New York State Consumer Protection Board
Encyclopedia
The New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB) is a government agency
of the State
of New York
that is responsible to "protect, educate and represent consumers". , the Chairperson and Executive Director of the Consumer Protection Board is Mindy A. Bockstein, who was nominated for the position in 2007 by then-Governor of New York
Eliot Spitzer
.
The three main divisions of the Consumer Protection Board are:
. Betty Furness
, a former Hollywood actress who had served as special assistant for consumer affairs to President Lyndon B. Johnson
, was named as the Board's first chairman and executive director. Furness served in the position until July 1971, resigning after complaints about the lack of serious attention to her recommendations by the New York Legislature
.
Richard Kessel
served as Executive Director of the CPB from 1983 to 1995, where he negotiated rate freeze agreements with Consolidated Edison
, Niagara Mohawk and other electric and telephone utilities, which Kessel estimated saved consumers $1 billion.
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
of the State
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
that is responsible to "protect, educate and represent consumers". , the Chairperson and Executive Director of the Consumer Protection Board is Mindy A. Bockstein, who was nominated for the position in 2007 by then-Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
.
The three main divisions of the Consumer Protection Board are:
- Outreach and Program Development Bureau creates education programs and brochures for consumers about issues including credit card usage, home improvementHome improvementHome improvement, home renovation or remodeling is the process of renovating or making additions to one's home.-Types of home improvement:...
, identity theftIdentity theftIdentity theft is a form of stealing another person's identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that person's identity, typically in order to access resources or obtain credit and other benefits in that person's name...
and Internet safety. The bureau's Consumer Assistance Unit handles over 20,000 complaints a year relating to consumer issues. - Counsel, Policy and Research Bureau oversees the agency's legal functions, including enforcement of the state's Do not call law. In 2006, the Board added 1.3 million resident phone numbers to the United States National Do Not Call RegistryUnited States National Do Not Call RegistryThe National Do Not Call Registry is intended to give U.S. consumers an opportunity to limit the telemarketing calls they receive. To register by telephone , consumers may call 1-888-382-1222. The registry was set to begin in 2003, but a court challenge delayed its implementation until 2004. The...
and reached settlements with 58 telemarketers in response to consumer complaintConsumer complaintConsumer is a broad label for any individuals or households that use goods and services generated within the economy. The concept of a consumer is used in different contexts, so that the usage and significance of the term may vary....
s, collecting over $350,000 in fines. - Utility, Telecommunications and New Technologies Bureau represents consumers before the New York State Public Service Commission regarding utility performance and rate issues, and accepts complaints about the Long Island Power AuthorityLong Island Power AuthorityThe Long Island Power Authority or LIPA [ "lie-pah" ], a municipal subdivision of the State of New York, was created under the Long Island Power Act of 1985 to acquire the Long Island Lighting Company 's assets and securities...
.
History
The CPB was established in 1970 under legislation signed by then-Governor Nelson RockefellerNelson Rockefeller
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States , serving under President Gerald Ford, and the 49th Governor of New York , as well as serving the Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations in a variety of positions...
. Betty Furness
Betty Furness
Elizabeth Mary Furness was an American actress, consumer advocate and current affairs commentator.-Early years:...
, a former Hollywood actress who had served as special assistant for consumer affairs to President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
, was named as the Board's first chairman and executive director. Furness served in the position until July 1971, resigning after complaints about the lack of serious attention to her recommendations by the New York Legislature
New York Legislature
The New York State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of New York. The New York Constitution does not designate an official term for the two houses together...
.
Richard Kessel
Richard Kessel
Richard M. Kessel is a power industry executive who was formerly President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Power Authority, the largest state-owned public utility company in the United States...
served as Executive Director of the CPB from 1983 to 1995, where he negotiated rate freeze agreements with Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison, Inc. is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the United States, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $36 billion in assets...
, Niagara Mohawk and other electric and telephone utilities, which Kessel estimated saved consumers $1 billion.