Consumer eViews

Volume 1 Number 49
December 6, 2004

Holiday music is playing, lights and decorations have been set out, and folks are bustling to get their shopping done. Especially because of the busy schedules, I urge us all to take time to reflect on the reason behind all the activity.

This week, Jewish people around the world will begin the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah. The traditions and rituals serve not only to honor the past but also to celebrate their faith and hope for the future.

When the Jews, after driving out their oppressors, prepared to relight the eternal flame and rededicate their temple, it appeared they had just enough consecrated oil to burn for one day. But moved by faith and hope, they relit the flame and it burned for eight days until the new oil arrived.

During the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah, let us all find ways to rekindle our spirits. Just as families celebrating Hanukkah will light a flame each day, let’s each spend a moment each day to reflect and relight our own flame of hope and faith.

The skyline for December is downtown Gainesville, featuring the Hippodrome Theater, originally the post office.

TASK FORCE CREATED TO IMPROVE CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE CORPORATION

TALLAHASSEE-Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher today announced the creation of a joint task force of stakeholders with the goal of making recommendations to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation for improving customer service and returning policies to the private insurance market.

“Thousands of consumers have contacted the Department of Financial Services upset over delays in processing their insurance claims,” Gallagher said. “Though Citizens has made tremendous efforts during the storm recovery process, more is needed to eliminate delays and ensure claims are processed fairly and efficiently.”

Gallagher said he anticipates the task force will recommend ways to improve adjuster response times and reduce backlogs in damage assessments. CONTINUED

AGENT SURRENDERS INSURANCE LICENSES
FOLLOWING ALLEGATIONS OF CUSTOMER
ABUSE

A Windermere man has lost his licenses to sell insurance following an investigation by the Florida Department of Financial Services that alleged he took advantage of his clients for his own financial gain.

Earlier this year, the department filed a nine-count administrative complaint against Michael Harris Lait, 45, of 11449 Lake Butler Blvd. The department alleged that Lait misrepresented the terms and conditions of life insurance policies to at least one customer and he convinced at least one individual to “cash in” or surrender existing annuity contracts and to replace them causing the customer to pay unnecessary surrender penalties; the practice is known as “churning” or “twisting.” CONTINUED

Sweepstakes and Lottery Fraud

Chain Letters
Free Prize Scheme
Hot Tip on Playing Foreign Lotteries By Mail: "Don't Do It!"
Government Look-Alike Mail The Free Vacation Scam

SWEEPSTAKES FRAUD COSTING FLORIDIANS

Last week, we spoke to a woman who lost more than $400,000 in a phony sweepstakes fraud. Although we have written about this scheme before, the problem never seems to go away.

Swindlers know that if they wave a carrot at the end of a stick, some unsuspecting, gullible victim will bite. Because this fraud is alive and well we thought we'd refresh your memory about the red flags of sweepstakes frauds.

Victims of sweepstake and lottery swindles tend to be trusting people who like to enter contests. Many victims are unmarried or widowed seniors with access to cash.

Victims are contacted over the phone by articulate swindlers claiming to be lawyers, customs officials, police officers or lottery officials. First they convince you to enter a lottery or sweepstakes after you answer a series of qualifying questions. A few days later, they call back and say you won a huge cash prize. The prize can be anywhere from thousands to millions of dollars. CONTINUED