THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022 Page 3 Revere office safeguards consumers By Adam Swift I f you believe the car you bought was a lemon, you booked a trip you feel was unfairly canceled or have another consumer complaint, you have resources available through the city’s Consumer Aff airs Office. The Office, which operates out of the Senior Center on Winthrop Avenue, has been up and running since the 1980s thanks to grants from the Attorney General’s Offi ce. The Revere offi ce actually serves 14 communities, including Lynn, Malden and Saugus in addition to Revere. “When someone fi les a complaint with the Attorney General’s Offi ce, we contact the person who made the complaint and explain the process,” said Allan Fitzmaurice, the consumer aff airs director in Revere. The fi rst step the Consumer Aff airs Offi ce takes is to send out a letter to the business the complaint was made against, off ering voluntary mediation services. If the initial letter is not answered, the Consumer Aff airs Offi ce will send out additional letters before calling the business, Fitzmaurice said. “If there is room for mediation, we will try to resolve the issue,” Fitzmaurice said. Last year the Offi ce handled 367 complaints and returned more than $257,000 to consumers, he said. During that time, there were a lot of travel-related cases, mostly due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the cancellation of previously booked trips and vacations. During the pandemic, Fitzmaurice said, his offi ce also handled a number of landlord/tenant issues and referred tenants facing eviction to the proper agencies. Home improvement and contractor-related issues are also a healthy percentage of the workload, Fitzmaurice said. Especially when choosing a contractor online, he said, it’s important to follow-up with a call to make sure the online business is legitimate and local. A big part of Fitzmaurice’s job is also providing education through traditional and social media and out in the communities about consumer issues. If anyone has a consumer complaint, Fitzmaurice said, they should fi le the complaint through the state Attorney General’s website, or they can call his offi ce at 781-286-8114 if they need further assistance or help with the process. The Attorney General’s Offi ce tracks the complaints, and besides forwarding them to the local offi ces for mediation, determines if there are particular businesses that are facing an unusual number of complaints. In addition to helping consumers, Fitzmaurice said, he speaks to a number of local businesses and Chambers of Commerce about the importance of working with consumers and the consumer agency. “If someone has a bad experience with a business, they will tell everyone,” said Fitzmaurice. “It is in their best interest to try to resolve it when there is a legitimate complaint.” Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net CIGAR Cigar GIFT PACKS UNDER $50 Marie Lepore and Director Allan Fitzmaurice of the Revere Consumer Aff airs Offi ce on Winthrop Ave. Revere man wins $1 million lottery prize R.Y.O. TOBACCO ---------TUBES We Sell Cigars & Accessories Chris Dan HUMIDOR SPECIAL! $99.95 Complete! Reg. Priced $149.95 * Travel Humidors * Desk Top Humidors * Many Types of Lighters * Ash Trays * Juuls * Vapes * Glass Pipes * Rewards Program * CBD Infused Products * GIFTS UNDER $30 - GIFT CERTIFICATES Deiver Argueta of Revere recently won a $1 million prize after playing the Fastest Road to $1 Million instant ticket game. According to the Massachusetts Lottery, Argueta chose to receive a one-time payment of $650,000. He purchased the ticket at Big Brothers Food Market on Chestnut Street in Lynn. As a result of the win, the store will receive a $10,000 bonus. (Photo Courtesy of the Massachusetts Lottery) A.B.C. CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE (781) 289-4959 STORE HOURS: Monday - Saturday: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sunday & Holidays: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM HUMIDOR SPECIAL! Steve Bundles starting at $49.95 ---------GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE Buy Cigars by the Box & SAVE! Competitive prices on all Brands, Great Selection
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