Columnist Muriel Stevens: Consumer assistance is at hand

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001 | 8:43 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' shopping column appears Wednesdays. Her dining column appears Fridays. Reach her at 259-4080 or muriel@lasvegassun.com.

It was never my intent to turn my trying experiences with Wards and Wal-Mart into an ongoing saga, but the problems with Wards are much larger than I could have ever imagined, and Wal-Mart is not winning any friends with their inane policies.

My e-mail and faxes grow daily with complaints from customers who are at a loss as to how to handle their situations. Almost always, merchandise charged to a Wards credit card has not been delivered and the customers have been told they are still responsible for the amount charged.

Truly the inmates are running the Wards asylum. But it's not hopeless.

Each day I learn more about customers' rights in these situations, but following through is not easy. It takes time to check out each possible avenue to a solution. I think that wearing down the consumer is part of Wards' game.

I thank all of you for the calls and advice. In due time I will respond, but time is running out. So today I offer you another possible solution shared with me by a Las Vegas couple who had a problem with Wards and got satisfaction in record time by calling a national consumer radio show.

I know little about the host, Tom Martino, except that he has a sizeable staff and, evidently, the clout to make things happen. He also has a Troubleshooter Help Center you can call toll-free at (866) 966-4357.

Tons of consumer information are available through his website, troubleshooter.com. He urges consumers to thoroughly search the website before submitting questions. Make the questions brief; just tell your story. Judging from the volume of info on the website, the consumer information business is booming.

Meanwhile I will continue my efforts. A major credit-card company's public affairs officer has volunteered to help inform the public of its rights, joining the credit-card regulatory compliance officer (who was the first to share her expertise) and me.

Valentine's Day: Check out the 30 percent-off sale at Pat Areias silver shop in Desert Passage at the Aladdin. The one-of-a-kind accessories, jewelry, hair ornaments and other pretties are smashing.

More Desert Passage: Areias isn't the only one having a sale at Desert Passage. You have but to walk the mall to find sales galore, especially at stores not on the main drag.

Easy access to Desert Passage: The easiest way to valet park for Desert Passage is via the Aladdin. Unlike Desert Passage, where there's a $2 valet parking charge, the Aladdin valet is free.

Take the escalator up to the casino. It's a short walk to the Desert Passage entrance. Use this entrance to go to the Commander's Palace restaurant. It's front and center when you exit the casino.

Still more Desert Passage: One day, before I started to use the Aladdin valet, I was in a mad rush to make a meeting, so I opted to take a complimentary rickshaw ride.

I made my meeting in time, but getting in and out of these shaky bicycles-cum-rickshaws takes longer than the ride. Scooters, maybe?

Must say the young men who peddle these bikes are helpful, polite and funny. Just stay out of their way when you're walking.