New Ct Consumer Protection Commissioner’s Goal To Educate Consumers To Protect Themselves

Attorney William M. Rubenstein, Connecticut’s new Consumer Protection Commissioner, has two key goals already identified:

Educate consumers to protect themselves and improve the department’s information system to better identify key issues.

In a recent interview with CtWatchdog, Rubenstein says he believes that the Department’s “complaint tracking system” can be improved to focus in closer “to patterns of activity (consumer complaints)” so the department and be more proactive and preventative as key issues are identified.

While the department already does that, Rubenstein said he believes it can be further refined and improved.

“There is a benefit to having a fresh pair of eyes looking at it, you have to be creative on how to address these issues,” Rubenstein, a former assistant Attorney General said, adding that because of his background in consumer law, these are areas of his strength.

While that goal may be more difficult than he things because it will require shifting of shrinking resources and a computer system run by an overwhelmed bureaucracy, Rubenstein’s second goal is attainable if he uses his bully pulpit effectively.

Rubenstein says that consumers can do a lot more to protect themselves by using available tools on the Internet as well as the ones provided by his department.

Many scams and ripoffs can be prevented by an educated public. He especially noted Internet scams and the latest craze, penny auctions.

That is where he and I are in firm agreement.

For instance in the area of home renovations, too many consumers fail to do their homework to check out contractors’ history and backgrounds before signing contracts that can costs tens of thousands of dollars.

“An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure,” he said.

He said he is also interested in studying propane gas laws to see if more needs to be done to protect consumers.

Another area he wants to look into is whether standards can be developed for price gouging when merchants artificially jack up prices as the result of storms or other major catastrophes.

“We want people to recognize that they are their own best protection against fraud, identity theft, and other scams, although help is always available when it’s needed,” he said suggesting that parents “take action for their own consumer protection – order and read free consumer materials, talk to children about staying safe online, install a computer firewall, order their free credit reports, or any number of little things that can really make a difference.”

“Net Cetera,” a booklet about online safety, was developed by OnGuard Online, a program of the Federal Trade Commission. Available in both English and Spanish, a free copy of either booklet can be requested by calling the Department of Consumer Protection at 1-800-842-2649, or by emailing dcp.communications@ct.gov. The booklets are also available online at www.ct.gov/dcp.

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