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CONSUMERS SHOULD WATCH MAIL FOR TIRE SETTLEMENT MONEY
Utah consumers should check their mailboxes to see if they are eligible for restitution from the $51.5 million national settlement with Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. The tire manufacturer sent out 30,000 notices nationwide to settle a lawsuit filed by Utah and 52 other jurisdictions for allegedly selling defective tires and making misrepresentations during tire recalls.
"Consumers need to act quickly," said Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. "Anyone who feels they have been wrongly denied reimbursement should contact Bridgestone/Firestone."
The first round of notices was sent out today to all consumers who were denied a full reimbursement under Bridgestone/Firestone's Voluntary Safety Tire Recall Reimbursement Program or Customer Satisfaction Program. Another 100,000 notices will be sent out in late January to customers who received a partial denial. The forms must be returned within 60 days to be eligible for the restitution program. Assistant Attorney General Jeff Buckner represented Utah during settlement negotiations.
If the consumer wants a refund to be reconsidered, the consumer must return the reconsideration form no later than March 11, 2002. To be eligible, the form should be sent to the following address:
State Attorneys General Multistate Working Group
Attn: Bridgestone/Firestone Settlement
Post Office Box 5155
Des Plaines, IL 60019-9971
Bridgestone/Firestone will review the forms and either: (1) pay the request for a refund or (2) contact the consumer and let the consumer know the reason for the denial and that the consumer has right to send it to an independent arbitrator for review. The arbitration process is provided at no cost to consumers but the request for review must be made within 45 days.
Bridgestone/Firestone estimates this restitution program will cost the company $10 million. However, the settlement requires Bridgestone/Firestone to complete the restitution program regardless of cost.
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