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The Official Blog of the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
The Consumer Federation of America and the North American Consumer Protection Investigators conducted a survey of the most common complaints that state and local consumer protection agencies received last year. They asked 39 agencies of various functions in 23 states about the worst, fastest …Continue Reading Top Concerns of Consumers Across America 2016
It’s not an old wives tale – staring at the sun is harmful to your eyes. If you’re one of the millions of people excited to see the coast-to-coast solar eclipse on August 21st, make sure you protect yourself and use specialized sunglasses. Special-purpose solar …Continue Reading Turnaround bright eyes and check those eclipse sunglasses!
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) began mailing over 2,000 checks totaling more than $372,000 to victims of a work-at-home scheme. In June, American Business Builders settled with the FTC over alleged deceptive practices. According to the FTC, consumers paid American Business Builders fees ranging from …Continue Reading FTC Reimburses Victims of a Business Opportunity Scheme
Some consumers opt to lease a used car rather than a new one. Leasing a used car can be a way to get a quality vehicle at a lower monthly payment or have regular access to a reliable vehicle if your credit score prevents you …Continue Reading Used Car Leases
After the recent fatal accident at the Ohio State Fair we decided to check with the Office of Public Safety and Inspections (OPSI) within the Division of Professional Licensure for some information on amusement park safety in Massachusetts. What level of confidence can consumers have …Continue Reading Amusement Park Safety
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is warning consumers of a new impersonation scheme targeting citizens across the country. In March, the SSA and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) alerted the public to a scam in which consumers were receiving calls from individuals posing …Continue Reading Social Security Telephone Scam
Verizon confirmed earlier this month that the personal data of six million customers was made public after it was accidentally leaked online. The issue was caused by “human error” by a misconfigured security setting on a cloud server. Customer phone numbers, names, and some PIN …Continue Reading Verizon Data Leak
A recent Boston Globe article by Sarah Shemkus about the Item Pricing Law and possible consumer cost savings made us realize that it might be time to do a refresher course on the law and why its important consumers be aware of it. The reporter’s …Continue Reading Massachusetts Item Pricing Law
Almost 30% of American jobs require a license today. Being licensed means individuals and businesses must follow specific laws and regulations. Licensure requirements also protect public health, safety and welfare by setting standards for education, training, qualifications, practices, etc. However, getting a professional license can …Continue Reading FTC’s Economic Liberty Task Force
Following a natural disaster, consumers in the disaster area are undoubtedly faced with challenges. After making sure loved ones are safe, attention turns to repairing damages and salvaging belongings. Day-to-day activities are often forgotten or put off. But it’s important to remember there are responsibilities, …Continue Reading Paying bills after a disaster
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2017