Tom was shopping in his favorite grocery store. It's Tom's favorite because the "wonderful ladies" who give him samples kept his mind occupied on food. Many times he would go to the aisle where the sample was pulled from to purchase the item he just sampled because he was able to ‘sample the goods' before purchasing. His freedom of spending time in grocery stores eating resulted in a pantry and refrigerator full with food he still have yet to cook for himself...

Many of today's financial problems arise from the customer's failure to use sound judgment in making purchasing decisions. Merchants who use questionable selling practices for profit cause these problems. To safeguard yourself from these unscrupulous sellers, you need to be alert to the many dangers and pitfalls that wait. In this article, you will learn how to free yourself from financial problems that pop up and how to make effective complaints to the proper authorities.

The Different Kinds Of Consumer Problems

The consumer who is aware of the problems that lie in the road ahead of them is in a better position than the consumer who blindly travels the very same road. When shopping, you must remember that not all merchants have your best interest in mind. Sadly, many of these merchants use questionable sales tactics, techniques and pressures to influence you to purchase what they are selling. These same merchants don't care what your wants and needs are because all they want is to show a profit. There are some merchants who use misleading advertising to ‘brainwash' you into purchasing their goods or services. And there are others who practice fraudulent or deceptive tactics that rob you of your consumer rights and trick you into buying what they are selling. It's important to know what you want to be informed about the product or service. This way, you are less likely to become a victim of these sales techniques:

• Lofty Claims
• Information that is incomplete or lacking facts
• Misleading information
• Persistence on making the sell immediately
• Criticism of competitors
• Attempting to sell you on a higher priced item, otherwise known as a ‘bait and switch'
• Excessive friendliness
• The switching or turnover to different sales clerk or sales manager

To help protect yourself from these sales practices, you must;

• Know what you want
• Allow yourself NOT to be rushed
• Make sure you receive ALL the facts
• Keep from purchasing due to unreasonable claims or dreams
• Make sure everything is in writing

Advertising is the focal point of every business. Whether by word of mouth, media, or other forms, a business must get the word out on the street that it's open for business. Advertising can give you a brief synopsis about price, features, benefits, etc. It can also spread confusing or misleading information to the general population. This can be bothersome because so much information is transferred because of advertising.

The American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA) developed a Code of Ethics. This code lists advertising practices that are harmful to consumers. Among the list are:

• False or misleading statements
• Testimonials that doesn't reflect the decisions of past customers
• Price claims that are misleading
• Comparisons that criticize a competitor's product or service
• Unjust claims that doesn't support the real meaning of statements made by a professional or case study

These merchants intentionally try to swindle or trick their customers. Fraudulent practices are illegal procedures used to rob individuals of their consumer rights. A common example of this kind or practice is small-time credit repair services that guarantee that they can eliminate bad credit. Deceptive practices are unethical procedures that are used to mislead individuals. An example of this can be found when companies claim to have sold out of an advertised item but will sell you something similar that cost higher than what item you were informed about. These two practices run rampart over the Internet as well as ‘brick and mortar' buildings.

Registering A Complaint

People complain in their head about shady practices they experience everyday. There are eight steps to effectively file a complaint. Unofficially however, the first step towards solving a customer problem is of course to register or file the complaint. In this complaint, it must be clearly stated what the reason is for. It is wise to make sure you have as much information on hand as possible such as receipts and sales slips.

Oftentimes this complaint can be made over the telephone. However, there are more avenues you can use such as using the Internet, personal visits, or by sending letters. For example, if you have a problem white a store charge account, you might want to solve it by telephone. It's very important that you have pertinent information beginning with the name of the person who received your complaint. Make sure you record the date of the call, and jot down notes on what was said. This may be needed later on if there's no resolution in the early stages of your complaint.

If the complaint you intend to file is due to defective or non-working merchandise or services that didn't perform to par, then personal visits are the best way to handle it. Many times, all you need to do is simply return the product to the store or talk to the manager about the service you paid for. Make sure to bring the proper paperwork such as receipts and/or invoices. After all, there have to be proof that you purchased the product or service.

Filing letters of complaint may not be the fastest way however, it can help you reach the upper management of the company or business you have a problem with. Letters of complaint is also good because it is a written account of the action you took. This can be used as evidence in a court of law. Make sure to make copies just in case something drastic may happen. If one letter doesn't produce the results you were looking for, then write another one. Address this letter to the president or owner of the company. Then send a copy of this letter to the better business bureau and also the local and state government office that's responsible for consumer protection.

If all the steps illustrated still don't produce the results you're looking for, then the next step is legal action. This is where those extra copies of your written statements and letters come in handy. In court, you must be able to prove without a doubt that you attempted all the steps before proceeding to this step. Here's a breakdown of all the steps needed to formally file a complaint:

1. Contact the sales clerk

2. Contact the store manager

3. Write a letter to the company or business affairs department

4. Write a letter to the president or owner

5. Contact the manufacturer (if applicable)

6. Notify industry consumer action panels

7. Contact the national consumer affairs department

8. Take legal action

Sometimes if the infraction is serious enough, you will need to take it to court. An attorney will be able to advise you more about if it's legitimate enough to warrant such action. Most times you can take the matter through small claims court. There, they quickly solve disputes up to $3,000 in some states. The good thing about small claims court is that you normally don't need the services of a lawyer to file suit. If the matter is larger than what the small claims court in your state will allow, then you will have to hire an attorney and settle the dispute in a higher court. If you can't afford one, then check with you local Legal Aid Society or the public defender.