How to Get a Local News Station to Help With Your Refund (I Did This)

My $3,000 dispute with a car dealership was going nowhere. I contacted my local news station's consumer investigator. Many TV stations have a "Call for Action" or "Troubleshooter" segment. I filled out their online form explaining the situation. The news station's consumer investigator contacted the dealership. Within a week, the dealership offered a $2,500 settlement. I accepted. News stations get results because companies do not want negative publicity on television. The investigator told me that most disputes they handle are resolved within 30 days. Not all news stations have consumer investigators, but many local affiliates do. Search for "[Your City] consumer investigator" or "[Station Name] call for action." This is surprisingly effective for disputes involving local businesses. National companies care less about local news.