Nixon recovers record $3.4M for consumers

The Consumer Protection Division of Nixon’s office used informal mediation outside the courts to recover that money, according to a news release. The previous record amount recovered through mediation was $2.84 million in 2003.

“Our consumer protection team has been very successful at resolving disputes between consumers and businesses without having to resort to taking formal legal action,” Nixon said in the release. “Of course, we are always prepared to go to the courts if necessary, but informal mediation helps to expedite the process of returning money to consumers.”

Nixon’s office received nearly 89,000 complaints and inquiries via mail, e-mail and the Consumer Protection Hotline in 2005. Complaints related to telephone services were the leading type of problem reported in 2005.

For 2004 and 2005, the consumer complaint unit brought in more than $6.1 million in informal restitution. Since Nixon took office in 1993, his office has returned more than $27.9 million directly to consumers.