satisfied -- the consumer is happy and the company is no longer barraged with complaints," said Barbara Petito, deputy press secretary for the attorney general.

After a complaint is filed, the unit determines if the claim is legitimate, then it attempts to negotiate with the company. If the company refuses to compromise and the claim is deemed legitimate, it is recommended to be seen by the district magistrate, said Frank Kunze (junior-health policy and administration), a member of the mediation unit.

The 12-member mediation unit deals with many different complaints.

"The office negotiates a variety of cases -- everything from home improvement contractors to tenant-land lord complaints," Petito said.

The biggest issues the mediation unit deals with concerning students involve apartment rentals and auto mechanics, but recently there have been some cases involving spring break packages.

Fisher created the office to take advantage of the volunteers Penn State has, which can relieve some of the load from the Ebensburg office, Kunze said.

"It's a win-win situation. They allow more time to look at individual cases and preparing cases for litigation," Petito said.

The mediation team, which has been assigned to more than 500 cases, has successfully mediated cases resulting in thousands of dollars in refunds or savings to consumers, Petito said.

"It is so worth time it takes to fill out an application . . . to get the situation resolved. It is a low-cost method that could lead to compensation," Kunze said.