A to Z Resource Guide, page T - Division of Consumer Services, DOACS

Subject/Topic	Contact Name and Number	Comments
Tag
--Bed		F.S. 501.145 Bedding Label Act
Tag (Vehicle)
	Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 850-617-2000
	Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles	Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Check - Check the current status of a vehicle.
Talent Agencies
--Licensing	Department of Business and Professional Regulation 800-226-9101 or 850-487-1395	F.S. 468 Part V11 Division of Professions Talent Agencies
--Scams	Federal Trade Commission 877-382-4357	Visit the Federal Trade Commission for information and additional resources.
Tanning Salon
	Florida Department of Health 850-245-4277	F.S. 381.89; Chapter 64E-17, Florida Administrative Code (FAC) Federal performance requirements for ultraviolet (uv) light equipment are found in Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 1040.20. If you wish to open a tanning facility or add tanning devices to your current business you must obtain an operational license. County health departments monitor facility's operation through regular inspections to assure that required sanitary standards are maintained. County health departments must inspect and approve facilities as a prerequisite to granting an operating license.
Tattoo Permits
	Florida Department of Health 850-245-4250	The Florida Department of Health has no authority to issue a license to either tattoo or permanent make-up artists or their place of business. However, a county or municipal license, such as an occupational license, may be required depending on the geographical location of the business.
Tax Preparers
	Search by County	No State Regulations only City or County
--Accountants	Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 352-333-2500	This number is for the State Board of Accountancy located in Gainesville, Florida.
--Assistance	Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) 800-829-1040	Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site, which is sponsored by the IRS. VITA sites provide free tax preparation to low and moderate income taxpayers. They can be found in libraries, community centers and other convenient locations.
--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.
--Elderly Tax Counseling	AARP 888-687-2277	Tax Aide - AARP sponsors tax counseling for the elderly in many communities.
Tax Refund Anticipation Loans
	U.S. Department of the Treasury 800-613-6743 Office of Thrift Supervision 202-906-6000	Comptroller of the Currency Administrator of National Banks - Refund anticipation loans are especially appealing to consumers who need money quickly and don't want to wait the six weeks it can take to get a mailed refund from the IRS. A pitfall, however, is that if the IRS turns down any of their claimed deductions or credits, the consumer is still obligated to pay back the loan. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) are the regulatory agencies that govern the activities of national banks and federal savings associations. National banks and federal thrifts are able to assign interest rates and fees from any state they are authorized to do business in, including those states that do not have caps on the amount of interest and fees charged.
Taxation
--CPA Licensing	Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 352-333-2500	Division of Certified Public Accounting
--Federal Information	Internal Revenue Service 800-829-1040
--Income Tax	Internal Revenue Service 800-829-1040
--Sales	Florida Department of Revenue 800-352-3671 or 850-488-6800	Taxpayers Assistance Office
--Social Security	US Social Security Administration Office Locator
--Tax Payer Assistance Forms	Florida Department of Revenue 800-352-3671 or 850-488-6800
--Violations	Florida Department of Revenue 800-352-9273
Taxi
--Broward County Only	Broward County Consumer Affairs Taxi and Limousine 954-357-5321	Ft. Lauderdale office serving Broward County
--Dade County Only	Dade County Consumer Affairs Taxi 305-375-2460	Miami office serving Dade county
--Palm Beach County Only	Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs Taxi 561-712-6600	West Palm Beach office serving Palm Beach county
--Meters	Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Serices 850-488-9140
Taxidermy
--Local Occupational Licensing	Search by County	No State Regulations, only City or County
Technicians, Medical
--Laboratory	Florida Department of Health 850-245-4355	Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel
--Radiology	Florida Department of Health 850-245-4550	Radiation Control
--Respiratory	Florida Department of Health 850-245-4373	Board of Respiratory Care
--Surgical	Florida Board of Medicine 850-245-4224
Teacher Certification
--Certification	Florida Department of Education 800-445-6739 or 850-245-5049
Telemarketer
--Information and Complaints	Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 800-435-7352 or 850-488-2221	F.S. 501.601 Division of Consumer Services
Telephones
	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. Federal Communications Commission has limited authority.
--Slamming	Federal Communications Commission 888-225-5322	"Slamming" is the illegal practice of changing a consumer's telephone service - local, long distance service or internet service (including state to state, in state and international long distance) without permission.
Telephone Referral Resource Service
--Florida Network 2-1-1	Florida Alliance of Information and Referral Services (FLAIRS)	This website will connect you with your local 2-1-1 Florida Network Affiliate.
Telephone Solicitation
--Florida Do Not Call List	Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 800-435-7352 or 850-488-2221	F.S. 501.059 Florida Do Not Call List
--National Do Not Call List	Federal Trade Commission 888-382-1222	The National Do Not Call Registry is managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Television
	Federal Communications Commission 888-225-5322
--Digial Television (DTV) Conversion	Federal Communications Commission (DTV.gov) 888-225-5322	Broadcast stations in all U.S. markets are currently broadcasting in both analog and digital. After February 17, 2009, full-power television stations will broadcast in digital only.
--DTV Coupons	TV Converter Box Coupon Program 888-388-2009	Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households wishing to keep using their analog TV sets after February 17, 2009. The Program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes.
--DTV Information	Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 800-435-7352 or 850-488-2221	During the DTV transition, having the pertinent information will help to ensure that consumers are never without their desired/needed programming.
Tenant / Landlord
--5 or more Adjoining Units	Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 850-488-1122	Division of Hotels and Restaurants
--Less than 5 units	Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 800-435-7352 or 850-488-2221	F.S. 83 Part II
--Complaints and Information	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 if the landlord has not returned the deposit once the consumer has vacated the unit.
Thermal Energy Code / Building Code
	Florida Department of Community Affairs 850-487-1824
Three-Day Cancellation
	Federal Trade Commission 877-382-4357	If you buy something at a store and later change your mind, you may not be able to return the merchandise. But if you buy an item in your home or at a location that is not the seller's permanent place of business, you may have the option. The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC's) Cooling-Off Rule gives you three days to cancel purchases of $25 or more. Under the Cooling-Off Rule, your right to cancel for a full refund extends until midnight of the third business day after the sale.
Ticket Scalping
		F.S. 817.36
Time Share
	Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 800-226-9101 or 850-488-1122	F.S. 721; F.S. 475 Division of Florida Land Sales, Condominiums and Mobile Homes
Tires
--Purchasing Tips	Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 800-435-7352 or 850-488-2221
--Waste Fee	Florida Department of Environmental Protection 850-245-8707	Division of Solid Waste
Title Insurance Company Information
	Florida Department of Financial Services Insurer Services 850-413-9895
Title Loans
--Licensing	Office of Financial Regulation 850-410-9895	Chapter 537, F.S., a person may not act as a title loan lender or own or operate a title loan office unless such person has an active title loan lender license issued by the office under this act. A title loan lender may not own or operate more than one title loan office unless the lender obtains a separate title loan lender license for each title loan office.
--Complaints	Office of Financial Regulation 800-342-2762
Title (Vehicle)
	Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 850-617-2000	Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Check - Click on this to check the current status of a vehicle.
Tobacco
--Enforce Laws	Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 850-922-9903	Division of Alcoholic - Beverages and Tobacco
--Licensing	Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation 850-488-8288 or 850-488-8284
Toll Operations
	Florida Department of Transportation 866-374-3368 or 850-414-4100	Toll Calculator
Tour Bus
--Licensing	Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 850-942-9338	Bus/Motorcoach Safety Program
Tourism
--Florida	Visit Florida 850-488-5607	VISIT FLORIDA is the state's official source for travel planning for the Sunshine State. It is not a government agency, but the operating company of the Florida Commission on Tourism, which is a private/public partnership, made up of top state government officials and representatives of the Florida tourism industry.
Towing
--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.
--Repossession License	Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 850-245-5691	Division of Licensing, licenses and regulates the recovery industry in accordance with Chapter 493, F.S.
--Broward County Only	Broward County Consumer Protection Towing 954-357-5321	Ft. Lauderdale office serving Broward County
--Dade County Only	Dade County Consumer Affairs Towing 305-375-3677	Miami office serving Dade County
--Palm Beach County Only	Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs Towing 561-712-6600	West Palm Beach office serving Palm Beach County
--Pinellas County Only	Pinellas County Consumer Protection Towing 727-464-6200	Clearwater office serving Pinellas County
Toxic Substance Info Center
	Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 800-321-6742
Trade Schools
--Private	Florida Department of Education 850-245-3200
--Public	Florida Department of Education 850-245-9469 or 245-0508
Traffic School
	Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 850-617-2000
Traffic schools are not regulated but their curriculum must be approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Trailers
--Financing Licensure	Office of Financial Regulation 850-410-9895	Chapter 520, Part I, F.S., covers the licensing and operating regulations of motor vehicle installment sellers. Maximum finance charges allowed on new and used automobiles are also established by statute. Motor Vehicle Sellers must be licensed by the Office prior to conducting business.
--Financing Complaints	Office of Financial Regulation 800-342-2762
--Semi-Trailer	**See Semi-Trailer Dealer
Trails
	Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 850-410-4951
Training
--Employee Training	Workforce Florida, Inc. 850-921-1119	Commissioner Bronson encourages any business seeking training for employees to contact Workforce Florida, Inc. at 850-921-1119. More information about the "Incumbent Worker Training Program" is available online.
Transitional Living Facilities
	Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration 850-488-5861	F.S. 400, Part VIII
Transportation
--Public	U.S. Department of Transportation 202-366-4000
Travel Agencies
--Information and Complaints	Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 800-435-7352 or 850-488-2221	Division of Consumer Services, Sellers of Travel
Travelers Health
	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 877-394-8747
TREA Notch Senior Citizens League
	TREA Senior Citizens League 800-333-8725	Private Organization
Treasury Offset Program
--Federal	United States Department of the Treasury 800-226-8007	The Financial Management Service (FMS) is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury and part of its mission is to provide centralized debt collection services to most federal agencies.
Trees
--Information	Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 850-488-1871	Division of Forestry - See Department phone directory for other Forestry districts.
Tree Removal Service
	Search by County	There is no state regulation or licensing of tree services. Consumers should check the following before contracting with a tree removal service: 1. Some counties / municipalities may require an occupational or other license. Check to see if that applies. 2. The company should be bonded. Ask for a copy of their insurance policy. 3. Only pay after the job is completed. It is also recommended that consumers get estimates from several companies before choosing one. The estimates should be in writing to know exactly what is promised for what price.
TTY - Deaf/Hearing Impaired Telephone Services
	Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc. To call Florida Relay, dial 7-1-1, or use these toll free numbers: 800-955-8771 (TTY) 800-955-8770 (Voice) 800-955-1339 (ASCII) 877-955-8260 (VCO-Direct) 800-955-5334 (STS) 877-955-8773 (Spanish) 877-955-8707 (Kreol)	Florida Relay is the communications link for people who are hard of hearing, deaf / blind, or speech impaired. Through the Florida Relay, people who use specialized telephone equipment can communicate with people who use standard telephone equipment.
--Laws / Regulations (Florida Relay)	Florida Public Service Commission 800-342-3552	The Telecommunications Access System Act of 1991 (TASA) gives the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) responsibility for implementation and oversight of the Telecommunications System created by TASA.
Tuition, Prepaid
--Accountability Reports	Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) 800-531-2477 or 850-488-0021	OPPAGA examines agencies and programs to improve services and cut costs when directed by state law, the presiding officers or the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee.
--Program Information	Florida Prepaid College Board 850-488-8514 or 800-552-4723	Purchase the Florida Prepaid College Plan and lock in the cost of tuition, local fees and dormitory housing at a public Florida university or community college. The Florida College Investment Plan is intended to save you money for your other qualified college expenses, in Florida or out of the state.
Turnpike
	Florida Department of Transportation 800-749-7453
Turtle (Sea)
--Injured or Dead	Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 888-404-3922 or 727-896-8626	Florida Marine Research Institute - Please call if you find a dead or injured sea turtle.
--Marine Turtle Information	Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 888-404-3922 or 727-896-8626	FWC has established a marine turtle program to monitor nesting activity, document mortalities statewide, conduct research on the biology of the various species, and provide data for managing and evaluating coastal development effects.

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Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner - LuAnn Stiles, Director