Because of an increase in the number of consumers reporting problems, Attorney General Peter Heed and Better Business Bureau President Robert Shomphe are urging New Hampshire consumers to do their homework before entering into a contract with a business and before giving a deposit for the work to be done.

Prior to signing any contract or giving a deposit to a business, Attorney General Heed suggests that "Consumers should check the reputation of the business and any history of complaints against it by contacting both the Consumer Protection Bureau of the Attorney General's Office and the Better Business Bureau." Both agencies are invaluable resources for any consumer. A consumer may also want to check their local district court to see if any lawsuits have been filed against the company.

According to BBB President, Robert Shomphe, "It is necessary to contact both the Consumer Protection Bureau and the Better Business Bureau to check on a business's reputation because both agencies rely to a great extent on information given to them by consumers. Depending on which agency a consumer contacts to report his or her experience with a business, each agency may not have identical information on a given business. It is necessary, therefore, for an educated consumer, one who wants to have a complete picture of a business before giving it his or her hard-earned money, to contact both the Consumer Protection Bureau and the Better Business Bureau."

"It is much easier not to give a deposit to a business which has numerous complaints against it than it is to try to obtain a refund at a later date", Attorney General Heed added.

Consumers wishing to check on a business, its reputation and history of complaints, if any, should call the Consumer Protection Bureau at 271-3641 and the Better Business Bureau at 224-1991.

Additional information can also be obtained at the Bureau's website, www.state.nh.us/nhdoj or the BBB website at www.bbbnh.org.

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