Consumer Information

Consumers have little protection against companies and banks.  We specifically list "banks" because of the complaints that have been presented to us.

For example, if someone defaults on a mortgage (meaning they cannot pay it) then the bank can foreclose on the property.  If the foreclosure is successful the bank evicts the mortgagee and then has the property at their disposal.

What banks do not do, which we feel should be done, is maintain the property so that it keeps the neighborhood looking up to the standards of the rest of the properties in the area.  For example, there was a foreclosed property that stood vacant for more than a decade.  The bank did not maintain the property at all so that the roof started to leak and eventually the wood rotted; from street level you could see the sky through the roof of the house - that's how big the hole was.  Of course, the alderman (Carothers) didn't do anything about it.

Consumer Protections

There is a Federal law that was instituted years ago to protect consumer; personally we feel it needs shoring up so that it protects the consumer more than it does.  Here is the link to that law.

What is Your Recourse?

As a consumer you can file a complaint.  Of course, there is no guarantee that the receiving party will do anything to address the issue but it never hurts to make them aware of a problem(s) with some company.

In the State of Illinois, the highest office that allegedly works to protect the people of the State of Illinois is the Attorney General's Office.  This office is currently occupied by Mike Madigan's (Speaker of the House who should have retired years ago) daughter, Lisa Madigan, who herself violated the "Sign Ordinance" multiple times by illegally placing signs on the parkway.  Be that as it may, here is the form to use.

The links below lead to a form that requires a pdf reader.  We suggest that you do not fill out the form online but rather print it and then fill it out.  Why?  If you fill it out online, you will NOT have a copy for your records.

Attorney General - Consumer Complaint form:  English, Spanish

Due to the fact that we have received several complaints against a company whose office is in Texas, we provide the form to use for the Attorney General in Texas:  English, Spanish.

Here is a more detailed guide that you might find interesting.  It was written and updated by the Young Lawyers Section (YLS) of the Chicago Bar Association for the purpose of increasing Chicagoans' knowledge of the legal rules that affect all of us.  Credit is hereby given to the authors of the document.

As more information is researched, it will be put online for you.