WSNS Chicago Launches Consumer Unit

With more than $3.1 million recovered for consumers nationwide, the Telemundo Responde (Telemundo Responds) consumer investigative unit is expanding to Chicago starting this week.

WSNS joins eight other Telemundo stations with a dedicated consumer advocacy team that answers local residents who fear they may have become victims of fraud, identity theft or scams, among other wrongs.

“We are thrilled to bring Telemundo Responde to the Greater Chicago area to fill the void that exists within our community,” said Chris McDonnell, the WSNS president-GM. “We have seen how Telemundo Responde has helped consumers who were victims of identity theft and fraud in other parts of the country and we cannot wait for our local Telemundo Responde team to get to work and be the voice that our local community needs and deserves.”

The station’s new Telemundo Responde team, which will air its first report on Tuesday, June 30, at 10 p.m., will be led by journalist Alba Mendiola. A seasoned journalist with more than 15 years of experience reporting for Spanish-speaking communities, Mendiola joined WSNS in 2001 and has worked as the host of the station’s public affairs program, Enfoque Chicago, and as a reporter for the station’s local weekday newscasts.

Since its launch in 2014, Telemundo Responde has recovered more than $3.1 million dollars for consumers across eight markets, according to the company. The unit has helped local residents get their cities and neighborhoods freed from trash and debris and recover funds after consumers were scammed by local car sales shops, real estate and shipping companies or were defrauded by notary publics who portrayed to be federally-authorized representatives licensed to process federal immigration applications.

“Telemundo Responde is filling an incredible need that exists within our Spanish-speaking communities and we are proud that our Telemundo stations are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our viewers,” said Manuel Martinez, president, Telemundo Station Group. “Today’s announcement speaks clearly about the commitment we have made to better serve all of our local communities with the news, information and the resources they need to thrive and prosper.”