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Mass Consumer Affairs Blog

The Official Blog of the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation

Monthly Archives: December 2018

Don’t get heated over cooling-off periods Posted on Dec 27

  It is a very common misconception, and one that our Office receives many questions about, that a cooling-off period exists for any purchase a consumer makes.  A cooling-off period is a certain amount of time, usually three days, where a contract can be redacted   …Continue Reading Don’t get heated over cooling-off periods

Energy Bill Scams Posted on Dec 19

 Energy Bill Scams

        As temperatures drop, thermostats begin to rise and many consumers begin to see their heating bills increase. It should come as no surprise then that scammers capitalize on the changing seasons by offering lower energy bills or preying on fears about   …Continue Reading Energy Bill Scams

Holiday Shopping Series: Bait and Switch Posted on Dec 13

 Holiday Shopping Series: Bait and Switch

Most consumers have heard of the term “bait and switch,” but may not be aware when it happens to them. A sales representative may try to convince you to buy a different item than the one you came for, which may simply seem like a   …Continue Reading Holiday Shopping Series: Bait and Switch

Marriott’s Starwood Hotels Have Suffered a Major Data Breach Posted on Dec 3

  Over 500 million people may have been impacted by a data breach affecting the Marriott’s Starwood hotels guest reservation system. Marriott International, which owns the former Starwood brand hotels, says that in early September, an alert from a security tool provided notification that an   …Continue Reading Marriott’s Starwood Hotels Have Suffered a Major Data Breach