|
Jon O. Wesley, Jr., Mediation Center Supervisor
Consumer Services Department 140 West Flagler Street, Suite 902 Miami, FL 33130-1561
(305) 375-4201 / 305-375-4120 fax / wesley@miamidade.gov
The Consumer Services Department (CSD) is charged with educating, informing and protecting consumers. We enforce consumer protection laws and business regulations, license certain businesses, and investigate and mediate consumer complaints. We also provide research and educational services targeted to agricultural producers, youth and families, among others.
The Department’s main office operating hours are 8:00 AM - 5:00 pm. Licensing operations take place 8:00 AM - 3:30 pm.
Identity Theft
Every day, you may write a check at the grocery store, charge tickets to a ball game, rent a car, mail your tax returns, call home on your cell phone, order new checks or apply for a credit card. Chances are you don't give these transactions a second thought. But someone else may.
There is a new kind of thief whose stock in trade are your everyday transactions, your personal information: your bank account, your income; your SS number; and your name address and phone numbers. Identity thieves take this information without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft.
How big is the problem?
Here are some startling statistics. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Florida ranks fourth (4) in the country in the number of identity theft victims while Miami ranks number one (1) among Florida cities, and number five (5) in the country.
Although you can't completely prevent identity theft from occurring, minimize your risk by managing your personal information, wisely.
Credit Bureaus
Equifax - www.equifax.com
To order your report call: 1-800-685-1111
or write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
To report fraud call: 1-800-525-6285
and write: P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Experian - www.experian.com
To order your report call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
or write: P.O. Box 2104, Allen TX 75013
To report fraud call: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
and write: P.O. Box 9532, Allen TX 75013
To have your name removed from Experian's marketing lists call: 1-800-407-1088
Trans Union - www.tuc.com
To order your report call: 1-800-916-8800
or write: P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022
To report fraud call: 1-800-680-7289
and write: Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634
Did you know that, as of June 1, 2005, Florida residents are able to get their credit report for free?
The federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies (sometimes called credit bureaus) to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.
There are three nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union.
The three companies have set up one central website, toll-free telephone number, and mailing address for ordering the free reports.
To order, click on www.annualcreditreport.com, call 877-322-8228,
or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service,
P.O. Box 105281,
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
To Opt Out of receiving pre-screened credit card offers call:
1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567- 8688). The three major credit bureaus use the same toll-free number to let consumers choose not to receive pre-screened credit offers.
Florida Driver Privacy Protection Act
As of Sept. 13, 1997, Florida residents have the right to protect personal information in their driver license and motor vehicle records from disclosure. A number of exceptions were specified by law; those individuals/businesses will continue to have access to the data.
Mail to:
Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles
Driver Privacy Protection Act Requests
P.O. Box 7850, Tallahassee, FL 32314-7850
Direct Marketers
The Direct Marketing Association's (DMA) Mail, E-mail and Telephone Preference Services allow consumers to opt out of direct mail marketing, e-mail marketing and/or telemarketing solicitations from many national companies. Because your name will not be on their lists, it also means that these companies can't rent or sell your name to other companies. For more information, visit www.the-dma.org.
Direct Mail Lists
To remove your name from many national direct mail lists write:
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014
OR
Preference Service Manager
Direct Marketing Association
1120 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-6700
Send via fax to: (212) 790-1427
E-mail Lists
To remove your e-mail address from many national direct e-mail lists visit:
www.e-mps.org.
Telephone Solicitation Lists
To avoid unwanted phone calls from many national marketers, send your name, address, and telephone number to:
DMA Telephone Preference Service
P.O. Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014
or
Preference Service Manager
Direct Marketing Association
1120 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-6700
Send via fax to: (212) 790-1427
Consumer Hotline: 305-375-3677
Telemarketers and Florida's Do Not Call List
The Florida "No Sales Solicitation" Law is designed to relieve residents of unwanted telephone solicitation contacts and ensure consumers of their right to privacy. For $10 the first year (per number) and $5 each year thereafter (per number), residents may have their residential, mobile, or pager telephone number included on the Department's "No Sales Solicitation" List which is updated four times each year. Make check payable to: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Mail to:
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
No Sales Solicitation
407 S. Calhoun Street
Mayo Building 2nd Floor
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800
Call: 1-800-HELP-FLA (800-435-7352)
National Do Not Call List
On Monday September 29, 2003 President George W. Bush signed legislation which had received overwhelmingly bi-partisan support in the House and Senate establishing mechanism for a National Do Not Call List to be administered by the Federal Trade Commission.
The law gives consumers the ability to have their telephone numbers placed on a list which telemarketers are not allowed to call and established a regime of penalties for violations. 888-382-1222 or http://www.donotcall.gov.
|
