2005 Press Releases - Consumer Services
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December 30, 2005 - Bronson has announced that price gouging complaints have once again made it into the list of top ten complaints for calendar year 2005. Last year was the first year price gouging even made it to the top ten list following an unprecedented hurricane season. Learn more...
December 28, 2005 - Bronson is urging consumers to get some background information on health clubs prior to signing a contract. Learn more...
December 22, 2005 - Bronson announced today the arrest of a Central Florida man in a $51,000 investment scam. Learn more...
December 13, 2005 - Bronson has obtained a $54,750 fine against The Sports Authority Florida, Inc. for violations of telemarketing laws. Learn more...
December 9, 2005 - Bronson announced today the arrest of a Tamarac man for allegedly soliciting contributions from the public without a license. Learn more...
December 1, 2005 - Bronson today announced that investigators from his department will continue an ongoing, statewide sweep of auto repair shops, the latest to occur in Bay County. Learn more...
November 17, 2005 - Bronson announced today that he has taken legal action against a Brevard County telemarketer for violating Florida's “Do Not Call” law. Learn more...
November 15, 2005 - Bronson is urging consumers to take the time to investigate charitable organizations before making any donations. Learn more...
November 7, 2005 - Bronson announced today that his department has collected $14,000 in fines from four service stations in connection with price-gouging investigations following the hurricanes of the past summer. Learn more...
October 27, 2005 - Bronson announced today that he is seeking fines of $12,500 against two more service stations for allegedly engaging in price gouging in the aftermath of last summer's hurricanes. Learn more...
October 19, 2005 - Bronson announced today that he has taken legal action against a Hillsborough County telemarketer for violating Florida's “Do Not Call” law. Learn more...
October 19, 2005 - Bronson announced today that he is seeking $22,000 in fines against seven service stations for allegedly engaging in price gouging in the aftermath of last summer's hurricanes. Learn more...
back to topSeptember 23, 2005 - Bronson today announced that investigators from his department will conduct a countywide sweep of auto repair shops in Collier County next week to ensure shops are properly registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and complying with all other regulations, including providing estimates and invoices for repair work. Learn more...
September 19, 2005 - Bronson today reminded consumers that the department's price-gouging hotline, which has been busy for more than two months with Hurricanes Dennis and Katrina, remains activated as Tropical Storm Rita approaches South Florida. Learn more...
September 16, 2005 - Bronson is sending investigators to a business opportunity trade show in Fort Lauderdale on September 17th and 18th to ensure the companies are in compliance with all rules and regulations in the state's business opportunity law. Learn more...
September 6, 2005 - Bronson announced today that he has issued subpoenas for 19 oil companies that have terminals in Florida in an expanding price gouging investigation in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Learn more...
September 2, 2005 - Bronson announced today that his department is extending the hours of its price-gouging hotline so consumers can call with questions or complaints over the three-day Labor Day weekend. Learn more...
back to topAugust 30, 2005 - Bronson is urging people to check out charities before donating money to victims of Hurricane Katrina. There is a potential for scam artists posing as relief agencies for the storm victims in Florida and elsewhere. Learn more...
August 24, 2005 - Bronson is reminding residents that the state of emergency declared by Governor Jeb Bush just prior to Hurricane Dennis is still in effect and therefore the state's price gouging law also continues to be activated. Learn more...
August 16, 2005 - Bronson announced today that inspectors from his department will conduct a countywide sweep of auto repair shops in Seminole County next week to make sure that shops are registered with the state and complying with regulations governing estimates and invoices for repair work. Learn more...
back to topJuly 22, 2005 - Bronson is urging investigators across the nation and in Canada to find the most innovative methods possible to combat the growing incidence of fraud and scams and to pool their resources to more effectively target criminals and con artists. Learn more...
July 18, 2005 - Bronson announced that he is issuing a subpoena for the business records of 22 RaceTrac service stations around the state in the continuing price-gouging investigation involving Hurricane Dennis. Learn more...
July 15, 2005 - Bronson has taken legal action against a Jackson County hotel for numerous violations of the state's price-gouging law during Hurricane Dennis. Learn more...
July 14, 2005 - Bronson announced today that he has issued 11 more subpoenas for financial records of gas stations, bringing to 22 to the number of stations in Florida that are being asked to provide records in connection with 32 Hurricane Dennis price gouging complaints. Learn more...
July 11, 2005 - Bronson announced today that he has issued subpoenas for financial records of 11 gas stations in the wake of price gouging calls and complaints to his department in connection with Hurricane Dennis. Learn more...
July 11, 2005 - Bronson has taken legal action against two south Florida moving companies for violations of the Intrastate Moving Act following an undercover sting operation involving the Department and the Alachua County Sheriff's Department. Learn more...
July 8, 2005 - Bronson is extending the hours of operation of the Department's price-gouging hotline, keeping it activated throughout the weekend. Learn more...
July 7, 2005 - Bronson today urged state residents to report any instances of price gouging to his department in the wake of approaching Hurricane Dennis. Learn more...
July 1, 2005 - Bronson announced today that he has taken legal action against a Palm Beach County telemarketer for violating Florida's “Do Not Call” law. Learn more...
back to topJune 17, 2005 - Bronson announced today that he has taken legal action against a Hillsborough County telemarketer for violating Florida's “Do Not Call” law. Learn more...
June 13, 2005 - Bronson today urged state residents to report any instances of price gouging to his department in the wake of Tropical Storm Arlene. Learn more...
back to topMay 27, 2005 - The Office of State Attorney and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced today the arrest of a Daytona Beach woman for defrauding consumers out of some $5,300.00 in a travel scam. Learn more...
May 25, 2005 - Bronson is urging consumers to take advantage of a law that requires major credit reporting services to provide free credit reports. Learn more...
May 24, 2005 - Bronson announced today that he has taken legal action against two South Florida companies for engaging in "unfair and deceptive trade practices" in the sale of more than $4 million in public access internet machines. Learn more...
May 20, 2005 - Bronson has targeted a phony charity that fooled consumers into believing it was a well known charity organization. Learn more...
back to topApril 25, 2005 - Bronson has filed a lawsuit against a Miami-based moving company for violations of the Moving Services Law and Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Learn more...
April 15, 2005 - Charles H. Bronson today announced that a Naples motel owner has agreed to pay a $25,000 fine and reimburse consumers $10,383 to settle a price gouging lawsuit brought by Bronson's department in the wake of Hurricane Charley last August. Learn more...
April 5, 2005 - Bronson announced today that he has taken legal action against a Seminole County telemarketer for violating Florida's "Do Not Call" law. Learn more...
back to topMarch 18, 2005 - Bronson today took legal action against the owner of a Florida heating and air conditioning company for illegally making at least 18 telemarketing calls to Florida residents on the state's “Do Not Call” list. Learn more...
March 14, 2005 - Bronson is urging consumers to be more vigilant in protecting their personal information following reports of breaches in several national databases. Learn more...
March 2, 2005 - Bronson announced today that the owners of a Sebring motel have paid a $5,000 civil penalty and agreed to reimburse consumers $1,512 to settle a price gouging lawsuit arising from Hurricane Charley last August. Learn more...
back to topFebruary 22, 2005 - Bronson today announced actions taken against 16 business opportunity companies as part of a state and federal nationwide crackdown on business opportunity and work-at-home schemes. Learn more...
February 14, 2005 - Bronson today took legal action against a Pinellas County window treatment company for illegally making at least nine telemarketing calls to Florida residents on the state's "Do Not Call" list. Learn more...
February 3, 2005 - High school students from around the state will compete for the state championship of "LifeSmarts ... the Ultimate Consumer Challenge," on February 21 at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. Learn more...
February 1, 2005 - Bronson presented a Cabinet Resolution in support of the seventh annual National Consumer Protection Week which kicks off February 6 and focuses on identity theft issues. Learn more...
back to topJanuary 28, 2005 - Bronson today took legal action against a Naples motel owner for engaging in price gouging in the price of rooms for evacuees from Hurricane Charley last August. Learn more...
January 21, 2005 - The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is assisting the federal government with educating hurricane victims about their rights and responsibilities as tenants. Learn more...
back to topView all of the Department's 2005 Press Releases
