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Mass Consumer Affairs Blog
The Official Blog of the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
While schools and businesses are closed and everyone is practicing social distancing in an attempt to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), there is one group that is hard at work—scammers. Seeing an opportunity to take advantage in growing numbers, scammers are both resorting …Continue Reading Beware of Coronavirus Scams
Today marks the beginning of 23rd annual National Consumer Protection Week, a weeklong celebration of understanding consumer rights and making well-informed decisions about money championed by the Federal Trade Commissions’ (FTC). Educating consumers about fraud threats and other protection issues has become vital in recent …Continue Reading National Consumer Protection Week 2020
With the fall upon us and temperatures dropping, you may be deciding to purchase wood to heat up your home this season. The Division of Standards (DOS) regulates the sale of wood and there are some things you should know. Whether you’re buying cordwood or …Continue Reading Get Heated, Not Cheated this Fall!
In parts one and two of our “HIC-Easy as 1-2-3!” blog series you learned about the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) law and how to apply for the Arbitration program. Now we’ll cover the fund that may reimburse a homeowner with an unpaid final judgment against …Continue Reading HIC—Easy as 1-2-3! Part 3: Guaranty Fund
After the ink is dry on your home improvement contract and the job is underway, sometimes things don’t go as planned. Thankfully, the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) law Arbitration program allows homeowners and registered contractors the opportunity to seek a resolution should a dispute arise. …Continue Reading HIC—Easy as 1-2-3! Part 2: Arbitration
If you are a home improvement contractor or homeowner in Massachusetts, we’ve got you covered with our introductory guide to understanding the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) programs – from both perspectives, the homeowner’s and contractor’s. This introduction to HIC programs is the first of our …Continue Reading HIC— Easy as 1-2-3! Introduction
Summer is here and Massachusetts is starting to heat up. Taking simple safety precautions is more important than ever. Educate yourself on precautions you can take to have a stress-free and enjoyable summer. Going Abroad? Get your vaccines or boosters. Refer to the Centers for …Continue Reading Summer Consumer Guidelines
The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation surveys car dealerships in the Commonwealth semi-annually to evaluate their compliance with the Massachusetts Lemon Laws. Massachusetts law mandates that Lemon Law stickers must be displayed on every vehicle for sale, new and used, at every Massachusetts …Continue Reading Spring 2019 Lemon Law Audit Results
Consumers deserve to feel confident that the price they see advertised in stores is the price they’re going to pay. That’s why the state’s Division of Standards (DOS) annually inspects retail stores to make sure their pricing is accurate. While overall inspectors find accurate pricing, …Continue Reading What You See is What You Get: Shopping Price Accuracy
Many of us have experienced that moment of panic upon learning that our personal or financial information has been compromised. Will the thieves use my financial information and drain my accounts? Will they use my identity to open new accounts and ruin my credit? …Continue Reading Protect your child’s identity and future: What you need to know about Child ID Theft
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2020