2009 Press Releases - Consumer Services
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Bronson Announces Top Ten Complaints For 2009 (12/30/09) - Unwanted telephone sales calls continue to be the top gripe for Florida residents, with more than 6,500 complaints filed with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in 2009. Commissioner Charles Bronson has released the top ten list of complaints and the state’s Do Not Call law continues to generate the most activity. In fact, there were 1,500 more written complaints filed by people on the Do Not Call list than in 2008. Consumers can pay a fee of $10 with a $5 annual renewal fee to have their home and cell telephone numbers placed on the list and avoid unwanted sales calls.
Bronson Urges Consumers To Check Out Health Clubs Before Joining (12/08/09) - Getting fit is a top New Year’s resolution and this time of year people may be considering buying a gym membership for a loved one as a gift. But Bronson says consumers need to take time to find out more about a health club and the membership responsibilities. Many people assume they can quit paying if they no longer use the gym, but they may be required to continuing paying for the duration of the contract period.
Bronson Reminds Consumers To Check Out Charities (11/30/09) - Bronson is urging consumers to check on the registration status and funding history of charities before agreeing to donate any money. Many charities collect about half their annual contributions in the months of November and December during the holiday season. But Bronson says it is prudent to take time to investigate a charity and ensure the money is being spent wisely.
Bronson Announces Arrest of Central Florida Telemarketer (12/25/09) - Bronson today announced the arrest of an unlicensed Central Florida telemarketer who had been charged on a previous occasion with the same offense. Arrested by Bronson’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement was Mary Karen Benoit, 46, of Orlando.
Bronson To Deploy Inspectors To Pet Stores During Holiday Season (11/23/09 - Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson announced today that his department is conducting a sweep of pet stores during the next five weeks to ensure that such establishments are complying with regulations that protect consumers in the purchase of pets.
Bronson Urges Consumers To Be Savvy While Holiday Shopping (11/20/09) - With the holiday shopping season getting underway, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson is encouraging consumers to shop wisely, know your rights and keep track of your purchases. Whether you shop by telephone, catalog, in retail stores or online, it pays to be a savvy consumer.
Bronson Asks Residents To Report Price Gouging (11/09/09) - Bronson today urged state residents to report any instances of price gouging to his department in the wake of approaching Hurricane Ida. Under Florida law, it is unlawful to charge exorbitant or excessive prices for essential items, including shelter, gasoline, food, water, ice, generators or lumber, following the declaration of an emergency, unless the increases in the amount charged are attributable to additional costs incurred by retailers.
Bronson Warns Consumers About Bogus Check Scam (10/02/09) - Bronson is warning consumers about a bogus letter circulating in the state and across the U.S. telling people they have won money and including a check in the mailing. The letter has a check enclosed for $985.00 and instructions on how to claim a lump sum payout of an $8,000 prize award. The letter also says a tax payment of $810.00 is required before the lump sum payment can be sent to the recipient. Recipients are cashing the checks to pay the tax and when the checks are discovered to be counterfeit several days later, consumers are held liable by the banks for the money.
Bronson Takes Action Against Illegal Pest Control Company (9/30/09) - Bronson is taking legal action against a Birmingham, Alabama based business that has been providing unlicensed and improper pest control in health care facilities serving the elderly in northern Florida.
Surveyors And Mappers Move From Department Of Business And Professional Regulation To Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services Oct. 1 (9/25/09) - Effective Oct. 1, the Board of Surveyors and Mappers and all related licensing and regulatory functions will move to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Surveyors and Mappers make exact measurements and determine property boundaries, provide data relevant to the shape, contour, gravitation, location, elevation, or dimension of land or land features on or near the earth's surface for engineering, mapmaking, mining, land evaluation, construction, and other purposes. There are approximately 4,300 state-licensed Surveyors and Mappers.
As Fair Season Approaches, Bronson Urges Floridians To Heed Fair Ride Safety Warnings (9/05/09) - While the majority of accidents and mishaps on rides at county fairs, local carnivals and permanent amusement parks have historically been attributable to patron error, an estimated 92 percent of the 165 reportable accidents last year were caused by riders failing to heed safety warnings.
Bronson Announces Arrest of Central Florida Telemarketer (9/02/09) - Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced the arrest of an unlicensed Central Florida telemarketer who had been charged on two previous occasions with the same offense.
Florida Department Of Agriculture To Participate In Food Safety Public Education Effort (9/01/09) - Bronson is urging people to familiarize themselves with basic food safety measures as National Food Safety Education Month kicks off on September 1st. The designation was created 15 years ago to heighten awareness about the importance of food safety education.
State Agencies Partner To Protect Floridians From Potential Mercury Contamination (8/25/09) - Despite the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) recent report that highlights widespread mercury contamination in fish nationwide, the Florida Department of Health (DOH), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) remind Floridians eating fish is an important part of a healthy diet.
Bronson Advises Consumers To Avoid Credit Card Scam (7/17/09) - Bronson today warned consumers to avoid a scam in which con artists posing as credit card company fraud investigators attempt to trick card holders into disclosing security code data from their cards.
Bronson, Mccollum Announce Groundbreaking Settlement In Morgan Stanley Price Gouging Investigation (7/13/09) - Bronson and Attorney General Bill McCollum announced today a groundbreaking $2.275 million settlement with Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc. and a subsidiary, TransMontaigne Product Services Inc. The settlement resolves a price-gouging investigation into price increases for fuel in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike last September. The multimillion dollar settlement is the largest ever paid under the state’s price-gouging law and may be the largest price gouging settlement obtained nationally to date.
Bronson Announces First Regulation In The Nation Banning Additives In Honey (7/13/09) - Bronson announced today that his department has instituted the first regulation in the nation – and perhaps the world – prohibiting any additives, chemicals or adulterants in honey produced, processed or sold in Florida.
Bronson, Mccollum To Address Consumer Protection Issue (7/10/09) - Bronson and Attorney General Bill McCollum will hold a press conference at 3 p.m. Monday, July 13, in the Attorney General’s Capitol office on a groundbreaking consumer protection case.
Bronson Urges Consumers To Have A Safe 4th Of July (7/02/09) - Bronson is reminding residents and visitors to take steps to ensure the holiday weekend doesn’t end in tragedy. That means safety tips for such things as food preparation, gas grills and fireworks.
Bronson Announces Agreement With Other State Agencies To Protect Public On Florida Highways (6/30/09) - Bronson announced today that yellow roads signs that read “Prescribed Burn” and “Fire, Smoke Area” will soon be appearing along major roadways when a prescribed burn is taking place.
Bronson Asks Residents To Report Price Gouging During Wildfire Emergency (5/14/09) - Bronson today urged state residents to report any instances of price gouging to his department during the current wildfire emergency.
Risks Associated With Raw Oyster Consumption (5/12/09) - The Florida Department of Health (DOH) warns Floridians with certain health conditions to avoid consuming raw oysters, which often harbor the bacteria Vibrio vulnificus that may cause serious illness. Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacteria in the warm waters of the Gulf coast, particularly during the summer months.
Wildfire Activity Increasing (5/12/09) - Exceedingly dry conditions in Central and South Florida are responsible for increased wildfire activity and are expected to intensify in the coming days and weeks, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson said today.
Bronson Announces Arrest In Travel Scam (5/12/09) - Bronson today announced the arrest of an unlicensed travel agent who allegedly defrauded numerous customers who purchased travel packages but never received them. Arrested by Bronson’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) on five counts of grand theft was Nancy Alvarez, 21, of Miami. She was booked into the Miami Dade County Jail on $25,000 bond.
Bronson Urging People To Get Animals/Chemicals Out Of Harm’s Way (4/10/09) - Bronson is asking farmers and residents in areas with the potential for flooding to be sure to get pesticides, fertilizers and propane tanks off the ground and safely stored away if they have time to do it without jeopardizing themselves. Bronson is also urging people to plan for their pets in advance of an evacuation.
Bronson Urges Residents To Follow Food Safety Measures (4/09/09) - Bronson is reminding people to keep food safety in mind as they return home following floods. Floodwater could be contaminated by sewage, pesticides and other hazardous materials that may come in contact with food. Power outages could also impact the quality and safety of perishable food items.
Bronson Asks Residents To Report Price Gouging in Flooded Panhandle (4/02/09) - Bronson today urged residents in 18 North Florida counties to report any instances of price gouging to his department in the aftermath of the flooding rains in the Panhandle during the past week. Under Florida law, it is unlawful to charge exorbitant or excessive prices for essential items, including shelter, gasoline, food, water, ice, generators or lumber, following the declaration of an emergency, unless the increases in the amount charged are attributable to additional costs incurred by retailers. More about Price Gouging
Bronson Announces Actions Against Telemarketers (3/27/09) - Bronson announced today that his department has reached settlement agreements with two Palm Beach County telemarketers (Creative Vacation Solutions Inc., of Greenacres. and Nationwide Marketing Solutions Inc., of Lake Worth) and issued a warning to a third company in connection with the companies’ marketing practices of timeshare rentals and sales.
Bronson Announces Arrest In Telemarketing Operation (3/19/09) - Bronson announced today the arrest of a Pinellas County man for running an unregistered telemarketing operation. Arrested by Bronson’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) on charges of telemarketing without a license, a third-degree felony, was Kenneth B. Choco, 53 , of Palm Harbor. According to OALE, Choco was operating an unregistered telemarketing business identified as Cool Ducts AC and Heat.
Bronson Announces Arrest In Telemarketing Operation (3/16/09) - The suspect – Vorotnikova Ekaterina, 24, of Tampa.- was arrested on a warrant issued by Bronson’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) following an investigation by Bronson’s Consumer Services Division and OALE. She is charged with operating an unregistered telemarketing operation, a third-degree felony. According to OALE officials, the woman allegedly operated Universal Travel in Tampa as an unregistered telemarketing business/travel agency and sold consumers travel packages.
State, Federal Authorities Discuss Consumer Protection Priorities (3/10/09) - Commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Cindy Liebes, Assistant Regional Director of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to discuss consumer protection issues facing Floridians. All three agencies have seen an increase in the number of complaints reported to each agency and among the more frequent topics of complaints are scams related to financial issues and the current state of the economy.
Bronson Warns Consumers About Stimulus Money Scams (3/10/09) - Consumers are getting spammed with emails promising them stimulus money grants or offering to help them qualify for stimulus funds. One email claims “Congratulations! You've been selected to receive a FREE Stimulus Check in the amount of $613.27!” Consumers are asked to provide their bank account numbers and other personal information in order for the money to be deposited into their accounts but con artists instead drain their accounts or steal their identities. In some cases consumers are told they must pay an advance fee for a grant or that they can obtain a list of economic stimulus grants for a fee.
Wildfire Danger Increasing As Bronson Asks For Help In Fire Prevention (3/10/09) - Bronson is urging residents to do their part to prevent wildfires by avoiding any unnecessary outdoor burning. They should also check with their local Division of Forestry office or county government to determine if there is a local burn ban in effect.
Bronson Reminds Homeowners To Protect Their Biggest Investment (3/06/09) - Bronson is urging Florida homeowners to take steps to protect their houses from one of Florida’s most expensive pests….termites. Swarming season is underway and now is the time to take protection action to avoid costly damages.
Bronson Announces Arrest In Mortgage Scam (2/25/09) - Bronson announced today the arrest of a Pinellas County man for allegedly saddling seven homeowners with second mortgages for roof repairs his company performed for the homeowners. The defendant - Peter E. Wozniak, 69, of Largo – was charged with 7 counts of false or fraudulent acknowledgements by a notary public. The charges stem from Wozniak asking the victims to sign an installment payment contract for the roof repairs and then notarizing the signatures and allegedly using them without the homeowners’ knowledge to file second mortgages with the Hillsborough County Clerk’s Office in the name of Home Improvement Services, the business for which he worked.
Seminole 4-H Wins State Lifesmarts Championship (2/23/09) - A five-member team of homeschooled high school students from Sanford, Florida won the State LifeSmarts Championship held recently at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson was on hand to congratulate the winning team and to offer praise to all of the competing teams. The state winning team and its coach will receive a check for $4,100 from the Department to defray expenses to the national competition, scheduled for April 25-28 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Bronson Reminds Consumers That Deadline Looming For DTV Conversion (2/13/09) - Bronson today reminded citizens that they could be without television reception as early as next week as a result of the conversion of the broadcast industry from analog airwaves to digital. While the federal government recently delayed the deadline for the switch until June 12, some television stations plan to convert their broadcasting format on February 17, which had been the original deadline.
Bronson Warns About Latest “Phishing” Scam (1/27/09) - Consumers are receiving emails from what claims to be the “AOL Safety and Security Team” requesting them to verify their billing/account information and indicating failure to do so will result in their accounts being closed. The Department’s consumer fraud investigators verified with America Online (AOL) the emails are fraudulent and that AOL does not contact customers and ask for personal information via email.
Bronson Warns Consumers About Jury Duty Scam (1/15/09) - The scam typically involves a call from a person claiming to be a jury coordinator who informs the person being called that a warrant has been issued for his or her arrest as a result of the person’s failure to appear for jury duty. When the intended victim protests and reports that he or she never received a summons to report for jury duty, they are asked for a social security number, a date of birth and sometimes even a bank account number.
Bronson Reminds Consumers About Free Credit Reports (1/14/09) - Bronson is urging residents to take advantage of the free credit reports from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. He says reviewing personal financial information is a good way to start the year.
