July 29, 2009

Dear Fellow New Yorker:

As the Chairperson and Executive Director of the New York State Consumer Protection
Board (CPB), I am pleased to present the Agency’s FY 2008/2009 Green Annual Report.
The CPB plays a vital role in the State’s efforts to enhance the quality of life for its
residents. In 2008 and 2009, despite uncertain economic times and much change, the CPB
continued to advocate for and empower NYS consumers.

We hope you will take the time to review our accessible electronic Annual Report. It can be
viewed online at http://www.nysconsumer.gov/annual_report_fy08_09.htm. As you peruse the report,
you will appreciate the breadth and depth of CPB’s efforts in representing consumer interests in
policy development, utility intervention, marketplace mediation, communications and
programming on the local, State and federal levels. To maximize our impact, reach and
operational efficiencies, we have cultivated numerous collaborations with both sister State
Agencies and private organizations.

The CPB is achieving results for New Yorkers. Please feel free to contact us via our hotline
and/or website for assistance, tips and tools.

                                                        Respectfully Submitted,

                                                        Mindy A. Bockstein
                                                        Chairperson and Executive Director

 

Consumer Watchdog to be available online

 

      Dear Friends;

Based on interaction with a representative of the New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB) or your expressed interest in the Agency, we are pleased to provide you with a link to our latest edition of The Consumer Watchdog, the CPB’s quarterly newsletter. This edition marks our first totally virtual newsletter.

The Spring 2009 edition of The Consumer Watchdog provides an overview of many consumer issues, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (EITC) program, the CPB’s new fiscal education videos for children, identity theft assistance for victims of domestic violence, Energy East’s petition for a rate increase, the Heartland data breach, phishing scams, credit card reform and more.

We encourage you to read the articles and to follow the links therein to find more in-depth information. If you are a member of an organization dealing with or representing consumer interests in any of the subject matters the CPB addresses, or whose staff might benefit from the information contained in our newsletter, please consider placing a link to the resource and to the CPB’s website on your own website. The direct link to the newsletter is http://www.nysconsumer.gov/pdf/spring_2009_newsletter.pdf. Our website address is www.nysconsumer.gov.

The CPB, which is the State’s consumer watchdog and think tank in the Executive Branch, is mindful of the public’s privacy concerns. While we hope you enjoy receiving e-mail versions of the CPB’s newsletter, The Consumer Watchdog, in consideration of the tenets of the federal Can/Spam Act and other privacy principles, should you no longer wish to receive this resource, please reply to this e-mail and change the subject line to “Unsubscribe.” You may also ask to be removed from the e-mail distribution list by sending an e-mail to the CPB at: webmaster@consumer.state.ny.us.

Thank you for your interest in the CPB’s consumer protection programs as we continue to advocate for and empower New Yorkers.

Sincerely,

Mindy A. Bockstein
Chairperson and Executive Director
New York State Consumer Protection Board

 

CONSUMER ‘BILL OF RIGHTS’ PROTECTS
TAXPAYERS FROM DISHONEST PREPARERS

 

FALL 2008 WATCHDOG

 

 

NYS Consumer Protection Board Launches Initiatives During

Identity Theft Awareness Week

Click here for Word Format

Click here for PDF format

Click here for text format

 

We are working closely with the New York Consumer Protection Board to get important information to the blind community.  These are recent ads placed by the CPB on radio and TV.