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Subject/Topic |
Contact Name and Number |
Comments |
|---|---|---|
Palmists |
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|
Not state regulated, see city or county. |
|
--Complaints |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 800-435-7352 or 850-488-2221 |
Consumers may file a complaint with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for informal mediation. |
Panthers |
||
|
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 850-488-4676 |
Panther Net delivers information about the endangered Florida panther. |
Paramedics and EMT's |
||
--License |
850-488-0595 |
Bureau of Emergency Medical Services |
| Paranormal | ||
| --Ghosts | The Penn State University Paranormal Research Society 814-689-2133 |
The Pennsylvania State University Paranormal Research Society (PSUPRS, or more commonly known as just PRS) was founded September 16th, 2001. |
| --Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) |
888-817-2220 |
The goal of MUFON is to investigate UFO sightings and collect the data in the MUFON Database for use by researchers worldwide and to promote Research on UFOs to discover the true nature of the phenomenon, with an eye towards scientific breakthroughs, and improving life on our planet. |
|
206-722-3000 |
The center's hotline is generally reserved for incoming UFO reports. However, brief queries may be submitted over the hotline number and a member of our staff may be able to answer your question. |
|
Parent Helpline |
||
| --Florida 24-Hour Hotline | Florida Alliance of Information and Referral Services (FLAIRS) 800-352-5683 |
This is a 24-hour hotline that promotes safety and the well being of Florida's families. In addition, provides counseling and referral services. |
|
800-352-5683 or 850-488-5437 |
The Family Source of Florida is a statewide network of child abuse prevention and family support agencies. Their mission is to help families and communities work together to prevent child abuse and neglect. |
Pari-Mutual Wagering |
||
|
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 850-488-9130 |
Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering |
Parking |
||
--Disabled |
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 850-617-2000 |
Disabled Parking Permits |
Parks |
||
--National |
U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service 202-208-6843 |
|
--Florida |
Florida Department of Environmental Protection 850-245-2157 |
State of Florida Park Service |
| --Information |
800-435-8286 or 850-487-3259 |
The Florida Parole Commission protects the public by administering parole, conditional release, conditional medical release, control release and addiction recovery supervision to all eligible criminal offenders. |
--Victims Rights |
800-435-8286 or 850-487-3259 |
The Commission provides victim assistance through its Victim Services Section for all victims and their families desiring or requesting information or help regarding cases in which they are involved. |
| --Clemency |
800-435-8286 or 850-487-3259 |
Clemency is a constitutionally authorized process that provides the means through which convicted felons may seek restoration of their civil rights (RCR) and may be considered for relief from punishment. |
Partial Hospitalization Program |
||
|
Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration 888-419-3456 |
This is a Medicare certification program for Partial Hospitalization Program for Community Mental Health providers. These programs include services for mental illness and substance abuse disorders. |
Passport |
||
--Information |
United States Department of States 877-487-2778 |
Passport Services |
Patents |
||
|
United States Patent and Trademark Office 800-786-9199 |
Persons not registered by the Office of Patents and Trademarks are not permitted by law, to represent inventors before the patent office. Patents are good for 17 years, after which the invention becomes public property. |
Pawnbrokers |
||
--Regulation, Information and Complaints |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 800-435-7352 or 850-488-2221 |
Pawnbroker are not required to register with finance companies under the Department of Financial Services. Pawnbroker may dispose of personal property if no payment has been made on account for 60 days or property has not been repurchased within 60 days. |
Peace Corps |
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800-424-8580 |
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Pensions |
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--Employee Benefits |
United States Department of Labor 866-444-3272 |
Federal Law passed in 1974 in response to notorious instances in which pension funds had been mishandled or had disappeared entirely. ERISA tightened the standards for the management of pension plans and gave regulatory powers to the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Services. |
--General Inquiries |
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) 202-326-4000 |
PBGC was created by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to encourage the continuation and maintenance of voluntary private pension plans, provide timely and uninterrupted payment of pension benefits and keep pension insurance premiums at a minimum. |
--Plan Administration Inquiries |
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation 800-736-2444 |
|
Prescription Drug Discounts |
||
Florida Discount Drug Card Program 866-341-8894 |
The Florida Discount Drug Card is designed to lower the cost of prescriptions for Florida residents who meet certain criteria. |
|
| --Prescription Drug Program |
877-267-2323 |
|
Pest Control |
||
--Exterminator / Products. (Entomology) |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 850-921-4177 |
Requirements: Someone certified in the categories want to perform - to be certified you need 3 years of pest control experience - at least 1 year in state. Education can take up to 2 years off requirements with 24 credits semester hours in physical sciences - or you can secure someone to work with you that are certified and after the 3 years have past you can take the test yourself and become certified. The test is given 4 times a year in Winterhaven (March, June, September, December). There are 250 questions - theoretical and practical for each category 4 category 1) lawn and ornamental 2) general household pest 3) termite 4) fumigation; general liability with at least 400,000 in the general aggregate; pest control business license 250 plus $10 per id - anyone who is going to perform or solicit. |
--Mosquito Control, Complaints |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 850-922-7011 |
Division of Agricultural Environmental Services Mosquito Control Section - Addressed at the county level. |
--Pest Control Operator |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 850-921-4177 |
Division of Agricultural Environmental Services |
--Aerial Spraying |
Agricultural Pesticides Certification and Compliance Program - Aerial application of any pesticide in Florida requires a pesticide applicator license. |
|
Pesticide Regulation |
||
--Agricultural Use, Concerns or Compliance Advice |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 850-488-3314 |
Division of Agricultural Environmental Services |
--Pesticide Safety sheets National information |
National Pesticide Information Center 800-858-7378 |
|
Pet Food |
||
|
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 850-488-7626 |
Division of Agricultural Environmental Services (Bureau of Compliance Monitoring) |
Pet Grooming and Pet Shops |
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Pet Law |
||
(formerly known as Pet Lemon Law) |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 850-410-0900 |
Division of Animal Industry Animal Industry:
407 S Calhoun St., Rm 326 |
Petroleum Inspection |
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|
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 850-487-2634 |
Bureau of Petroleum Inspection, Division of Standards |
Pharmacist |
||
--Check License |
Florida Department of Health Board of Pharmacy 850-488-0595 |
Please be aware pharmacies are not regulated. These numbers are specifically for pharmacists. |
--Complaints |
Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration 888-419-3456 |
|
Please also see "Identity Theft" |
Internet Crime Complaint Center 800-251-7581 |
A play on the word "fishing." Con artists to search for personal information they can use for identity theft scams. Notices on internet or in email arrive with official-looking graphics, pretending to be from PayPal, eBay, Citibank, etc. saying something is wrong with your account and that you need to click a link and re-enter your registration or account information. |
|
877-438-4338 |
Always report "phishing" emails to the following groups: Forward the email to reportphishing@antiphishing.com. Forward the email to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov. Notify the Internet Crime Complaint Center (FBI and NW3C Partnership) by filing a complaint on their website. |
|
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866-966-7226 or 850-414-3990 |
Additional information about phishing. |
|
Phone Cards (Prepaid) |
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Public Service Commission (PSC) 800-342-3552 or 850-413-6100 |
PSC licenses and regulates local, long distance, inter-exchange and pay telephone companies. No agency has jurisdiction over the yellow-page advertising. Cellular phones are not licensed or regulated by the State of Florida. FCC has limited authority. |
Photography |
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--Complaints |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 800-435-7352 or 850-488-2221 |
Consumers may file a complaint with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for informal mediation. |
Physical Therapist |
||
|
850-488-0595 |
Board of Physical Therapy |
Physicians |
||
--Complaint History or to File a Complaint |
850-245-4339 or 888-419-3456 |
The Department of Health through Medical Quality Assurance offers many services to our licensees, health care businesses, and citizens and visitors to Florida through our website. Working in conjunction with 22 boards and six councils, MQA licenses and regulates seven types of facilities and 200-plus license types in more than 40 healthcare professions. |
--Check License |
850-488-0595 |
Health Professional Licensure |
Physician's Assistant |
||
|
850-488-0595 |
Council of Physician Assistants |
Physicists |
||
|
850-488-0595 |
Board of Medical Physicists |
Pickling (Fruits and Vegetables) |
||
|
County Extension Office |
|
Pilot |
||
--Harbor |
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 850-487-1395 |
Division of Professions Board of Pilot Commissioners |
Plants |
||
| --Inspection | Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 888-397-1517 |
Division of Plant Industry |
Plates (Vehicle) |
||
--Florida |
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 850-617-2000 |
|
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Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Check - Check the status of a vehicle. |
|
Plumbers / Plumbing |
||
|
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 800-226-9101 or 850-487-1395 |
Division of Professions Construction Industry Licensing Board |
Podiatrists |
||
|
850-488-0595 |
Board of Podiatry |
Poison Control |
||
--Hotline Available 24/7 |
Florida Poison Information Center 800-222-1222 |
Florida Poison Information Center – Tampa provides free confidential 24-hour telephone access to emergency advice in cases of exposure to poison. |
Pollution |
||
|
Florida Department of Environmental Protection 850-245-8707or 850-245-8705 |
Pollution Prevention - Waste Reduction - Waste Management |
Polygraph Operators |
||
|
Not State Regulated |
|
--Complaints |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 800-435-7352 or 850-488-2221 |
Consumers may file a complaint with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for informal mediation. |
Ponds |
||
--Fresh Water Ponds and Lakes |
Florida Department of Environmental Protection 850-245-2118 |
Florida Game and Fresh Water Commission - Call for water testing. |
Pools |
||
|
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 800-226-9101 or 850-487-1395 |
Division of Professions Construction Industry Licensing Board |
Portable X-ray |
||
|
Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration 850-487-2717 |
Hospital and Outpatient Services |
| Postal Service (U.S.) | ||
United States Postal Service (USPS) 800-275-8777 |
The Integrated Voice Response (IVR) system is the telephone system that provides automated USPS® information.Call 1-800-ASK-USPS if you need to put your mail on Hold, if you would like to schedule a redelivery, if you have a question, compliment, complaint or suggestion or help you find whatever you may be looking for. |
|
Poultry |
||
--Import / Disease |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 850- 410-0900 |
Division of Animal Industry |
--Retail |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 850- 245-5520 |
Division of Food Safety |
--Raising |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 850- 410-0900 |
Division of Animal Industry |
Prepaid Limited Coverage Organizations |
||
|
Florida Department of Financial Services 850-413-3100 |
Please do not confuse Prepaid Limited Health Coverage Organizations with Health Coverage Discount plans. |
Prepaid Phone Cards |
||
|
Public Service Commission (PSC) 800-342-3552 or 850-413-6100 |
PSC licenses and regulates local, long distance, interexchange and pay telephone companies. No agency has jurisdiction over the yellow-page advertising. Cellular phones are not licensed or regulated by the State of Florida. FCC has limited authority. |
Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Centers |
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Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration 850-488-5861 |
|
Prescription Discount Plans |
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Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) 800-342-2762 |
These plans are not currently regulated. DFS will attempt to help with problems. Prescription Discount Plans are not insurance. These plans do not pay for any products or services. Instead, they offer discounts on the price of products or services from participating vendors and providers. For questions about a Medical Discount Plan's complaint history, individuals may contact their local Better Business Bureau. |
--Complaints |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 800-435-7352 or 850-488-2221 |
Consumers may file a complaint with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for informal mediation. |
Prisons / Corrections |
||
|
Florida Department of Corrections 850-488-7480 |
|
Price Gouging |
||
--Florida |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 800-435-7352 or 850-488-2221 |
Florida Price Gouging Statute [PDF] Price Gouging laws make it illegal for individuals or businesses to charge exorbitant prices for essential goods and services during a declared state of emergency. |
Pricing |
||
--Retail Price Scanners |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 850-488-9140 |
The Bureau of Weights and Measures inspects more than 65,000 commercial measuring devices each year. These devices include retail scales, pharmacy balances, industrial and livestock scales, vehicle scales and taximeters. Inspectors also routinely test the accuracy of retail price scanners, as well as the accuracy of labels and net contents of non-food packaged goods such as dry goods, household items, building and construction materials, gardening products and hundreds of other products purchased daily by consumers and business. |
Private Investigators |
||
|
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 850-245-5691 |
Bureau of License and Inquiry; click on link for regional offices. |
Private Schools |
||
|
Florida Department of Education 888-224-6684 or 850-245-3200 |
The Commission for Independent Education has statutory responsibilities in matters relating to nonpublic, postsecondary, educational institutions. |
Process Server |
||
--Licensing |
Local Sheriff's Department |
|
Product Safety |
||
--Recalls |
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission 800-638-2772 |
|
Propane |
||
--LP |
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 850-921-8001 |
Bureau of Liquefied Petroleum (LP) Gas Inspections is charged with the safety regulation of liquefied petroleum gas. |
--Pricing |
|
Not Regulated |
Project WILD |
||
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 850-488-4676 |
Project WILD is an interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program emphasizing wildlife. The program is designed for educators of kindergarten through 12th grade students. |
|
Property Managers Certification |
||
--Community Association Manager License |
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 800-226-9101 or 850-487-1395 |
Division of Professions Regulatory Council of Community Association Managers |
--Condo Association Manager License |
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 800-226-9101 or 850-487-1395 |
|
Property Insurance Fraud |
||
--Fraud |
Florida Department of Financial Services 800-378-0445 |
The Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud, investigates various forms of fraud in insurance, including health, life, auto, property and workers' compensation insurance. |
Prosthetics/ Orthotists |
||
|
850-488-0595 |
Board of Orthotists and Prosthetics |
Protected Species |
||
--Wildlife (also known as imperiled species) |
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 850-922-4330 |
This section is responsible for the implementation and evaluation of imperiled species management and recovery plans. Species included in this section include: manatee, sea turtle (loggerhead, green and leatherback), whale, panther and black bear. |
Psychologist |
||
|
850-488-0595 |
Board of Psychology |
Public Accommodations |
||
|
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) 800-226-9101 or 850-487-1395 |
DBPR is responsible for licensing, inspection and overseeing all hotels, motels, time share condominiums and apartment complexes with 5+ units under one roof. |
--Public Restroom |
Florida Law requires that any place serving the public must have toilet facilities available for the public's use. |
|
Public Schools |
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Florida Department of Education 850-245-0505 |
|
Public Service Commission (PSC) |
||
|
Florida Public Service Commission 800-342-3552 or 850-413-6100 |
|
Public Officials |
||
--Unethical Behavior |
850-488-7864 |
Ethical complaints about public officials are the responsibility of the Florida Commission on Ethics. |
|
You may take your concerns to your region's state attorney for alleged illegal behavior. These officials have the authority to prosecute criminal wrongdoing. |
|
Public Utilities Commission |
||
|
800-342-3552 or 850-413-6100 |
Many Floridians know the state has a Public Utility Commission, but they may not understand what it does. Specific responsibilities of the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) are sometimes confusing to the general public. The PSC has a professional staff who can assist consumers in resolution of particular concerns with their utility service. When to Call the PSC - PDF |
|
--Investor Owned |
800-342-3552 or 850-413-6100 |
|
| --Cooperative | Non-profit utility services organizations. Users are the members and owners and set their own policies, therefore, it is not subject to governmental regulation. |
|
| --Natural Gas |
800-342-3552 or 850-413-6100 |
Utility Regulation |
| --Telephone |
800-342-3552 or 850-488-7238 |
PSC has no jurisdiction the over "yellow pages" of the telephone book. |
| Publications (State of Florida) | ||
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 800-435-7352 or 850-488-2221 |
This page will take you to a list of all the Department's publications. |
|
| Pyramid Schemes | ||
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 800-435-7352 or 850-488-2221 |
Pyramid schemes are illegal scams in which large numbers of people at the bottom of the pyramid pay money to a few people at the top. | |
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