Rep. RoseMarie Swanger To Sponsor Senior Consumer Protection Bill

Lebanon Daily News

Lebanon County Rep. RoseMarie Swanger announced Tuesday that she will introduce legislation to give senior citizens additional time to cancel purchases made as a result of a home or phone solicitation.

The legislation would increase the current three-day right-of-cancellation period to 15 days for purchases of goods and services exceeding $25 made by home or telephone solicitation by a person age 65 or older.

“Unfortunately, there are some senior citizens who may make a purchase they cannot really afford without fully understanding what they are getting into,” Swanger said in a news release.

Although not all phone and home solicitations are scams, Swanger said seniors are often the target of unscrupulous sales techniques. Citing data from the American Association of Retired People, she said 50 percent of telemarketing scam victims are 50 or older.

“Whether it is door-to-door vacuum sales or a telephone call from a company selling insurance, senior citizens are more likely to give into high pressure sales tactics,” she said.

Swanger, who represents the 102nd District, urged victims of scams to contact local police and file a complaint form with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The forms are available at her district office in the Lebanon Valley Mall or by calling 717-277-2101.

Read more: http://www.ldnews.com/latestnews/ci_22216736/rep-rosemarie-swanger-sponsor-senior-consumer-protection-bill