Bryant announced that Ms. Julie Pickell will become the Consumer Affairs Investigator.  Ms. Pickell who is a trained law enforcement investigator, had previously been cross-trained as a consumer affairs investigator.  Therefore, she was the logical choice to try to continue certain aspects of the Consumer Affairs Program.  Obviously, one person cannot do the work, or handle the breadth of cases that three investigators have done here for years. 

 Thus consumers will continue to have the benefit of initial investigation of construction fraud, the facilitation and liaison of communications between consumers and other appropriate state and local agencies, investigations of telephone and door-to-door scams and fraud, and price gouging during emergency situations.  In addition Ms. Pickell will provide bi-weekly website updates of consumer fraud alerts and product manufacturer recalls on the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s website at vbgov.com.  She will continue, with a goal to expand, consumer education programs already in place such as CASE (Communities Against Senior Exploitation), TRIAD/SALT (Seniors And Law Enforcement Together), and presentations at other civic leagues, service organizations, churches and synagogues as requested. 

 “One of my goals is to improve communications with our citizens through the use of VBTV”, Pickell said.  “Any time we can educate citizens as to how to protect themselves from becoming victims of scams and fraud, that’s a step forward,” Pickell added. 

 The Virginia Beach Consumer Affairs Office opened in July, 1969 under the Department of Permits and Inspections.  In July, 1984, the program was moved under the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney.  The mission of the Consumer Affairs Program is to provide safeguards for the consuming public of Virginia Beach against unfair, deceptive, or unconscionable acts or practices in the conduct of trade in Virginia Beach.  This objective is met through law enforcement, consumer education, research, and the promotion of legitimate business practices. 

 “For many years the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office has been the only one in the state to have its own Consumer Affairs Program,” Bryant said.  “I am glad to announce that my office will be able to continue to offer at least some of the services of that program”, Bryant added.

 Citizens with complaints or questions regarding consumer issues or requesting an educational presentation for their organization should contact the Consumer Affairs Investigator at 757-385-6373.  Other consumer complaints can be directed to the State Office of Consumer Affairs in Richmond at 1-800-552-9963 or www.vdacs.state.va.us. 

Please contact Macie Pridgen if additional information is desired.