2010 Press Releases - Consumer Services
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Bronson Announces Arrest Of Telemarketer (12/09/10) - Bronson has announced the arrest of a Lee County man for falsifying information on a state document that telemarketers are required to submit. 38 year old Jose A. Negron was charged with two 3rd degree felonies for falsification of a telephone salesperson application.
Bronson Urges Consumers To Check Out Health Clubs Before Joining (12/03/10) - Bronson is reminding consumers to take time to check on the background of a health club or gym prior to signing up or buying a membership as a gift. Many people wanting to start the New Year off right join gyms, but without some investigation the only thing they may lose is money.
Bronson Urges Consumers To Check Out Charities (11/22/10) - Bronson is reminding consumers to do their homework before donating money to charities. People can check a charity's registration and funding history to ensure the organization is legitimate and to determine if donations are being spent prudently. Many charities collect about half their annual contributions in the months of November and December during the holiday season.
State Officials Urge Consumer Awareness About Bedbug Infestations (11/08/10) - Bronson and State Surgeon General Dr. Anna Viamonte-Ros are urging consumers to choose a licensed pest control company to help control breakouts of bedbugs in homes. Efforts by homeowners to treat bedbug infestations rarely succeed, and using the wrong pesticide or using it incorrectly can make you, your family and your pets sick.
Bronson Announces Arrest Of Unlicensed Auto Repair Shop Owner In Central Florida (10/14/10) - Bronson today announced the arrest of a Central Florida man for operating an unregistered motor vehicle repair business and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Investigators with Bronson’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement say the man – Stephen Flowers, 41, of Sanford - had an extensive history involving unlicensed motor vehicle repair activities and with consumer complaints with the department’s Division of Consumer Services. In 2004, a Florida court issued a permanent injunction prohibiting Flowers from owning or operating such a business as a result of his failure to satisfy fines and his history of failing to register his business.
Bronson. Mccollum Announce Arrests, Fines And Cease-And-Desist Orders In Statewide Crackdown On Timeshare Sales (09/23/10) - Bronson and Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum announced today that a major statewide crackdown on telemarketing operations that peddle timeshare units has resulted in 4 arrests, 137 cease-and-desist orders and about $125,000 in fines. he week-long sweep, in which Bronson’s department partnered with Attorney General Bill McCollum and representatives of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, paid unannounced visits to 67 telemarketing operations in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Tampa/St. Petersburg and Orlando areas. It ran from September 13 through September 17.
Consumers Can Now Check Businesses’ Complaint History Online(8/20/10) - Bronson today announced that consumers can now go online and check the complaint history of any company or business that has generated complaints to his department. In addition to providing the complaint history of a company, the database also provides information on the kind of license, if any, the company has with Bronson’s department.
Bronson Urges Protections Against Mosquito Borne Diseases (7/29/10) - Bronson says two cases of West Nile Virus have now been detected in horses in the state and the number of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) cases continues to rise. Bronson is reminding horse owners to get the animals vaccinated. He is also urging the public to follow Florida Department of Health guidelines to help prevent mosquito borne illnesses in people. DOH is reporting that two people in Florida have died after contracting EEE this summer. Mosquitoes carry the viruses and can transmit it to horses and humans, however, horses do not transmit the viruses to people.
Bronson Urges Citizens To Avoid Oil Spill Scams (7/02/10) - Bronson today advised consumers to be on the lookout for any scams arising out of the British Petroleum (BP) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. While Bronson’s Consumer Services Division has yet to receive any complaints or uncover any fraud involving the oil spill, analysts and investigators with the agency are working closely with the Federal Trade Commission and other states to thwart any problems that may occur.
Bronson Announces Arrests Of Two Southwest Florida Telemarketers (6/21/10) - Bronson today announced the arrests of two unlicensed Southwest Florida telemarketers who were allegedly running a telemarketing business without being licensed and employing unlicensed telemarketers. Arrested by Bronson’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) were Nicholas Anthony Salerno, 40, of Bradenton, and Ricky Permanand, 43, of Sarasota.
Bronson Announces Arrest Of South Florida Telemarketer (5/14/10) - Bronson today announced the arrest of an unlicensed South Florida telemarketer for soliciting telemarketing sales without a license.
Florida Expresses Concern About Deepwater Horizon Incident’s Economic Impact On Tourism And Seafood Industry (5/14/10) - State agency leaders are concerned that people across the United States falsely believe the state has been impacted by oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Florida’s beaches and fishing grounds remain open to residents and visitors to enjoy. Currently, there are no impacts to Florida’s more than 1,260 miles of coastline and 825 miles of sandy beaches. Winds and currents continue to keep the oil plume away from the Florida coast.
Bronson Announces Arrest Of Central Florida Telemarketer (5/10/10) - Bronson today announced the arrest of an unlicensed Central Florida telemarketer who was soliciting telemarketing sales without a license and employing unlicensed telemarketers.
Bronson Announces Two Arrests In Central Florida Telemarketing Sweep (4/23/10) - Bronson today announced the arrest of two unlicensed Central Florida telemarketers. Arrested by Bronson’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) was Gunnar Jenkins, 31 and Nicholas Thomas, 28, both of Orlando. Authorities allege that Jenkins was operating Timeshare Gold Line, a telemarketing business, without a license. The business is located at 7200 Lake Ellenor Drive, Suite 202, Orlando.
Bronson Recognizes 12th Annual National Consumer Protection Week (3/08/10) - Bronson is joining consumer advocates nationwide in announcing March 7-13 as National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW). The designation is made to highlight the need for people to learn about their rights and responsibilities as consumers. Bronson will sponsor a resolution at the March 9th Cabinet meeting recognizing the annual event.
Bronson Warns Homeowners That Termite Swarming Season Is Here (3/02/10) - Termite season gets underway when swarming begins in late February and early March as temperatures begin to warm. Swarming means the termites are leaving their colonies to search for new nesting sites. So, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson is once again warning Floridians to take steps to protect their home. Termites cause about $750,000,000 dollars in property damage in the U.S. annually.
Seminole 4-H Wins State Lifesmarts Championship (2/19/10) - A five-member team of high school students from Sanford, Florida won the State LifeSmarts Championship this week held at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. LifeSmarts is an educational program that develops the consumer and marketplace skills of teenagers in a fun way and rewards them for this knowledge. The program complements any curriculum in high schools and can be used as an activity for classes, groups, clubs, and community organizations. LifeSmarts competitions are run in a game show style and open to all teens in the United States in grades nine through twelve. Teams of teens compete online and in state matches, with the state winners going to the national competition to vie for the LifeSmarts championship title.
Bronson Urges Residents To Avoid Census Scams (2/12/10) - Bronson today urged state residents to avoid falling prey to scam artists intent on stealing your identity who may pose as U.S. Census workers. The federal government conducts a census of all residents living in the country every 10 years, and Bronson stressed that it is important to cooperate in the effort as the number of seats in each state’s congressional delegation and the manner in which more than $400 billion in federal aid is distributed during the next decade depend on an accurate count.
Bronson Reminds Consumers About Free Credit Reports (2/03/10) - Bronson is urging consumers to take time to review their credit reports now that holidays bills are coming in. Federal law provides people with one free report annually from each of the three major credit reporting agencies.
Bronson Announces Extension Of State Of Emergency (1/19/10) - Bronson has requested and received from the Governor an Executive Order extending for an additional 7 days a state of emergency to assist farmers dealing with crop damage from the freeze.
Bronson Urges Citizens To Avoid Haiti Relief Scams (1/14/10) - Bronson today warned Floridians to be on the lookout for scams involving relief aid in the aftermath of this week’s massive earthquake in Haiti.
“Spread the Word, Not the Flu,” Florida Department of Health Launches Statewide H1N1 Public Awareness Campaign (1/12/10) - Florida Surgeon General Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros and Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson today launched a new statewide public awareness campaign, “H1N1: Spread the Word, Not the Flu,” aimed at keeping Floridians healthy during flu season. Through public education, expanded partnerships with the private sector, Web-based outreach, a media campaign, the initiative encourages Floridians of all ages to get the H1N1 vaccine, which is now widely available.
