Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection

Born in 1883 in Reading, Pennsylvania, Daisy Lampkin dedicated her life to empowering African Americans and women. She began as a community organizer, rallying housewives into consumer protest groups and advocating for women's suffrage. She later became a leader in the National Association of Colored Women and the NAACP, serving in key leadership roles for over 30 years. Lampkin's decades of activism in consumer and social justice spaces earned her the Eleanor Roosevelt-Mary McLeod Bethune World Citizenship Award in 1964. Lampkin’s legacy as an advocate in various fields continues to inspire people fighting for justice today. Read more about Daisy Lampkin and her lifelong fight for equality: ?? https://bit.ly/4hrMZKp

Ella T. Grasso, Connecticut's first woman governor, served as a Congresswoman from 1971 to 1975 and Governor from 1975 to 1980. She advocated for truth-in-advertising and increased government oversight of utility rates to shield families from unfair trade practices. You can read more about Governor Grasso and her impact on Connecticut by clicking on the link below: ?? https://bit.ly/4bIH6ay

Did you know that Mary Gardiner Jones was the first woman to serve as a Commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)? Appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, Jones transformed the FTC’s focus by advocating for consumer rights and tackling deceptive advertising practices. During her tenure, she played a key role in shaping critical consumer protection legislation, including the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Truth in Lending Act. Jones was a trailblazer in ensuring consumer voices were represented in federal decision-making. She invited consumers to FTC hearings, conducted studies on grocery pricing in low-income areas, and pushed for stronger business accountability. Even after leaving the FTC in 1973, she remained a dedicated consumer advocate, founding the Consumer Interest Research Institute and serving as president of the National Consumers League (NCL). Want to learn more about Mary Gardiner Jones and her impact on consumer rights? Click the links below! ?? https://bit.ly/4bNrcvC ?? https://bit.ly/4ik3sBG

Every month, we release a newsletter with educational tips and information about trending scams, consumer advice and more. Interested in signing up to get the latest updates to keep you and your family protected? Click on the link and sign up today. ?? https://lnkd.in/eJfHgQCy

Ever been overcharged at checkout in your local grocery store or pharmacy? ?? In Connecticut, our Get One Free Law protects you from overpaying. If an item scans higher than the price listed on the shelf or price sticker, you get that one item for FREE—as long as it's a consumer commodity and costs $20 or less. ? The item is an everyday consumer commodity that can be 'fully consumed' and 'used up' like groceries, toiletries, or paper products. Examples include bread, fruit, band aids, and more. ? The law does not cover items such as clothing, greeting cards, frying pans, toothbrushes, or any non-consumable product that cannot be fully used up after purchasing. Always double-check your receipt, speak up when curious, and don’t spend more than you have to! Read more about our Get One Free Law by clicking the link below: ?? https://bit.ly/42bBjXH #KnowYourRights #ConsumerProtection #CTShoppingTips #ConsumerRights #GetOneFree #CT #CTDCP

JOANN Fabric and Crafts announced they are closing all locations and no longer accepting gift cards. Many of the company's gift card holders expressed frustration on social media. Can a company stop accepting gift cards? In most cases, consumers cannot redeem the value of an unspent gift card, if the issuer goes out of business or bankrupt. The court decides if the retailer may continue to honor gift cards through a given date. Gift card holders must file claims with the bankruptcy court, to receive their funds back. This is because there's no state or federal guaranty fund to assist with this issue, providing little to no recourse for the gift card holder. Best way to avoid this? Use your gift cards and certificates as soon as you get them ? This prevents issues with expiration dates (5 years), lost value of a gift card, and finding out too late about a company's sudden closure. Office of the Connecticut Attorney General Full article: https://cbsn.ws/3DEthgL

Commissioner Cafferelli joined Melissa in the Morning on @WICC600 to discuss springtime scams and tips to avoid the ongoing trends. Learn more about scams in home improvement, tax season, and job recruitment. Full interview here: https://bit.ly/4kBBuTn

We were thrilled to welcome the CT Legislative Internship Program student interns to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection for an inside look at how state agencies operate and work for residents. Two cohorts of interns toured three floors, connected with public service professionals, and learned how we and other agencies support Connecticut consumers and residents everyday. A huge shoutout to Connecticut Department of Administrative Services and Commissioner Michelle Gilman for joining us and sharing critical insights on public service career opportunities. Thank you to all the interns for your curiosity, energy, and great questions—we can’t wait to see where your journeys take you! #PublicService #CTDCP #LegislativeInternship #FutureLeaders #CGA #CTDAS

Every month, we release a newsletter with educational tips and information about trending scams, consumer advice and more. Interested in signing up to get the latest updates to keep you and your family protected? Click on the link and sign up today. ?? https://lnkd.in/eJfHgQCy

The Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division has issued a summary suspension of the license for Online Gaming Service Provider, High5Games. Read the full release here: https://bit.ly/4brWWpT