Florida Consumer Protection Services

[Kola]

A friend of mine run into some problems with a local property rental agency with an office in Pompano Beach, Fl. and is looking for information on state regulatory agencies that could be helpful in resolving the dispute. I am aware of the Florida Division of Consumer Services in Tallahassee and gave him their website. I wonder if there are some other state regulatory bodies or independent bodies (such as BBB) that deal with disputes involving property rental agents. Any suggestions would be helpful.

K.

 

[theo]

A friend of mine run into some problems with a local property rental agency with an office in Pompano Beach, Fl. and is looking for information on state regulatory agencies that could be helpful in resolving the dispute. I am aware of the Florida Division of Consumer Services in Tallahassee and gave him their website. I wonder if there are some other state regulatory bodies or independent bodies (such as BBB) that deal with disputes involving property rental agents. Any suggestions would be helpful.

K.

I don't know the appropriate FL agency of jurisdiction for a property rental agency, but the Consumer Services folks you already identified surely do. My point in responding here is just to encourage minimal investment of time, effort or confidence in any meaningful BBB involvement or assistance. BBB has absolutely no legal authority of any kind; don't spend (i.e., waste) too much time or effort with this impotent "membership" organization...

 

[pranas]

I second this opinion of BBB. The were worthless when I had a problem a few years ago.

 

[carl2591]

BBB worthless is right

just do a search on rippoffreports.com and see how many folks trusted BBB to provide good info and a business only to find out they (BBB) are sometimes protecting the crooks.

worthless and not to be trusted..

 

[Lawlar]

BBB Can Be Effective

I disagree. I've used the BBB to help resolve personal issues (I got a refund from a car dealership for my wife) and for my clients. It is a cost effective way for consumers to get some help. The BBB will usually try to mediate the dispute. If the dispute is not resolved the BBB will post on its website the nature of the complaint and the fact that the dispute was unresolved - and that serves as a warning to others.

I have also represented business clients who were the subject of complaints filed with the BBB. My clients (the honest ones) would bend over backwards to resolve the problem in order to remove the complaint from their records.

If that isn't proof enough, the BBB was responsible for getting one of my clients (a not so honest one) to spend a few years in the pokey (the BBB put presure on an attorney general which resulted in the arrest and prosecution) [By the way, I never practiced criminal law so I did not defend that business client.]

On the other hand, I can't believe that Marriott has a satisfactory record with the BBB. So I agree that the BBB is not perfect.

Other good sources for help include the attorney generals for each state (use the state where the consumer resides) and the Federal Trade Commission. They all have Websites.

 

[Kola]

I disagree. I've used the BBB to help resolve personal issues (I got a refund from a car dealership for my wife) and for my clients. It is a cost effective way for consumers to get some help. The BBB will usually try to mediate the dispute. If the dispute is not resolved the BBB will post on its website the nature of the complaint and the fact that the dispute was unresolved - and that serves as a warning to others.

....................

Other good sources for help include the attorney generals for each state (use the state where the consumer resides) and the Federal Trade Commission. They all have Websites.

Thanks for your advice. I now understand that the rental agency is registered in Florida but is acting as an agent for rental properties in other states as well. After signing a rental agreement and receiving a downpayment the agency has failed to provide a confirmation of occupancy. As far as I know the case remains unresolved since the agency no longer responds to any communications. It remains to be seen if BBB would be able to mediate or some government intervention will be required.

K.

 

[wcfr1]

Florida state government is so broke forget about them helping with anything. Budgets cut by 100's of millions including funding to the courts system. Have a civil suit you want to press? Forgetaboughtit!

 

[Armada]

They might try the Broward County Consumer Agency.