During National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) earlier this month, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) partnered with several agencies in Central and South Florida that primarily assist seniors. The PSC is pleased to recognize one of these–the Fred Lippman Multi-Purpose Center in Hollywood–as the PSC’s Helping Hand in March.
“With so many scams targeting seniors, NCPW is an opportunity to educate consumers on ways to protect against individuals posing as utility representatives,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “We thank the Fred Lippman Center for helping us get the word out on potential scams and on ways to help seniors lower their utility bills.”
Each month, the PSC highlights a partner agency or organization whose clients are eligible for the federal Lifeline telephone discount program and/or need help reducing energy and water bills. Through these PSC Helping Hand partnerships, the Commission shares information to help consumers stretch their resources to meet their monthly bills.
“We welcome the PSC’s partnership and appreciate the assistance and education to help our clients, especially during NCPW,” said Marjorie Cooper, Manager, Fred Lipmann Multi-Purpose Center. “Information on Lifeline, scams, energy and water conservation, and utility bill payment assistance is always useful.”
You can find helpful consumer tips from PSC Commissioners for NCPW 2017 here. Look for this year’s PSC Helping Hand outreach partner recognitions on the PSC’s homepage, www.floridapsc.com, under Hot Topics.
About Fred Lipmann Multi-Purpose Center
The Fred Lippman Multi-Purpose Center, administered by the City of Hollywood’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts, is located at 2030 Polk Street in Hollywood. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, the facility provides social, recreational, and educational activities, including field trips, for seniors. For more information, call 954-921-3408, or visit: http://www.adrcbroward.org/lippmancenter.php.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
National Consumer Protection Week
PSC Chairman Julie Brown Highlights 2017 National Consumer Protection Week
With social media reshaping how news is received, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is launching a Twitter campaign, #PSCCelebratesConsumersNCPW, for National Consumer Protection Week, March 5-11. Each day, the campaign will feature a consumer tip from PSC Commissioners and highlight the PSC’s educational activities.
“The National Consumer Protection Week is an important opportunity for the Florida PSC to provide education and awareness about utility services and avoiding potential scams,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “We hope to provide valuable tips and information to ensure consumers receive safe and reliable utility service.”
During the 19th Annual NCPW, the PSC will make presentations to consumers in Winter Springs, Winter Park, Orlando, Hollywood, Miramar, and Hallandale Beach, showing them how to save money through energy and water conservation and how to sign up for the Lifeline Assistance telephone and broadband discount program, if they qualify. Presentation locations and times can be found on Twitter and on the PSC website, www.floridapsc.com.
Look for #PSCCelebratesConsumersNCPW on Twitter to see the Commissioner consumer tip videos, as well as pictures and news from each consumer visit. NCPW Commissioner consumer tips can also be found here.
For more information on NCPW, visit https://www.ncpw.gov/.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
PSC Helps Consumers in Hallandale Beach During National Consumer Protection Week
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will be educating consumers about scams targeting utility customers during the 19th Annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), which takes place March 5–11, 2017.
On Thursday, March 9, 2017, as part of NCPW, PSC staff will be speaking with customers in Hallandale Beach about how to avoid these scams while also providing tips on energy and water conservation and information about the Lifeline Assistance telephone discount program.
For more information about NCPW and to see a nationwide calendar of events, please visit www.ncpw.gov. For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
The PSC events are scheduled below:
Thursday, March 9, 2017
10 – 11 a.m.
Austin Hepburn Senior Center
1000 NW 8th Avenue
Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
Commissioner Putnam Provides Tips to Consumers During National Consumer Protection Week
National Consumer Protection Week is March 5-11, and Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam is offering tips to help Florida residents and visitors protect themselves from scams. National Consumer Protection Week is a nationwide effort to educate consumers about their rights and how to make well-informed decisions. Last year, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services received more than 38,000 consumer complaints and recovered more than $3 million for Florida consumers.
“An educated consumer is the cornerstone of protection against scams, and I encourage Floridians to take advantage of the many resources we offer,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.
The department provides many tools to consumers, including the following:
- The department is available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to assist consumers with gathering information about businesses, charities or other organizations. The department can also help consumers file a complaint if they feel they have been taken advantage of. Call 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or, for Spanish speakers, 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832).
- The department’s website also has a Live Chat function available to assist consumers with information and complaints. Click “Live Chat” from the department’s home page at FreshFromFlorida.com.
- The Little Black Book of Scams provides tips on avoiding charity scams, identity theft, tax scams, foreign lotteries and more.
- Before contributing to charities, consumers should utilize the Check-A-Charity tool. This helps consumers see how their donation will be used.
- Consumers who receive unwanted sales calls at home should sign up for the state’s Do Not Call list here. It’s free to sign-up and only takes a minute.
- Consumers can use the A-Z Resource Guide to see which office, agency or division has oversight on certain issues.
- The A-Z Resource Guide directs consumers to the most appropriate agency for assistance with a wide variety of topics.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the state’s clearinghouse for consumer complaints, protection and information. The call center is staffed with trained analysts who can respond to questions about programs and regulations under the department’s purview, provide information on a wide variety of topics or direct callers to the appropriate government agency. Consumers can get tips or file a complaint at FreshFromFlorida.com.
Consumers who believe fraud has taken place can contact the department’s consumer protection and information hotline at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or, for Spanish speakers, 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832).
PSC Helps Consumers in Miramar and Hollywood During National Consumer Protection Week
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will be educating consumers about scams targeting utility customers during the 19th Annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), which takes place March 5–11, 2017.
On Wednesday, March 8, 2017, as part of NCPW, PSC staff will be speaking with customers in Miramar and Hollywood about how to avoid these scams while also providing tips on energy and water conservation and information about the Lifeline Assistance telephone discount program.
For more information about NCPW and to see a nationwide calendar of events, please visit www.ncpw.gov. For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
The PSC events are scheduled below:
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
8:30 a.m.
Fred Lippman Multi-Purpose Center
2030 Polk Street
Hollywood, Florida 33020
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
10 – 11 a.m.
Miramar Senior Center
6700 Miramar Parkway
Miramar, Florida 33023
And
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
12 – 1 p.m.
Sunset Lakes Senior Center
2801 SW 186th Avenue
Miramar, Florida 33029
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
PSC Helps Consumers in Winter Park and Orlando During National Consumer Protection Week
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will be educating consumers about scams targeting utility customers during the 19th Annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), which takes place March 5–11, 2017.
On Wednesday, March 8, 2017, as part of NCPW, PSC staff will be speaking with customers in Winter Park and Orlando about how to avoid these scams while also providing tips on energy and water conservation and information about the Lifeline Assistance telephone discount program.
For more information about NCPW and to see a nationwide calendar of events, please visit www.ncpw.gov. For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
The PSC events are scheduled below:
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
10 – 11 a.m.
Winter Park Community Center
721 W. New England Avenue
Winter Park, Florida 32789
And
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
12 – 1 p.m.
Renaissance Senior Center at South Econlockhatchee Trail
3800 S. Econlockhatchee Trail
Orlando, Florida 32829
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
PSC Helps Consumers in Winter Springs During National Consumer Protection Week
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will be educating consumers about scams targeting utility customers during the 19th Annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), which takes place March 5–11, 2017.
On Tuesday, March 7, 2017, as part of NCPW, PSC staff will be speaking with customers in Winter Springs about how to avoid these scams while also providing tips on energy and water conservation and information about the Lifeline Assistance telephone discount program.
For more information about NCPW and to see a nationwide calendar of events, please visit www.ncpw.gov. For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
The PSC events are scheduled below:
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
10 – 11 a.m.
Winter Springs Senior Center
400 N. Edgemon Avenue
Winter Springs, Florida 32708
Follow the PSC on Twitter, @floridapsc.
