| CONSUMER SERVICES | |
| Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection Division | |
44 North Potomac Street, Suite 104
State legislature created the Consumer Protection Division to protect Maryland residents from unfair or deceptive business practices in dealings with stores, telemarketers, car dealers, repair facilities, new home developers, and any other business that sell or rent consumer goods, realty, credit, or services. They offer 3 types of dispute resolution: 1) free mediation services, which are initiated at the request of the consumer to attempt to negotiate a mutually agreed upon resolution; 2) the Health Education and Advocacy Unit, which assists in resolving billing and claims disputes with hospitals, doctors, insurance companies, etc., and attempts to negotiate refunds for medical equipment that is defective or never delivered; 3) arbitration, which is free, binding, and designed to resolve disputes quickly. Consumer Protection Division also responds to inquiries about the complaint history of any business; about whether a health club, weight loss center, or martial arts school is registered with the state as required by law; and provides educational publications on related topics. | |
| Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland | |
502 South Sharp Street, Suite 1200
BBB serving Greater Maryland helps people find and recommend businesses, brands, and charities they can trust. It provides free Business Reviews on millions of organizations across North America, including approximately 5,000 Frederick County businesses. Companies in and around Frederick County can be searched by name, by industry, or through the BBB Accredited Business Directory. Requests for price quotes or appointments can be sent with a few mouse clicks! BBB offers a no-cost dispute resolution service, mediation, arbitration, and AUTO LINE lemon law dispute resolution in conjunction with 28 automotive manufacturers.
BBB is a private, non-profit organization founded locally in 1917. Its mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. It does this by creating a community of trustworthy BBB Accredited Businesses, setting standards for marketplace trust, encouraging and supporting best practices, celebrating marketplace role models, and denouncing substandard marketplace behavior. | |
| Fair Housing Action Center of Maryland Fair Housing Program | |
2209 Maryland Avenue
The Fair Housing program provides education to housing consumers about how to recognize the subtle ways housing discrimination happens, and how to report suspicious actions and policies. We also investigate complaints and assist victims of housing discrimination. In addition, housing providers, lenders, and insurance companies are educated by our staff to understand their responsibilities under Fair Housing laws. We seek to eliminate housing discrimination against all persons because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, families with children, sexual orientation, and other characteristics protected by state or local laws throughout Maryland. | |
| Frederick Community Action Agency | |
100 South Market Street
See index for a complete listing of Frederick Community Action Agency's programs. | |
| Homebuyer Education Classes | |
Frederick Community Action Agency
The FCAA offers Homebuyer Education Classes on a regular basis to assist first-time homebuyers that are working to purchase their own home or to better understand the process of obtaining a mortgage. Families that graduate from the Homebuyer Education Program often benefit from follow-up counseling or an individual basis with an FCAA Housing Counselor. Families and adults in need of housing counseling for first-time homebuyers are eligible for these classes. | |
| Housing Counseling Services | |
Frederick Community Action Agency
The FCAA is a HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency and provides pre-purchase, default, reverse mortgage, and rental housing counseling for renters, homeowners and first-time homebuyers. Families and adults in need of housing counseling services such as mortgage default counseling, reverse mortgage counseling, or first-time homebuyer education are eligible for these services. | |
| Frederick County Human Relations Department | |
401 Sagner Avenue
A County Government agency that investigates allegations of unlawful discriminatory treatment based on age, race, gender, religion, national origin, marital status, physical and mental disability, familial status, and source of income, in the areas of housing, employment, and public accommodations. All inquiries to the HRD are free and confidential. The HRD’s hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8:00a.m.-4:00p.m. Appointments during non-business hours can be arranged upon request. | |
| Frederick County Medical Society | |
P.O. Box 1094
The Frederick County Medical Society has been in existence since 1847. Its mission remains the same as stated some 173+ years ago: to provide oversight of physician performance in the practice of medicine, involvement in medical education by providing teaching and learning opportunities for local physicians, and the advancement of science by contributions to medical literature. It also provides referrals to local practices and a portal for complaints or concerns about local office practices. Complaints or concerns must be submitted in WRITING to the mailing address above. | |
| Interfaith Housing Alliance Financial and Homeownership Workshops | |
22 South Market Street, Suite 217
The Financial and Housing Workshops provide financial education and housing counseling services and workshops for the working poor, seniors on fixed incomes, and individuals or families with disadvantages and/or disabilities, to give them the knowledge and resources they need to achieve economic stability and a higher quality of life. | |
| Housing Authority of the City of Frederick Prosperity Center | |
629 North Market Street
Provides a wide range of financial management classes as well as free tax preparation services. | |
| Maryland Department of Housing and Community
Development Homeowners Preserving Equity (HOPE) | |
7800 Harkins Rd
Maryland has created this website and hotline to guide you to resources that may be available to assist both homeowners and renters facing foreclosure. The website includes information to help you understand the foreclosure process and the options that may be available to you. You also can find information that will lead you to a housing counseling agency in your area that can assist you on a more personalized level. | |
| Maryland Health Care Commission | |
4160 Patterson Avenue
The Maryland Health Care Commission is an independent regulatory agency whose mission is to plan for health system needs, promote informed decision-making, increase accountability, and improve access in a rapidly changing health care environment by providing timely and accurate information on availability, cost, and quality of services to policy makers, purchasers, providers, and the public. The Commission’s vision for Maryland is to ensure that informed consumers hold the health care system accountable and have access to affordable and appropriate health care services through programs that serve as models for the nation. The Maryland Health Care Commission provides information for consumers on health care quality and cost through the Maryland Health Care Quality Reports and the WeartheCost campaign. The Commission produces an comprehensive web-based Consumer Guide to Long Term Care. These resources can be accessed on the Commission's website, http://mhcc.maryland.gov. | |
| Maryland Insurance Administration Consumer Education & Advocacy Unit | |
200 Saint Paul Place, Suite 2700
The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) is the state agency that regulates the business of insurance in the State of Maryland. If a consumer has a question about insurance or experiences a problem, they can contact the MIA for help. The MIA provides assistance to consumers, businesses, healthcare providers, and insurance professionals in all areas of insurance including life, health, disability, automobile, homeowners, and property. | |
| Maryland State Department of Education Office of Child Care Region XII - Frederick County | |
5303 Spectrum Drive, Suite G
Offers: 1) licensing and registering of child care facilities; 2) monitoring of child care facilities for compliance with state child care regulations; 3) investigation of complaints involving illegal child care and maltreatment of children in child care facilities; 4) training for providers; 5) orientation for interested applicants and perspective providers; and 6) on-going technical assistance for providers. | |
| Mental Health Management Agency of Frederick County, Inc. | |
22 South Market Street, Suite 8, Floor 2F
MHMA manages the various components of the Public Mental Health System in Frederick County. These services are available to individuals who receive or are financially eligible for Medicaid, and to individuals to whom - because of their medical and financial need - the cost of mental health services is subsidized, in whole or in part, by State or local funds. MHMA is responsible for managing and monitoring the provision of mental health services to the current eligible populations of children, adolescents, and adults with mental illness. MHMA manages $13 million in public funds for direct services handled by private providers, as follows: outpatient services, inpatient services, psychiatric rehabilitation programs, residential rehabilitation programs, crisis services, case management, mobile treatment services, respite services, and supported employment. MHMA assures consumer access and consumer rights; assesses Frederick County’s mental health service needs and plans the implementation of a system that meets those needs; oversees fiscal accountability including the approval of claims and payments; assists with resolution of complaints, grievances, and appeals; evaluates and monitors progress; measures outcomes and quality of care and increases public awareness; and reduces the stigma toward mental illness. MHMA does not provide direct care, but can refer to providers. | |
| Patient Advocate Foundation | |
421 Butler Farm Road
PAF provides free one-on-one assistance with a professional case manager to help patients resolve healthcare issues. Case Managers are available to assist those patients, and their caregivers or providers, who face debilitating, chronic, or life threatening disease. Issues commonly addressed through case management relate to specific issues with their insurer, employer, and/or creditor regarding insurance, job retention, and/or debt crisis matters relative to their diagnosis. | |
| Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland | |
| Consumer Protection Project | |
Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland
The Consumer Protection Project assists Maryland consumers who have been sued by debt buyers, companies which often purchase charged off debts for pennies on the dollar. Debt buyers file tens of thousands of cases in Maryland each year, many of which are legally problematic due to errors or inconsistencies in the underlying account or in the chain of assignment. Since July 2011, PBRC’s Consumer Protection Project has trained over 200 volunteers to assist defendants in these cases. | |
| Foreclosure Prevention Pro Bono Project | |
Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland
The foreclosure crisis continues to impact every part of Maryland and uproot the lives of many of our neighbors. Launched by PBRC in 2008, the Foreclosure Prevention Pro Bono Project engages volunteer attorneys to assist homeowners in distress by providing direct representation in foreclosure matters and brief advice at Foreclosure Solutions Workshops, which are held regularly throughout the year and across the state. | |
| University of Maryland Extension Frederick County | |
330 Montevue Lane
The mission of the University of Maryland Extension (UME) is to contribute to the wellbeing of Maryland residents by increasing economic prosperity, improving environmental quality, and enhancing quality of life. UME provides research-based practical information to the challenges of American families. Through programs, workshops, publications, the media, and other activities, current information is delivered to people where they live and work. In addition to the local faculty and staff, they have access to regional and university specialists and the Home & Garden Information Center which also provides valuable services both directly and indirectly to our citizens. Nominal fee for some programs. UME provides programs in areas vital to the quality of life in Frederick County including Agriculture and Natural Resources (including alternative farming and small farm education); Dairy Science (including Pasture Walks); Nutrient Management (including PSNT); Family and Consumer Science (Health, Food, Nutrition, Healthy Homes, and Personal Finance); Home Horticulture (including home & garden, pests, lawn, and Master Gardener program); and 4-H and Youth Development (including clubs, after-school programs and camps). | |
| Last updated 12/1/2021 | |