Residential customers of Dominion East Ohio Gas (Dominion) and Columbia Gas of Ohio (Columbia) will continue to have the option of a “standard offer” to purchase their natural gas through their respective utilities for at least the next few years. The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC) helped protect this consumer choice in separate […]
Pay Attention to Fine Print When Signing Up for Gym Memberships
January 2, 2013 by
Attorney General Mike DeWine is reminding consumers to read the fine print before joining a gym or a health club in the New Year. “Many Ohioans will be resolving to lose weight or get healthy in 2013,” DeWine said. “Those are great goals, but it’s important not to get caught up in the hype and […]
Caution Urged When Responding to Year-end Charitable Appeals
December 17, 2012 by
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has urged Ohioans to exercise caution when responding to requests from charitable groups for donations before the end of the year. While most of these will be legitimate, unfortunately there are always some unscrupulous operators who may try to take advantage of Ohioans’ generosity. “I encourage Ohioans to be generous […]
Consumers Warned to be Cautious when Selling Gold, Silver
December 12, 2012 by
The Ohio Department of Commerce is reviewing a decision by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio which has enjoined the Ohio Department of Commerce from enforcing the Ohio Precious Metals Dealers Act. The decision, filed on December 5, 2012, is about the constitutionality of the law and not the enforcement […]
State says Loan Modification Company was Running a Scam
December 7, 2012 by
Attorney General Mike DeWine on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against Making Home Affordable of Costa Mesa, Calif. The suit alleges that the loan modification business charged significant fees and did little or no work for consumers. Making Home Affordable’s mail and telephone solicitations gave consumers the false impression that it was affiliated with the federal […]
Ohio Deadline to Select Medicare Coverage is December 7
December 4, 2012 by
Ohio Lieutenant Governor and Department of Insurance Director Mary Taylor is reminding Medicare recipients that the deadline to select coverage for 2013 is Friday, December 7 at midnight. Any changes made to Medicare coverage will take effect January 1, 2013. “There can be numerous changes to benefits and costs in plans from one year to […]
Shoppers Advised to Remember Sales and Use Tax Law
November 30, 2012 by
The Ohio Department of Taxation (ODT) is reminding shoppers on ‘Black Friday’, Cyber Monday and throughout this holiday season that if you buy something online or from a catalog, and the seller does not charge you sales tax, then Ohio law requires you to pay the tax directly to ODT. The tax you pay is […]
Ohio Attorney General Offers Suggestions for Safe Shopping
November 26, 2012 by
With the holiday shopping season right around the corner, Attorney General Mike DeWine today offered tips and suggestions to help keep consumers safe from scams and within their budgets. “This is an exciting and joyful time of year,” said Attorney General DeWine. “But keeping an eye out for fraudsters and gimmicks, and clearly understanding the […]
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period Now Underway
October 26, 2012 by
Ohio Lieutenant Governor and Department of Insurance Director Mary Taylor announced the Department’s free and impartial Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP), also the state’s official resource for Medicare information and enrollment assistance, is available to help people understand their coverage options during Medicare’s annual open enrollment period started October 15 and runs through […]
Annual Utility Reconnection Order Issued
October 24, 2012 by
As temperatures drop, Ohioans are starting to crank up their home heating systems. Starting today, low-income Ohioans can benefit from additional relief for these utility services. Residential utility consumers can avoid a utility disconnection or restore their heating services by making a one-time payment of $175. In September, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) […]
