http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca NYC.gov RSS en Copyright 2009 City of New York Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:12:55 EST http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_112009.shtml Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Jonathan Mintz today announced results of the Department’s 3-week enforcement sweep of every airline luggage scale used at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to ensure that scales are accurately calibrated and protect holiday travelers from luggage overcharges. DCA found 92 percent compliance in its initial inspections and issued 57 Stop-Use Orders to airlines for failing scales. Upon re-inspection of condemned scales after their recalibration by the airlines, overall compliance rose to over 99.7 percent. According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, airlines collected nearly $670 million in baggage fees in the second quarter of 2009 alone. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_112009.shtml Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:05:00 EST http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_111909.shtml The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) today announced aggressive legal action against used car dealer Queens Auto Mall, Inc. (134-01 Atlantic Ave, Richmond Hill, NY 11418), citing the business for charging consumers illegal fees, refusing to refund deposits on cancelled transactions, prohibiting consumers from filing complaints as a condition of issuing refunds and guaranteeing financing for all customers in its advertisements. DCA also charged the used car dealer with deceptively implying that its auto auction business, Queens Auto Mall Auction House – also known as Federal Auctioneers, Federal Auto Auction and New York State Auction – is affiliated with the federal and state government. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_111909.shtml Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:32:00 EST http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_111809.shtml “Over the past 60 days, the Department of Consumer Affairs repeatedly reached out to pedicab business owners and the industry associations to make sure that every pedicab business that wishes to operate in New York City doesn’t miss the opportunity to apply for a license. After November 20 the City cannot, by law, accept any new pedicab business applications. That means if a pedicab business misses the deadline to apply for a license, they are out of business. With only three days remaining to submit a pedicab business application, I want to remind all pedicab businesses to fill out the paperwork and get to the City’s Licensing Center at 42 Broadway by 5 p.m. this Friday, to make sure they can stay in business Saturday.” http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_111809.shtml Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:05:00 EST http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_111209.shtml “This past Spring, the Department of Consumer Affairs recommended that the Federal Reserve create new overdraft rules to make sure consumers affirmatively choose, or ‘opt in’ to, fee-based overdraft protection services instead of being automatically enrolled into these costly so-called ‘courtesies.’ Consumer protection agencies like ours, which believe the most critical component of a free and fair market is consumer choice, know that today the Federal Reserve scored an important win for consumers. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_111209.shtml Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:10:00 EST http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_102109.shtml As part of the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs' 7th Annual Business Education Day, Commissioner Jonathan Mintz today dispatched DCA staffers to educate businesses about key consumer protection laws—but not write any violations—in retail districts across all five boroughs. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_102109.shtml Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:23:00 EDT http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_101809.shtml Pedicab businesses only have 30 days left to submit a license application, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Jonathan Mintz reminded the industry today. Pedicab business owners, and others seeking to start a business, must obtain a Pedicab Business license from DCA by submitting a complete license application no later than Friday, November 20. The law forbids the Department from accepting any applications after that date. Once a pedicab business submits a completed license application for up to a maximum of 30 pedicabs, DCA will schedule qualifying inspections of the business’ pedicabs to ensure each meets the City’s rigorous safety requirements, including proper brakes, lights, seatbelts and insurance. At the halfway point of the law’s 60-day application window, 10 pedicab businesses have submitted their license applications to the Department. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_101809.shtml Sun, 18 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EDT http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_092709.shtml The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) today announced it will begin licensing its newest industry: pedicabs. New Yorkers who currently own a pedicab business – or who wish to start a pedicab business – must obtain a Pedicab Business license from DCA by submitting a complete license application by Friday, November 20. Under the newly enacted pedicab law, DCA cannot accept Pedicab Business applications after November 20, therefore, limiting the number of licensed pedicab businesses to the number of applications received by that date. Each Pedicab Business applicant can seek registration for up to 30 pedicabs. Once a Pedicab Business submits a completed business license application, DCA will schedule an inspection of the business’ pedicabs to ensure each pedicab meets the City’s safety requirements. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_092709.shtml Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EDT http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_082709.shtml Ready or not, back-to-school time is fast approaching for New York City students. Before families begin to spend their hard-earned money on back-to-school needs, New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Jonathan Mintz is providing pointers on how to be smart spenders. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_082709.shtml Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:44:00 EDT http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_081709.shtml The Department of Consumer Affairs’ Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) today awarded more than $180,000 to 16 community-based organizations that provide financial education to New Yorkers in need. The 2009 Evaluation Improvement Awards will help these organizations improve the data collection and evaluation processes of their financial education services by tracking basic data including the number of people the organizations serve and any critical milestones achieved by clients, such as opening a bank account, reviewing a credit report or completing a screening for public benefits. For the first time, organizations also will be reporting basic demographics of those using financial education services, providing insights into which communities are most in need of additional help. Such important information has never before been reported in a consistent way or at such a citywide scope, and will assist OFE in its work to increase the impact of financial education for New Yorkers. Award recipients will submit reports to OFE on financial education classes, workshops, counseling sessions and telephone hotlines on a quarterly basis for two years. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_081709.shtml Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:58:00 EDT http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_080609.shtml The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) today released the first-year results of the City’s $aveNYC Account Program pilot, which found that, contrary to commonly held beliefs, individuals with low and very low incomes can and will save when given simple and safe banking products. The Department’s evaluation of the pilot program, entitled The $aveNYC Account: Innovation in Asset Building, revealed that despite an average annual household income of roughly $15,000, 61 percent of program participants contributed at least $500 to their $aveNYC Account, totaling more than $73,000 in savings by the end of the first year. As part of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s aggressive anti-poverty strategy implemented under the Center for Economic Opportunity, DCA’s Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) launched the $aveNYC Account to examine how the City could encourage savings – a predictor of financial stability – in communities with low incomes through a privately funded City matching program. Families earning less than $45,000 and individuals earning less than $20,000 were eligible to open a $aveNYC Account when filing their taxes at participating Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. Individuals who left the initial deposit in the accounts for one year received a 50 percent match, up to $250, in addition to the 2 to 3 percent interest the savings accounts earned. The program is funded through private donations made to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_080609.shtml Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:31:00 EDT http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_072909.shtml “Today the City Council voted in favor of an amendment to the City’s pedicab law that, at long last will allow this Department to hold this industry accountable for safe and fair operations for New Yorkers and tourists alike. DCA now will be able to begin the speedy but careful process of inspecting each and every pedicab that would operate on the City’s streets, as well as make sure that drivers and companies are properly insured and licensed.” http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_072909.shtml Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:53:00 EDT http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_072109.shtml New York officials today announced 1,524 inspections, 468 violations, 17 criminal summonses or arrests, and 175 seizures of vehicles owned by unlicensed home improvement contractors during a 10-week, multi-county enforcement sweep in New York City and Nassau and Westchester counties. Unlicensed home improvement contractors put homeowners at risk for shoddy workmanship, unfinished projects and expensive mistakes. Regional officials also reclaimed $8.6 million in restitution for consumers. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_072109.shtml Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:12:00 EDT http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_071509.shtml The Department of Consumer Affairs today announced it shut down Dalia's Service Agency (1670 East 17th St., Room 3D, Brooklyn, NY 11229) after finding it had continued to charge illegal fees to customers. DCA revoked owner Dalia Hen's license to operate the employment agency and barred her and her husband Nissim Hen from operating or working at an employment agency in New York City for four years. In addition, DCA secured $83,000 in consumer restitution, fines and costs during its investigation of the employment agency and will provide refunds to job seekers from as far back as 2005. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_071509.shtml Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:40:00 EDT http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_070209.shtml As part of an ongoing and in-depth investigation of the employment agency industry, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) today announced it is reaching out to thousands of New York City residents who have used employment agencies that charged illegal fees and, therefore, may be entitled to, in some cases, as much as a $100 refund. Consumers who receive a letter from DCA about a refund should fill out the forms enclosed and return them to the Department to determine the amount of their refund. The Department estimates thousands of consumers may be eligible for refunds. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_070209.shtml Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:54:00 EDT http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_070109.shtml With the summer driving season getting underway, Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Jonathan Mintz today announced a 98 percent compliance rate for the City’s gas pumps. Under the City’s Weights and Measures law, DCA tests all gas pumps for accuracy to ensure that New York City consumers are getting every drop of gas that they pay for. In the past year, DCA has performed more than 1,800 gas station inspections, checking more than 12,000 individual gas pumps throughout the five boroughs. During its inspections of the City’s gas stations over the past year, the Department condemned 227 gas pumps for inaccurately dispensing fuel. On average, DCA’s gas squad inspects each gas station in the City approximately twice a year. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/pr2009/pr_070109.shtml Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:56:00 EDT