Press Releases 

Press Contact:  Eric Friedman, Director
240.777.3636
consumerprotection@montgomerycountymd.gov
 
 
 
 

 

 

December 3, 2021

Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection to Celebrate 50 Years of Accomplishments by Inviting Public to Join Ceremonies on Monday, Dec. 6

 

August 25, 2021

Montgomery County Public Election Fund Questions Can Now Be Answered by Office of Consumer Protection

La Oficina de Protección al Consumidor del Condado de Montgomery puede responder preguntas sobre el Fondo Público para Elecciones

June 30, 2021

Unlicensed Plumbers and Gasfitters Increasing—and Should Be Avoided—Warns Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection

Los Plomeros e Instaladores de Gas Sin Licencia Aumentan - y Deben Ser Evitados - Advierte la Oficina de Protección al Consumidor del Condado de Montgomery

February 18, 2021

COVID-19-Related Scams Targeting County Residents Are Being Exposed by Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection

La Oficina De Protección al Consumidor del Condado de Montgomery Expone Una Estafa Relacionada Con COVID-19 Dirigida a Los Residentes del Condado
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December 1, 2020

Before Sending a Check as a Donation Around the Holidays, Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection Advises Residents to Check on the Charity

Antes De Enviar Un Cheque Como Donación Durante Las Navidades, La Oficina De Protección Al Consumidor Del Condado De Montgomery Aconseja A Los Residentes Que Verifiquen La Organización Benéfica

November 18, 2020

Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection Offers Advice When Considering Roof Replacement—Tips from Top to Bottom

La Oficina De Protección Al Consumidor Del Condado De Montgomery Ofrece Consejos Cuando Se Considera El Reemplazo De Techo: Consejos De Arriba Hacia Abajo​

November 12, 2020

Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection Warns of Scams that Start on Social Media

La Oficina de Protección al Consumidor del Condado de Montgomery advierte sobre estafas que comienzan en las redes sociales​

November 5, 2020

Phishing, Smishing and Vishing: Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection Warns of Increased Creative Attempts to Steal Personal Identification During the Holidays

Phishing, Smishing y Vishing: la Oficina de Protección al Consumidor del Condado de Montgomery advierte sobre el aumento de los intentos creativos para robar la identificación personal durante las vacaciones navideñas

October 29, 2020
Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection Advises That Taking Password Protection Actions Can Help Avoid Giving Criminals the Holiday Gift of Access to Your Personal Accounts
La Oficina de Protección al Consumidor del Condado de Montgomery aconseja que tomar medidas de seguridad de contraseña puede ayudar a evitar dar a los delincuentes el regalo navideño de acceso a sus cuentas personales

October 20, 2020
Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection Alerts Consumers and Restaurant Owners to the Large Fees Charged by Online Food-Delivery Services
La Oficina de Protección al Consumidor del Condado de Montgomery Alerta a Los Consumidores y Dueños de Restaurantes Sobre Las Altas Tarifas Cobradas Por Los Pedidos de Entrega de Alimentos Utilizando Aplicaciones o el Internet

October 15, 2020
Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection Warns: The Holidays Bring More than Festive Times . . . They Also Bring Scammers
La Oficina de Protección al Consumidor del Condado de Montgomery advierte: Los días festivos traen más que tiempos festivos . . . también traen estafadores

May 4, 2020
Maryland Court of Appeals Issues Order Upholding License Revocation of Custom Home Builder That Was Sought by Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection

April 2, 2020
Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection Provides Advice to Avoid Scams Related to COVID-19 Health Crisis
La Oficina de Protección al Consumidor del Condado de Montgomery brinda asesoramiento para evitar estafas relacionadas con la crisis de salud de COVID-19

March 3, 2020

Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection and Montgomery County Public Libraries Celebrate National Consumer Protection Week

November 18, 2019

Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection Uncovers Political Action Committee engaged in Deceptive Telemarketing Regarding Alleged Donations to Local Volunteer Firefighters

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November 7, 2019

Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection Warns About Increasing Activity of ‘Porch Pirates’ and ‘Mock Mailers’ During the Holidays

October 22, 2019
Montgomery County's Office of Consumer Protection Warns About Increased Scams Involving Craigslist Around the Holidays

March 5, 2019

Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection Takes Legal Action Regarding Unscrupulous Contractors – Obtains Restitution for Consumers

January 17, 2019
Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection Warns Furloughed Federal Workers About Scam Artists

January 9, 2019

Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection to Host Maryland Commissioner of Financial Regulation's Listening Tour

August 14, 2018
Office of Consumer Protection Revokes New Home Builder's License

July 19, 2018

Office of Consumer Protection will co-host ConsumerFest with U. S. Rep. Jamie Raskin and Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh


July 3, 2018
Office of Consumer Protection Intervenes to Recover and Distribute Items Left at Evicted Consignment Shop in Bethesda

February 28, 2018

Office of Consumer Protection Co-Sponsors Multi-Agency Forum to Kick-Off National Consumer Protection Week

September 7,  2017

Office of Consumer Protection Issues Alert Regarding Coupon-based Air Duct Cleaning Services


May 31,  2017
Office of Consumer Protection Intervenes to Recover and Distribute Clothing Left at Evicted Drycleaners

March 16,  2017
OCP Launches “Language Friendly Hours” to Enhance Outreach Efforts

February 2,  2017
County Warns Consumers and Businesses About Lost Pet and Lost Child “Donation” Boxes in Stores  

November 10,  2016
Office of Consumer Protection Helps to Recover and Distribute Clothing Left at Evicted Drycleaners

November 7,  2016

Verizon Telephone Service Copper to Fiber Transition: What Maryland Consumers Need to Know
The Mayland Office of People’s Counsel advises Maryland consumers on the proposed transition.

May 17,  2016

Office of Consumer Protection Intervenes to Recover and Distribute Clothing Left at Evicted Drycleaners

Consumers who dropped off clothing at Super Cleaners, 12009 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, may be able to reclaim their items even though the store has closed and the owners have been evicted from the site.  Read more..
May 16,  2016
Office of Consumer Protection Offers Mediation Services for Businesses
Montgomery County's Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is offering expert mediation services to businesses to help resolve a variety of disputes.

In conjunction with County Executive Ike Leggett's " Culture of Solutions" initiative, expert mediation services currently used to resolve consumer and common ownership community disputes are now being extended and made available to businesses in Montgomery County for free.  Read more..
May 6,  2016
Office of Consumer Protection Collaborates with State to Take Action Against Merchant Who Failed to Deliver Wedding Videos
Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) has received over 35 complaints from newlyweds alleging that they paid a local wedding video business $2,000 to $14,000 for videography services and have waited between one to two years without receiving their wedding videos.  Read the news release here.  
June 16,  2015
County Executive Offers Recommendation to Enhance Pending Legislation to Curb Overly Aggressive Towing
OCP Director Eric Friedman encourages consumers to submit written testimony to support the County Executive's recommendations to stop overly aggressive and "predatory" towing.  Written testimony can be submitted to the County Council via email to:  county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov .  The deadline for submitting written testimony is Wednesday, June 24, 2015 no later than 5:00 p.m.  For information regarding the County Executive's recommendations, please read the news release  here.
June 12,  2015
OCP Warns Property Owners About Deceptive Letter Soliciting Payment to Reduce Property Tax Bill
Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is warning property owners not to be fooled by a  deceptive letter which encourages consumers to pay $99 to petition to have their property tax assessment reviewed.   Read More
January 21,  2015
Montgomery County's Office of Consumer Protection Featured on NBC Today Show
Montgomery County's Office of Consumer Protection was featured today in a consumer report on the NBC "Today Show" alerting consumers to the nationwide problem created  by certain towing practices.   Read More
December 15,  2014
Office of Consumer Protection Advises Consumers to Choose Charities Wisely & Donate Carefully
The Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection warns County residents to be cautious when donating to charities and other causes.  Our community has stepped up to raise money and needed items for the families affected by the recent tragedy in our county.  It is imperative to remember that scammers often use tragedies to take advantage of people...  Read More