Right Column
Message From the Department
Dear Consumer:
The California Department of Consumer Affairs regulates more than 2.4 million practitioners in more than 255 professions and occupations. Our goal is to ensure competent and fair marketplace practices and the protection of consumers.
In most professions, occupations, and businesses regulated by the Department of Consumer Affairs, the department's main function is to help assure basic competency on the part of those entering and practicing the particular occupation or profession. The Department also enforces standards of fair and competent conduct applicable to practitioners.
In every profession, occupation, and business, disputes do occur. When that happens, we encourage the consumer to contact the business. The origin of a dispute may rest in a simple misunderstanding or faulty communication that can be easily cured if the parties interact openly with each other. Most businesses try to honor their customer's rights and look out for their best interests, and a few businesses operate under the principle that "the consumer is always right."
In situations where a consumer and a business are unable to resolve their differences on their own, it's possible that participation by a neutral third party can help. Most disputes can be settled in an equitable and timely manner, whether directly with the business or through mediation. The presence of a third party, acting as mediator, can help both parties in a dispute to look at their own situation and interests realistically. The Department of Consumer Affairs fosters mediation by providing and supporting consumer complaint mediation services. Information about department services is available at www.dca.ca.gov, or you can call (800) 952-5210.
When a consumer is not able to resolve a problem directly with a business, Small Claims Court can also be an effective option. For disputes within the monetary and subject matter jurisdiction of Small Claims Court, Small Claims Court can be one of the speediest and most effective ways to resolve a dispute. This handbook is written to help you make the best possible use of the Small Claims Court when you find yourself involved in a dispute.
We hope you find this handbook on the practical use of Small Claims Court helpful.
California Department of Consumer Affairs
