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DCA Wins Consumer Agency of the Year Award
What DCA can do for you…
Consumer Protection Division: provides counseling and complaint investigation on identity theft, landlord/tenant problems, credit, purchases, and automobiles issues.
Small Claims Advisor Program: helps litigants prepare and present their cases in Small Claims Court.
Real Estate Fraud and Homeowner Assistance Unit: is the central reporting agency for real estate fraud. Staff reviews loan documents and resolves problems involving a contractor, a home purchase, sale, or foreclosure.
Dispute Settlement Service: provides mediation services to businesses, neighbors, and others to resolve disputes.
Services are provided to Los Angeles County residents. |
From left to right, Rigoberto Reyes, DCA Chief Investigator; Elizabeth Owen, Director of NACAA; and Pastor Herrera, Jr., Director of DCA.
In May 2006, the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators (NACAA) named the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) “Agency of the Year.”
The award recognized “30 Years of Responsive, Caring Service to Los Angeles County Consumers and Businesses.”
DCA Director Pastor Herrera, Jr. said, “Our whole staff is grateful for this prestigious award. NACAA is a leading force in consumer services. It represents over 160 agencies in the U.S. and other countries. Like us, they all work directly with consumers to solve problems, advance legislation, and support consumer outreach and education”.
When DCA opened in 1976, it provided only consumer protection and mediation services to roughly 60,000 customers. In 2005, it served over 700,000 customers with eight programs. They include consumer protection and real-estate fraud, small claims advice, elder abuse prevention, formal dispute resolution, and self-help legal services.
“Last year was very important to us,” Herrera says. “Our investigators recovered more than $42.5 million in restitution for consumers.”
“Working with the Superior Court, we formed the JusticeCorps, a new volunteer legal-assistance program. And we headed up an award-winning Plain-Language initiative to improve communications."
“Los Angeles County has a population of nearly 10 million living in 88 cities and 130 unincorporated areas. This award is recognition of our determination to meet the needs of this diverse population.”
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