-WJLA SCRIPT-

ANCHOR:

WHEN SOMEONE SELLS YOU SOMETHING IN YOUR HOME... YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO CANCEL AND GET YOUR MONEY BACK. BUT WHEN THAT DOESN'T WORK, THERE'S ALWAYS "7 ON YOUR SIDE'S" ROSS MCLAUGHLIN. HE'S HERE NOW WITH ONE WOMAN'S FRUSTRATION... ROSS? 

ROSS MCLAUGHLIN:

IT'S CALLED THE 3 DAY RULE, BUT WHEN 3 DAYS TURNED TO 3 WEEKS A MARYLAND WOMAN NEEDED THE 3 MINUTE SOLUTION. SO SHE CALLED US TO GET THEM TO "SHOW HER THE MONEY."

STORY:

Arnese Parker: "She measured these 4 windows..." 

NEW WINDOW COVERINGS FOR A NEW CONDO. 

Arnese Parker: "I changed my mind because my husband said it was too much money." 

EXCEPT ARNESE PARKER HAD ALREADY PUT DOWN 22 HUNDRED DOLLARS ON A CONTRACT WITH JC PENNEY. FORTUNATELY SHE COULD GET OUT OF IT. 

Arnese Parker: "They give you the 3 day standard grace period to cancel the contract." 

SO SHE DID, IN WRITING AND IN PERSON. 

Arnese Parker: "She said I would not have to put a stop payment on the check, that it would not be processed." 

OH BUT IT WAS, AND THAT CAUSED PROBLEMS. BOUNCED CHECKS, NSF FEES, AND THE RUNAROUND. 

Arnese Parker: "It shouldn't have happened, I don't know why that happened, it shouldn't have happened." 

SHE WAS PROMISED A CHECK BUT GOT NOTHING. 

Arnese Parker: "I have copy of my canceled contract, I have copy of my bank statements to show the fees and everything." 

THAT'S ALL WE NEED. 

Ross: "Well you shouldn't have to wait as long as you've waited." 

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE AT JC PENNEY IN FORESTVILLE. 

Ross: "Looks pretty empty to me." 

WE COULDN'T FIND THEM. BUT... 

Arnese Parker: "It's the consumer man from channel 7."
Ross: "Oh they recognized me."
Arnese Parker: "Hmm hmm." 

THEY FOUND US. 

Ross: "Hi, Ross McLaughlin 7 On Your Side." 

ENTER STORE MANGER SHAWN BLANKS AND HIS ASSISTANT. 

Ross: "She's got a situation here with the Custom Design Center on a contract she canceled." 

WE EXPLAIN IT AND... 

Shawn Blanks: "I can check with Angie because she doesn't actually work out of this store." 

HE'LL TAKE IT UP WITH THE DISTRICT MANAGER... 

Shawn Blanks: "They had indeed sent the check out they're just trying to locate it." 

BUT HE CAN TAKE CARE OF HER NOW. 

Shawn Blanks: "I can pay you in cash." 

AND HE DOES... 

Arnese Parker: "One, two, three. Yeah, see Ross I got all my money." 

IT'S ALL THERE. 28 HUNDRED DOLLARS. HER DEPOSIT PLUS MONEY TO COVER THE NSF FEES SHE INCURRED. 

Arnese Parker: "Astounded, it's fabulous you guys are great." 

ROSS IN STUDIO:

THANKS TO JC PENNY'S GENERAL MANAGER SHAWN BLANKS WHO SHOWED A GREAT DEAL OF INITIATIVE IN RESOLVING THIS. WE CAN'T HELP EVERYONE SO IF A COMPANY FAILS TO HONOR YOUR RIGHT TO CANCEL A DOOR TO DOOR SALES CONTRACT YOU CAN COMPLAIN TO YOUR STATE'S CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION. 


ON THE WEB:

Maryland Consumer Protection Offices

DC Consumer Protection

Virginia Consumer Protection

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