South Carolina Code of Regulations › Chapter 28 - DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS › Section 28-4 - Method of Operations

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, June 28, 2024
A. Functional
		  Areas: The Department of Consumer Affairs is divided into six functional
		  divisions. These are Administration, Consumer Services, Consumer Advocacy,
		  Public Information and Education, Identity Theft Unit and Legal.
(1) Administration: The Administration
		  Division is responsible for providing administrative support to the Department
		  of Consumer Affairs, including procurement, human resources, accounting and
		  information technology. The Administrator position, the officer appointed by
		  the Commission on Consumer Affairs to administer Title 37 and other statutes
		  falling within the Department's authority and otherwise manage the day to day
		  operations of the agency, is located in this Division.
(2) Consumer Services: The Consumer Services
		  Division is responsible for handling consumer complaints. Consumer complaint
		  analysts receive, evaluate and process complaints arising out of the
		  production, promotion or sale of consumer goods or services. Complaints that
		  fall within the jurisdiction of another state or federal agency are referred to
		  such agency. Analysts engage in voluntary complaint mediation of complaints not
		  subject to the jurisdiction of any responsible agency.
(3) Consumer Advocacy: The Consumer Advocacy
		  Division is responsible for evaluating rate and other requests submitted to
		  various regulatory agencies, recommending intervention to the Consumer
		  Advocate, preparing the presentation of the consuming public's case and
		  representing the public in hearings and in court as appropriate. The Division
		  is also responsible for monitoring regulations of regulatory agencies,
		  reporting on their findings and evaluation of the impact of such regulations on
		  the public, and responding to requests for legislative assistance.
(4) Public Information and Education: The
		  Public Information and Education Division is the main education portal for
		  businesses and consumers. Communications staff are responsible for
		  coordinating, developing and implementing agency outreach programs, for
		  disseminating information on consumer credit laws, protection, and advocacy
		  matters to the news media and the general public.
(5) Identity Theft Unit: The Identity Theft
		  Unit provides education and outreach to consumers on how to deter, detect, and
		  defend against identity theft. Staff assists consumers in mitigating instances
		  of identity theft and provides education to businesses and agencies on
		  complying with state identity theft laws and enforces such statutes.
(6) Legal: The Legal Division is responsible
		  for maintaining a constant review of consumer protection law and formulating
		  recommendations for legislative proposals. It is also responsible for providing
		  legal advice and information to the Divisions of the Department of Consumer
		  Affairs, for rule-making and investigations. It monitors rules, regulations,
		  and interpretations of other Code state administrators and of appropriate
		  Federal agencies and formulates appropriate rules, regulations, declaratory
		  rulings and other interpretations of law. This Division is also responsible for
		  conducting litigation and administrative enforcement actions under the
		  provisions of the South Carolina Consumer Protection Code and other statutes
		  enforced by the Department.