Consumer Protection

The Office of Consumer Protection provides educational content through in-person presentations and through virtual webinars.  From scams, to home improvement, to debt collection, and beyond, the Office's YouTube library covers many topics.  Videos are available in English, Chinese, Korean and and Spanish.

• YouTube: Office of Consumer Protection

Residents more comfortable communicating in a language other than English can always ask for an interpreter to be provided by appointment. To make this process easier, the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) has specifically recruited volunteers to help with complaints, investigations, and licensing. These volunteers speak Korean, Mandarin and Spanish.  

Consumers who wish to speak to OCP staff in these three languages should call 410-313-3820. The outgoing message will prompt the caller (in the languages) to press a number for the correct extension. Our volunteers will:

• work with OCP staff to answer consumer and business questions;  
• translate consumer education materials and articles; and
• provide in-person or webinar programs.

If you need to communicate with us in other languages, please call 410-313-6420 and we will accommodate your request.

• American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Association of Community Services Howard County
• Better Business Bureau
• CASH Campaign of Maryland
• Community Action Council of Howard County
• Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Maryland
• Economic Action Council
• Grassroots Crisis Intervention
• MakingChange, Inc.
• Maryland Legal Aid
• Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
• Pro Bono Research Center MD

• Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation
  • Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
  • Office of Financial Regulation
• Maryland Energy Administration
• Maryland General Assembly
• Maryland Insurance Administration
• Maryland Office of the Attorney General - Consumer Protection Division
• Maryland Office of the Attorney General - Securities Division
• Office of People's Counsel
• Public Service Commission
• Secretary of State-Charitable Organizations Division

• Commodity Futures Trading Commission
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Environmental Protection Agency
  • Energy Star Program
  • Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
• Federal Trade Commission
  • National Do Not Call Registry
  • Report Fraud or Scams to FTC
  • Report Identity Theft and Get Help
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
• Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
• Securities and Exchange Commission

Consumer related recalls are issued by federal agencies such as The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for consumer goods and by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) for motor vehicles. Each agency has a search function to assist consumers in verifying their products.

Two notable CPSC recalls alerted by the Office of Disability Services' Loan Closet are linked below.