The County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) is proud to celebrate National Consumer Protection Week March 3-9, 2019.
Did you know DCBA is your personal consumer advocate? If something affects your money, it affects us!
Here are just some of the issues we help people with every day.
Mediation/small claims court advice/landlord and tenant issues
Need help preparing for small claims court or want to see if you can avoid it all together? We can help.
If both parties want to work together to resolve a conflict, mediation is a great option to help save time and money. We conduct mediations in Los Angeles County Superior Court (cases ranging from Limited Civil jurisdiction litigation, to Unlawful Detainer and Small Claims cases) and for the community (covering landlord/tenant disputes, debt settlement, non-monetary disputes, and more). You can mediate in person, over the phone, or online.
We also educate renters and landlords about the County’s new temporary rent stabilization ordinance, which was implemented by the County’s Board of Supervisors in November 2018. County residents can contact us for questions or visit the rent stabilization website.
If mediation is not an option for you, we can also help you prepare for small claims court which deals with civil cases; $10,000 limit for individuals, $5,000 limit for businesses or corporations. Assistance is available at various locations in the County. Contact us for more information.
Learn more about our mediation services and small claims court advice.
Foreclosure prevention
Don’t fall for scammers promising to save your home from foreclosure quick and easy. We’re a trusted source providing one-on-one counseling to find the best solution for your situation.
If you’re in danger of losing your home, don’t go through it alone. We offer personalized assistance over the phone or in person. A foreclosure prevention counselor will work with you and your mortgage servicer to negotiate terms and options to keep your home.
Learn more about saving your home here.
Financial empowerment/educating older adults
Want to balance your checkbook smarter? We can connect you to tools to strengthen your financial fitness.
DCBA’s Center for Financial Empowerment (CFE) was created to help County residents with low or moderate incomes to increase their financial capability and achieve economic security. The CFE promotes opportunities available to County residents, such as free tax preparation services. Access free tax preparation services in your neighborhood through FreeTaxPrepLA. Our work is underway to curb the effects of high-cost loans, including refund anticipation loans.
We also hold Smarter Senior Forums throughout the year to educate older adults on the latest scams and good financial practices. Check our events calendar for our full schedule.
Be sure to join us for our National Consumer Protection Week Resource Fair March 7 at Grand Park in Downtown L.A. to meet with our consumer protection experts and more face to face!
Follow @LACountyDCBA on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for latest on consumer protection tips, news and events.
