Press Releases

Grand Opening Event of the Ventanilla de Asesoría Financiera at the Consulate General of Mexico

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2014

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF MEXICO IN NEW YORK CUT THE RIBBON ON THE VENTANILLA DE ASESORÍA FINANCIERA TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL COUNSELING SERVICES TO MEXICAN NEW YORKERS

Financial Counseling Window Opening Kicks Off the Consulate’s Financial Education Week

Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) First Deputy Commissioner Alba Pico, Ambassador and Consul General of Mexico Sandra Fuentes-Berain, and President of the Mexican National Agency for the Protection and Defense of the Users of Financial Services Mario Di Costanzo today cut the ribbon on the first Ventanilla de Asesoría Financiera (Financial Counseling Window) at the Mexican Consulate of New York and kicked off the Consulate’s Financial Education Week.  The Ventanilla will offer one-on-one financial counseling to Mexican New Yorkers, provide access to a broad network of services at the Consulate, and help Mexican nationals and families living in New York City achieve greater financial security.  The program is made possible through generous support from Citi Community Development in partnership with the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund and counseling services are provided by Ariva and Qualitas of Life Foundation.

Read the full press release: Mexican Consulate Ventanilla Launch

DCA Announces Home Improvement Contractor as Top Complaint for 2013

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2014

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS (DCA) ANNOUNCES HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTORS ARE THE TOP COMPLAINT FOR 2013

DCA Mediates More Than 3,750 Consumer Complaints and Secures More Than $5.8 Million in Restitution for New Yorkers in the Past Year

 The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) today announced home improvement contractors were the agency’s top complaint in 2013. DCA received more than 530 complaints about home improvement contractors and secured almost $3.45 million in restitution for consumers.  DCA made the announcement at a press conference with the Federal Trade Commission, the Better Business Bureau and other Federal and State agencies and organizations in order to alert New York consumers to the top consumer complaints of the past year and to educate them on how to avoid becoming victims of these and other scams in 2014.

Read the full press release: Top Complaints_HIC

NYC Makes it Easier for NYers to File Taxes for Free

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2014

THE CITY MAKES IT EASIER FOR NEW YORKERS TO FILE TAXES FOR FREE WITH MORE SITES THAN EVER BEFORE AND VIRTUAL SITES WHERE FILERS CAN DROP OFF TAX DOCUMENTS AND PICK UP COMPLETED RETURNS LATER

Department of Consumer Affairs Kicks Off the City’s Annual Tax Campaign and Urges Any New Yorker Who Made $58,000 or Less to File for Free

Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) today launched New York City’s 12th Annual Tax Credit Campaign. The tax season has begun and the IRS is now accepting 2013 returns. This year, the City has more free ways to file a return than ever before with the expansion of the Virtual VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. Fast, easy and convenient, Virtual VITA sites are coordinated by the Food Bank For New York City and taxes are completed  by IRS-trained preparers. They allow filers to drop off their tax documents and return later to review and file the completed return. Across the five boroughs, there are 100 free sites, both virtual and traditional and eligible New Yorkers also have the option to file for free online at nyc.gov/taxprep. The SaveUSA program is also offered at select VITA sites for its seventh year. SaveUSA is unique savings program for tax filers that offers a 50 percent match if they deposit at least $200 of their tax refund into a SaveUSA account and maintain the deposit for one year.

Read the full press release: Tax Season 2014 Launch

DCA Launches Instragram Channel

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2013

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS (DCA) LAUNCHES OFFICIAL INSTAGRAM PAGE

Find DCA on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram Under the NYCDCA Handle

Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz today announced the launch of the Agency’s official Instagram page. The Agency’s newest social media channel will use photos and videos to provide information on programs, services, events and tips on how to be an educated consumer and business owner. For its inaugural posting, the Department uploaded its first #tbt (throwback Thursdays) image of a mobile unit used forty years ago to provide information about markets, consumer services, weights and measures, and “kosher law enforcement.”

Read the full press release: Instagram Launch

DCA Charges Nine Used Car Dealers with Using Illegal Sales Tactics

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2013

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS CHARGES NINE USED CAR DEALERS WITH USING ILLEGAL SALES TACTICS TO DECEIVE AND PRESSURE CONSUMERS TO PAY MORE THAN ADVERTISED PRICES

DCA Seeks More Than $950,000 in Consumer Restitution and Fines

Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Jonathan Mintz today announced charges against nine used car dealerships for using deceptive advertising to lure consumers into their businesses and then using high pressure sales tactics to get them to sign contracts with thousands of dollars in unwanted add-ons and forcing financing through the dealership. DCA seeks more than $950,000 in consumer restitution and fines and the revocation of the dealerships’ licenses. The nine dealerships, which are located in Brooklyn and Queens, include Planet Automotive, Inc., six locations of Giuffre Motor Car Co., LLC’s, Northern Auto Traders, LLC, and Auto Palace, Inc.

Read the full press release: Used Car Dealers Charged

New Report Reveals Banking Needs of Three of NYC’s Growing Immigrant Communities

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2013

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS RELEASES REPORT REVEALING BANKING NEEDS OF THREE OF NEW YORK CITY’S GROWING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES

 80 Percent of Immigrant Survey Participants Who Make Less than $300 a Week Report Savings

The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Office of Financial Empowerment today, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), released the Immigrant Financial Services Study Research Brief, which surveyed more than 1,300 immigrants from China, Ecuador and Mexico to deepen the City’s understanding of the financial service needs and behaviors of New York City’s diverse and vibrant immigrant community. It revealed that, while all three groups have savings, some have a longer pathway to banking than others, in part due to misperceptions about the process of opening a banking account and access to financial institutions. The Study is part of MOIA’s One NYC One Nation initiative to strengthen immigrant communities and was made possible by generous support from Citi Community Development and New York Community Trust.

Read the full press release: Immigrant Financial Services Study

DCA Announces Financial Empowerment APP Hackathon to Help New Yorkers Manage Their Money

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2013

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS ANNOUNCES “FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT APP” HACKATHON TO HELP NEW YORKERS MANAGE THEIR MONEY

 Capital One and Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund Sponsor Hackathon on March 2 – 3rd at the DUMBO Loft

Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Jonathan Mintz today invited developers to create digital tools to help New Yorkers achieve their financial goals at DCA’s first hackathon, a collaborative technology design event.  The weekend event begins on March 2nd at the DUMBO Loft.  The team or individual who creates the winning app will receive $1,000 and two second place winners will receive $500 each.  Interested firms, as well as individual developers and designers, are invited to learn more and sign up to participate at nyc.gov/OFEHackathon.  The Financial Empowerment Hackathon is generously supported by Capital One and the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund.  Judges for the event include representatives from Capital One, Google.org, ideas42, LearnVest and DCA.  Space is limited to 150 participants and registration closes at 5p.m. on Friday, March 1.

Read the full press release: OFE Hackathon Winner Announcement

Mayor Bloomberg Kicks Off the City’s Annual Tax Campaign

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2013
No. 45
www.nyc.gov

MAYOR BLOOMBERG, CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER MINTZ AND CENTER FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MORSE KICK OFF CITY’S ANNUAL TAX CAMPAIGN

H&R Block Partners to Waive Fee for Casualty Loss Tax Form for New Yorkers in Sandy-Affected Zip Codes

City Offers Free or Low Cost Tax Preparation for Low Income New Yorkers and Urges Them to File for Important Credits including the Earned Income Tax Credit

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Jonathan Mintz, and Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) Executive Director Kristin Morse today launched New York City’s 11th Annual Tax Credit Campaign.  Tax season has begun and the IRS has now begun accepting 2012 returns. The City offers three different ways for eligible New Yorkers to file their taxes and claim their tax refunds for free or at very low cost, as well as a tax-time savings program called SaveUSA. The City’s online tax preparation and free tax sites are available now and the City-sponsored H&R Block coupon will be valid beginning Friday, February 1st.  The City has also partnered with H&R Block to allow New Yorkers who live in Hurricane Sandy-affected zip codes and suffered the loss of their homes, household items, or vehicles to be able to file the casualty loss form (Form 4684), which may reduce taxable income, for free at any H&R Block location in the City.  City partners have opened additional Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites in Far Rockaway and Red Hook.

Read the full press release: Tax Season Launch – Mayoral