Bronson Joins Consumer Advocates to Sponsor 10th Annual National Consumer Protection Week
For Information, Contact:
Gwen Worlds
(850) 410-3702
Gwendolyn.Worlds@freshfromflorida.com
February 29, 2008
Tallahassee – Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson has joined a group of federal, state, and local government agencies and national consumer advocacy organizations to launch the10th annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), March 2-8, 2008. Bronson sponsored a resolution approved by the Governor and Cabinet.
NCPW highlights consumer education efforts in the fight against fraud and deceptive business practices. Consumer advocates are encouraging people across the U.S. to fortify their financial know-how. Financially savvy consumers are likely to make smarter decisions about managing their money, using credit wisely, and building a solid financial foundation.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers conduct some type of financial transaction requiring an educated decision every day: shopping for a mortgage or auto loan; understanding and reconciling credit card statements and telephone bills; choosing savings and retirement plans; comparing health insurance policies; understanding their credit report and how it affects their ability to get credit and on what terms; or simply deciding how to pay for a purchase.
“Some of these transactions involve tens of thousands of dollars and it is critical that consumers educate themselves about these issues,” Bronson said. “A financial education is one of the most sound investments a consumer can make.”
NCPW partner organizations provide practical – and tactical – tips so consumers can learn how to make well-informed financial decisions, avoid credit scams, and protect their personal information. Consumers can obtain information by logging on to the department’s website at http://www.800helpfla.com/.
National organizers of this year’s NCPW are the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Federal Citizen’s Information Center (FCIC), the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Comptroller of the Currency, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators (NACAA), the National Consumers League (NCL), AARP, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Call for Action, the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), and the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG).
"The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is proud to be a part of this year’s National Consumer Protection Week campaign,” Bronson said. "We encourage all consumers to take advantage of the many resources available to help them master the financial facts of life.”
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the clearinghouse for consumer complaints and information in Florida and operates the Consumer Helpline 1-800-HELPFLA (1-800-435-7352) or 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832).
For more information about NCPW, visit http://www.ncpw.gov/.
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