Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, Commonwealth of Massachusetts http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocahomepage&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca http://www.mass.gov/Eoca/RSS/Home/newsandupdates.xml © 2009 Commonwealth of Massachusetts 2009-11-24T00:00:00Z http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20091124_holidayshopping&csid=Eoca 2009-11-24T00:00:00Z 2009-11-24T00:00:00Z

BOSTON – November 24, 2009 -- With the holiday season picking up steam before hitting a full, post-Thanksgiving frenzy, the Patrick Administration’s Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation offers 12 smart consumer tips as shoppers hit the malls and Main Streets over the next six weeks.<br><br> The tips include some big-picture thoughts like keeping a budget, and detail-oriented reminders like checking refund policies for each store.<br><br> “The holiday season is hectic for everyone, and it’s good for consumers to keep these tips in mind as they hit the stores and the Internet this shopping season,” said Barbara Anthony, the Undersecretary of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. “This year, with so many families paying extra attention to their pocketbooks, keeping some smart ideas in mind can be especially helpful.”<div> <img src= "http://www.mass.gov/Eoca/images/static_color_logo.jpg" alt="Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation" align="left" > </div>

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20091104_idtheft&csid=Eoca 2009-11-04T00:00:00Z 2009-11-04T00:00:00Z

BOSTON - November 4, 2009 - The Patrick Administration’s Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation announced today it has filed final regulations that take effect on March 1, 2010. The regulations will help combat many of the vulnerabilities in personal information security that has led to more than 1 million instances of Massachusetts residents’ personal information being exposed in two years. <br><br> The regulations focus on protecting personal information by mandating any entity storing or transmitting personal information – a combination of a name along with Social Security number, bank account number, or credit card number – ensure the information be encrypted when stored on portable devices or when transmitted over the Internet.<div> <img src= "http://www.mass.gov/Eoca/images/static_color_logo.jpg" alt="Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation" align="left" > </div>

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20091029_llsurvey&csid=Eoca 2009-10-29T00:00:00Z 2009-10-29T00:00:00Z

BOSTON - October 29, 2009 – In a survey of car dealers’ lots conducted by the Patrick Administration’s Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, nearly half of the almost 2,000 new and used cars checked were missing the bright-yellow Lemon Law warranty notices required by law. Auto dealers are required to place these notices on cars offered for sale. These notices inform consumers of their rights under the state’s new and used car Lemon Laws.<div> <img src= "http://www.mass.gov/Eoca/images/static_color_logo.jpg" alt="Better Business. Smarter Consumers" align="left" > </div>

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090916_pcs&csid=Eoca 2009-09-15T00:00:00Z 2009-09-15T00:00:00Z

BOSTON – Sept. 16, 2009 – The Patrick-Murray Administration’s Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, along with a coalition of nine local colleges and nine business and government partners, announced the launch of Project Credit Smarts – a program designed to educate Boston-area students about credit card use, including its dangers and pitfalls – at a press conference today at Roxbury Community College.<br><br> “Young adults need to understand the importance of building a solid credit foundation and developing responsible financial management skills,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “Project Credit Smarts will help students gain these critical life skills.”

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090831_robocalls2&csid=Eoca 2009-08-31T00:00:00Z 2009-08-31T00:00:00Z

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090831_mega&csid=Eoca 2009-08-31T00:00:00Z 2009-08-31T00:00:00Z

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090819_creditrights&csid=Eoca 2009-08-19T00:00:00Z 2009-08-19T00:00:00Z

BOSTON -- Aug. 19, 2009 -- Starting tomorrow, consumers will have new federal credit card rights, as the first part of the new Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act goes into effect. Among the new obligations, banks will have to send credit card bills at least 21 days before they are due, and give cardholders at least 45 days advance notice before raising interest rates. <br><br> "This is a good first step towards addressing some of the practices of the credit card industry that consumers have complained about and that have hit many of them so hard," commented Barbara Anthony, Undersecretary of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. The new rules are being phased in this year and next in three stages under the act, which was signed into law by President Obama on May 22.<div> <img src= "http://www.mass.gov/Eoca/images/static_color_logo.jpg" alt="Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation" align="left" > </div>

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090818_dobpayday&csid=Eoca 2009-08-18T00:00:00Z 2009-08-18T00:00:00Z

BOSTON – August 18, 2009 – Continuing the Patrick Administration’s efforts to combat illegal Internet payday lending activity in Massachusetts, the Division of Banks today announced that cease-activity directives had been issued to 95 companies marketing illegal payday loans to Massachusetts consumers. This follows similar cease activity initiatives against Internet-based payday lenders during 2005 and 2006.<br><br> A payday loan is short-term, small-sum, high-rate, unsecured personal loan that utilizes a consumer’s checking account (usually through electronic access but sometimes actual checks) for repayment of the amount borrowed. Since these loans are short-term in nature, the cost of payday loans to the consumer is enormously high, many times exceeding the original loan amount borrowed.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090817_idtheftregs&csid=Eoca 2009-08-17T00:00:00Z 2009-08-17T00:00:00Z

BOSTON -- Aug. 17, 2009 -- In keeping with Governor Deval Patrick’s commitment to balancing consumer protection with the needs of small business owners, Massachusetts Undersecretary of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation Barbara Anthony today announced adjustments to Massachusetts’ identity theft regulations that maintain protections and also reinforce flexibility in compliance by small businesses.<br><br> The updated regulations will take effect March 1, 2010. The regulations make clear that their approach to data security is a risk-based approach that is especially important to small businesses that may not handle a lot of personal information about customers. Under a risk-based approach, a business, in developing a written security program, should take into account its size, nature of its business, the kinds of records it maintains, and the risk of identity theft posed by its operations.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090811_cashforclunkers&csid=Eoca 2009-08-11T00:00:00Z 2009-08-11T00:00:00Z

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090806_taylorbean&csid=Eoca 2009-08-10T00:00:00Z 2009-08-10T00:00:00Z

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090709_overchargingatregister&csid=Eoca 2009-07-10T00:00:00Z 2009-07-10T00:00:00Z

BOSTON – July 9, 2009 – Officials from the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation and the Division of Standards have met with CVS and Shaw's to discuss the individual companies' plans to reduce overcharges at stores in Massachusetts. <br><br> Leaders from OCABR and DOS also anticipate meeting with other retailers that have high rates of overcharging. Overcharging occurs when the price rung up at the register is higher than the posted price on a store's shelves.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocamodulechunk&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=terminalcontent&f=autoinsurance_studyresults&csid=Eoca 2009-07-02T00:00:00Z 2009-07-02T00:00:00Z

On April 1, 2008, the Massachusetts Division of Insurance inaugurated the change to a more competitive auto insurance market. In doing so, the state transformed from a fixed rate setting by state regulators to &#34;managed competition.&#34; Massachusetts is the last state in the country to move from state-set auto insurance rates to a competitive rating system.<BR><BR> To read the executive summary of the report, please click <a href="http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocamodulechunk&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Government&L2=Our+Agencies+and+Divisions&L3=Division+of+Insurance&sid=Eoca&b=terminalcontent&f=20090702executivesummary&csid=Eoca">here</a>

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090622_DOBtaylorbeanwhitaker&csid=Eoca 2009-06-22T00:00:00Z 2009-06-22T00:00:00Z

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090604_dobmortgageceaseanddesist&csid=Eoca 2009-06-04T00:00:00Z 2009-06-04T00:00:00Z

<strong>BOSTON – June 4, 2009 –</strong> The Division of Banks (Division) today announced the issuance of 87 cease-and-desist orders against licensed mortgage lenders and mortgage brokers in Massachusetts. The Division closed these licensees today after they failed to provide required financial information, including the failure to post a bond.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090604_verizonhearings&csid=Eoca 2009-06-04T00:00:00Z 2009-06-04T00:00:00Z

<p>BOSTON – June 4, 2009 – Department of Telecommunications and Cable interim Commissioner Carol Foltz said today that four hearings will be held in Western Massachusetts regarding the state of Verizon Massachusetts’ telephone service quality pursuant to G. L. c. 159, § 16.</p> <p>The hearings will be held according to the following schedule:</p> <p> <strong>Franklin County:</strong> Tuesday, June 23, 6-9 p.m., at Greenfield High School Cafeteria, 1 Lenox Ave., Greenfield<br> <strong>Hampshire County:</strong> Wednesday, June 24, 6-9 p.m., at JFK Middle School Auditorium, 100 Bridge Road, Florence<br> <strong>Berkshire County:</strong> Tuesday, June 30, 6-9 p.m., at Berkshire Community College Robert Boland Theatre, 1350 West St., Pittsfield<br> <strong>Hampden County:</strong> Wednesday, July 1, 6-9 p.m., at Westfield College Scanlon Hall, 62 School St., Westfield</p>

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090604_doihmadirect&csid=Eoca 2009-06-04T00:00:00Z 2009-06-04T00:00:00Z

BOSTON -- June 4, 2009 -- Commissioner of Insurance Nonnie S. Burnes today issued an Order to Show Cause against several insurance licensees affiliated with HMA Direct of Newton. These licensees, through HMA Direct, offer access to health insurance to businesses in the Commonwealth. <br><br> The Order, filed against HMA MGU, LLC, New England Custom Health Plan Administrators, LLC, Jedediah L. Brettschneider and Mark Allan Celentano, includes 33 claims of wrongdoing. <br><br> The Order alleges that HMA Direct and its affiliated entities and employees marketed self-funded group health plans to Massachusetts employers. In doing so, HMA Direct and its affiliates used employees' health status to make the employees ineligible or no longer eligible for the employers' self-funded group health plan. Employers were then allegedly forced to obtain individual health insurance policies for the ineligible employees. These actions allegedly caused the employers’ self-funded health plans to violate the anti-discrimination provisions of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090519_allstate&csid=Eoca 2009-05-19T00:00:00Z 2009-05-19T00:00:00Z

Commissioner of Insurance Nonnie S. Burnes today confirmed that Allstate has made a filing with her office to offer automobile insurance to Massachusetts customers later this year.<br><br> "The Division of Insurance has strong consumer protections in place as part of the transition to managed competition, and will now review Allstate’s filing to make sure it meets those protections, as well the statutes, rules and regulations that apply. The Patrick Administration implemented managed competition in April 2008, and this is the 11th new company to enter the market since then. Managed competition is designed to bring more choice in cost, coverage and companies to Massachusetts drivers, and this filing further demonstrates that managed competition is working and Massachusetts consumers are reaping the benefits of automobile insurance reform."

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ehedpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ehed&b=pressrelease&f=_090507_Anthony_Appointment&csid=Ehed 2009-05-07T00:00:00Z 2009-05-07T00:00:00Z

BOSTON -- MAY 6, 2009 -- Governor Deval Patrick today announced his selection of Barbara Anthony as the new Undersecretary of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR).<br><br> Anthony, a Massachusetts native, is one of the state’s most well-known consumer advocates and is a highly respected public interest lawyer. She begins as Undersecretary on May 11. <br><br> "Barbara brings a wealth of experience and great collegiality to her new role and will help lead our efforts on auto insurance reform, identity theft protection, foreclosure prevention and other critical issues," said Governor Patrick.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090504_BostonHiFiRegistration&csid=Eoca 2009-05-04T00:00:00Z 2009-05-04T00:00:00Z

BOSTON -- May 4, 2009 -- The High School Financial Literacy (HiFi) Program, which trains teachers, financial professionals, and representatives of community-based organizations to teach financial literacy to teens, will hold free classes for interested instructors at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston on Monday, May 11.<br><br> The financial challenges facing's students are many and complex. The HiFi Program helps provide them with the tools to make informed financial decisions that will positively affect their futures. Sponsored by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, HiFi is a comprehensive effort to bring financial literacy education into the classroom through those who have gone through the HiFi training process.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090504_WorcesterHiFiRegistration&csid=Eoca 2009-05-04T00:00:00Z 2009-05-04T00:00:00Z

BOSTON -- May 4, 2009 -- The High School Financial Literacy (HiFi) Program, which trains teachers, financial professionals, and representatives of community-based organizations to teach financial literacy to teens, will hold free classes for interested instructors at Quinsigamond Community College on Tuesday, June 16. <br><br> The financial challenges facing today's students are many and complex. The HiFi Program helps provide them with the tools to make informed financial decisions that will positively affect their futures. Sponsored by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, HiFi is a comprehensive effort to bring financial literacy education into the classroom through those who have gone through the HiFi training process.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090427_dobmortgages&csid=Eoca 2009-04-27T00:00:00Z 2009-04-27T00:00:00Z

BOSTON - April 27, 2009 - The Massachusetts Division of Banks (Division) today issued an industry letter focused on aiding distressed homeowners by restricting fees charged in connection with loan modifications.<br><br> <a href=http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocaterminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Business&L2=Banking+Industry+Services&L3=Industry+Letters&sid=Eoca&b=terminalcontent&f=dob_indltrmortloanmod&csid=Eoca>The letter</a> clarifies that mortgage brokers licensed by the Division may not charge borrowers a fee or receive any compensation from any source for assisting in the process of obtaining a loan modification from a borrower’s mortgage holder. The letter further explains that any fees charged by the borrower's mortgage holder to revise the particular terms of a mortgage loan are strictly limited in scope and amount under state law.<br><br> The Division has recently seen an increase in companies aggressively marketing their services with claims to help consumers avoid foreclosure or negotiate a loan modification at substantial additional costs to consumers. The Obama Administration, through the Treasury Department, recently announced its &quot;Making Home Affordable&quot; Modification Guidelines to facilitate loan modifications. Consumers should contact their lenders for information. In addition, information on non-profits providing foreclosure prevention assistance is available on <a href=http://www.mass.gov/dob>the Division's website</a>.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090409_foreclosurews&csid=Eoca 2009-04-16T00:00:00Z 2009-04-16T00:00:00Z

BOSTON - April 9, 2009 * Nearly 800 homeowners attended foreclosure prevention workshops in Brockton and Lowell last week, taking advantage of the opportunity to meet one-on-one with their lenders as they try to avoid possibly losing their homes. <br><br> The foreclosure prevention workshops are part of a comprehensive effort by the Patrick-Murray Administration to battle the foreclosure crisis and were co-sponsored by city official in Lowell and Brockton, and housing counseling agencies from each city. By comparison, six similar workshops throughout the state last year drew a total of 1,400 homeowners. Attendance at last week's workshops is a sign that the foreclosure crisis has not ended in Massachusetts.

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BOSTON - April 16, 2009 - Massachusetts has the third-lowest workers' compensation premium rates in the country after decreases on average premiums of over 17 percent under the Patrick Administration, according to a study by the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. <br><br> The Oregon report, released last month, researched the Jan. 1, 2008, rates for the 50 top industries in that state, and found that Massachusetts' combined rates of $1.39 per $100 in payroll is the third-lowest of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., and is 62 percent of the national median of $2.26.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090320_geico&csid=Eoca 2009-03-20T00:00:00Z 2009-03-20T00:00:00Z

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BOSTON - Thursday, March 5, 2009 - Responding to concerns from Massachusetts consumers, Insurance Commissioner Nonnie S. Burnes today announced she will offer additional rules in the coming weeks that address concerns raised by consumers and continue managed competition's focus on protecting and delivering benefits to drivers everywhere in Massachusetts. "Managed competition has been and continues to be a success story for good drivers everywhere in Massachusetts," said Commissioner Burnes. "Our foremost priority is consumers, and ensuring they experience every benefit our competitive market has to offer in terms of price, choice and service. The rules we develop around at-fault accident designations will reflect our commitment to consumers just as the transition to managed competition has since day one."

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocamodulechunk&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=terminalcontent&f=dob_mlci_schd&csid=Eoca 2009-03-02T00:00:00Z 2009-03-02T00:00:00Z

http://www.mass.gov/Eoca/docs/idtheft/IDTheftReport20090212.pdf 2009-02-12T00:00:00Z 2009-02-12T00:00:00Z

September 18, 2008

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BOSTON - February 12, 2009 - Today, the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation filed revised identity theft regulations that will preserve the privacy of consumers by increasing the level of security on personal information held by businesses and other entities.<br><br> The regulations will take effect Jan. 1, 2010, and mandate that personal information -- a combination of a name along with a Social Security number, bank account number, or credit card number -- be encrypted when stored on portable devices, or transmitted wirelessly or on public networks. Encryption of personal information on portable devices carrying identity data like laptops, PDAs and flash drives must also be completed by Jan. 1, 2010, and will ensure better protection of personal information.

http://www.mass.gov/Eoca/docs/foreclosure/bbatenantrights.pdf 2009-01-27T00:00:00Z 2009-01-27T00:00:00Z

This seminar is specifically for housing counselors and attorneys assisting tenants and homeowners as tenants in foreclosed properties.<br><br> <h2>Tuesday, February 3, 2009<br> 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.<br> Boston Bar Association<br> 16 Beacon Street, Boston</h2> Speakers:<br> Esme Caramello, Esq., Suffolk Law School<br> Elizabeth A. Guiney, Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20080115_rals&csid=Eoca 2009-01-15T00:00:00Z 2009-01-15T00:00:00Z

The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) and Department of Revenue (DOR) advise tax payers to steer clear of tax refund loans, also known as refund anticipation loans (RALs). RALs are secured by and repaid from a pending federal tax refund.<br><br> A refund anticipation loan is a risky proposition because it must be repaid even if the taxpayer’s refund is denied, less than expected, or frozen. If the taxpayer cannot pay back the RAL, the lender may send the account to a debt collector.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=20090108_doiaccdisp&csid=Eoca 2009-01-08T00:00:00Z 2009-01-08T00:00:00Z

In keeping with the Division of Insurance’s commitment to consumer protection, Commissioner Nonnie S. Burnes today established a streamlined, consumer-friendly process for the review of disputed at-fault accident decisions. The new procedures replace the time-consuming and costly Board of Appeals surcharge hearing process with a no-cost 30-day review period enforced by the Division.<br><br> “Under the current system, consumers disputing an at-fault accident decision by their insurance company have been forced to pay hefty fees and wait up to two years for a resolution,” said Commissioner Burnes. “Now long wait times and costly charges will be a thing of the past and the Division of Insurance will use its significant regulatory authority to ensure consumers benefit from greater protections.”

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=090107_DOB_foreclosuredatabase&csid=Eoca 2009-01-07T00:00:00Z 2009-01-07T00:00:00Z

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocapressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Eoca&b=pressrelease&f=081209_tenantsrights&csid=Eoca 2008-12-09T00:00:00Z 2008-12-09T00:00:00Z

BOSTON - December 9, 2008 - As part of the Patrick-Murray Administration's ongoing response to the foreclosure crisis, the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development and the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, with support from Massachusetts Housing Partnership, released a brochure outlining the rights and responsibilities of tenants living in foreclosed buildings. The guide empowers renters with information to ensure that they understand the foreclosure process and are not unfairly evicted after the building they live in is foreclosed upon.

http://www.mass.gov/Eoca/docs/idtheft/publichearing_201cmr17amend.PDF 2008-12-02T00:00:00Z 2008-12-02T00:00:00Z