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<\/p>\nSan Diego County leaders are considering launching a new Consumer Fairness and Public Protection Unit aimed at cracking down on scams, predatory lenders, junk fees and other unfair business practices.<\/p>\n
The proposal, led by San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Terra Lawson-Remer, is still in the development stages. If approved by the Board of Supervisors in the coming months, the unit could be up and running by the end of the year.<\/p>\n
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San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Terra Lawson-Remer explains the scope of the new consumer protection unit she hopes will be up and running by the end of the year.<\/p>\n
Lawson-Remer said the goal is to strengthen protections for consumers across the county.<\/p>\n
“How can we as a county be a better advocate for the public here in San Diego County and protect our public against unfair corporate and business practices that are taking advantage of people?” Lawson-Remer is asking families.<\/p>\n
The proposed unit would focus on more than just scams. According to Lawson-Remer, priorities would include health care and health insurance issues, particularly delayed or denied claims.<\/p>\n
“That’s clearly going to be a top priority. There’s so many people who I hear about every single day whose claims are legitimate. They’re delayed, delayed, delayed, delayed, denied,” Lawson-Remer said.<\/p>\n
The unit would also take aim at unethical or illegal business practices, predatory lenders, junk fees and environmental polluters \u2014 essentially any activity that preys on San Diego County consumers.<\/p>\n
Under the proposal, residents could call the unit directly for help with individual complaints. Lawson-Remer said the office would also take a broader approach when issues affect large groups of people.<\/p>\n
“People with issues can call and say, ‘Hey, this just happened to me, and can you help?'” Lawson-Remer said. “There’s also going to be sort of a bigger strategic litigation lens where we say, OK, these are issues impacting thousands and thousands of people across San Diego County.”<\/p>\n
Community members, like Escondido resident Alvaro Gamez, say the need is real, especially among immigrants and older adults.<\/p>\n
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Alvaro Gamez from Escondido says he supports a new consumer protection unit as long as the funding is used wisely.<\/p>\n
“There\u2019s a lot going on. There’s a lot of scamming within our community,” Gamez said. “I\u2019ve always been like you approach me, nah, I\u2019ve been burned too many times.”<\/p>\n
He attended a recent town hall with his wife to learn more about the proposal and said he supports the idea \u2014 as long as it is enforced properly.<\/p>\n
Lawson-Remer said enforcement would be a key component. The unit would work alongside the District Attorney\u2019s Economic Crimes and Consumer Protection Division and other local consumer advocacy groups.<\/p>\n
“There’s just not enough folks in the fight, and the county has a lot of expertise and some resources that can only be used for this purpose,” Lawson-Remer said.<\/p>\n
She added that the county already has millions of dollars set aside that legally can only be used for consumer fairness and protection efforts.<\/p>\n
“Because we can’t spend it on other county priorities legally. So this is, I think, a moral obligation to put this money to work for San Diego residents,” Lawson-Remer said. <\/p>\n
“Then over time, we do anticipate based on the experiences of other jurisdictions and other counties that this unit will be revenue-generating and will end up being self-sustaining,” she predicted.<\/p>\n
The proposal still needs approval from the Board of Supervisors. A vote could happen as soon as mid-March. <\/p>\n