2015 Press Releases

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• 7/22/2015 AG Jepsen Joins Colleagues in Urging Phone Carriers to Offer Call-Blocking Technology Customers

  Attorney General George Jepsen has joined 44 other state attorneys general in urging five major telephone companies to offer their customers call-blocking technology to assist them in avoiding unwanted robo-calls. In a letter sent to the chief executives of the carriers, the attorneys general stated that a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule clarification actually allows telecommunication service providers to offer customers the ability to block unwanted calls. Telephone companies previously claimed that federal law administered by the FCC prohibits them from implementing existing technologies to block robocalls.

• 2/10/2015 AG Jepsen to Anthem: End Unreasonable Delay in Providing Information to Affected Residents

  Attorney General George Jepsen and nine attorneys general from around the country are unhappy with the lack of communication from health insurer Anthem, Inc. to its customers about the massive data breach that may have exposed sensitive personal information of as many as 80 million people, or perhaps more, and are demanding that the company immediately step up its response.

• 1/12/2015 AG, OCC, Legislators Welcome PURA Draft Decision on Electric Bill Disclosures, Ban on Daily and Weekly Variable Rates

  Attorney General George Jepsen and Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz today filed formal comments supporting a draft decision issued by the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) last week that will ensure new, comparative rate information is clearly disclosed on electric customers' monthly bills. The requirements stem from legislation passed last year that required the disclosures after thousands of Connecticut residents who purchased electricity from third-party suppliers complained of skyrocketing bills.

• 3/6/2015 Attorney General Jepsen Joins Coalition Urging U.S. Supreme Court to Uphold Right to Marry Nationally

  Attorney General Jepsen has joined a coalition of states in filing a friend-of-the-court brief with the United States Supreme Court arguing that the U.S. Constitution requires marriage equality nationwide.

• 2/3/2015 Attorney General Jepsen Leads Multistate Coalition in $1.375 Billion State-Federal Settlement with Standard & Poor's

  Attorney General George Jepsen announced today that Connecticut, the U.S. Department of Justice, 18 states and the District of Columbia have reached a settlement agreement with Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC resolving allegations that S&P mislead investors when it rated structured finance securities in the lead-up to the 2008 financial crisis.

• 3/5/2015 Attorney General Jepsen Debunks Consumer Myths During National Consumer Protection Week

  This week, Attorney General George Jepsen has been participating in National Consumer Protection Week, a week-long nationwide campaign to encourage individuals to take full advantage of their consumer rights and to be better able to protect themselves from scams and fraud.

• 8/3/2015 Gov. Malloy, Attorney General Jepsen, Commissioner Klee Statements on EPA Rule on Pollution from Power Plants

  "The State of Connecticut has consistently demonstrated a commitment to clean air, reduced emissions and the development of alternative energy sources, and this plan will play an essential role in continued efforts to protect our environment and public health, safety, and welfare."

• 1/29/2015 Avoid Companies Offering Student Loan Debt Relief for a Fee

  The Department of Consumer Protection, the Department of Banking, and the Office of the Attorney General are warning residents with student loan debt to avoid companies that promise to provide student loan debt relief, but for a fee. Student loan debt is an increasing financial hardship for Connecticut residents. Some unscrupulous companies take advantage of borrowers who are trying to manage or lessen their debt, often charging high up-front fees and not offering any services beyond what borrowers can get at no cost by contacting their loan servicers or the U.S. Department of Education.

• 12/17/2015 State Joins Global Settlement with Novartis Pharmaceuticals to Resolve Kickback Allegations

  Attorney General George Jepsen, Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane and state Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Roderick L. Bremby announced today that Connecticut has joined a global settlement with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation ("Novartis"). The settlement resolves allegations that Novartis provided kickbacks to certain specialty pharmacies in exchange for recommending the drug Exjade to Medicaid and Medicare patients. Novartis has paid the states and the federal government $390 million to resolve these allegations.

• 2/24/2015 State Officials Urge Connecticut Residents to Sign Up for Free Anthem Protections

  Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Attorney General George Jepsen, Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan A. Harris and Department of Insurance Acting Commissioner Anne Melissa Dowling today are strongly encouraging Connecticut residents to help protect their identity and their credit by enrolling in the free services.

• 2/9/2015 State Officials Warn Consumers: Beware, IRS Phone Scams Still Active

  Scammers targeting taxpayers by representing that they're from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are still active, and consumers should NOT give in to their bogus demands, Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Attorney General George Jepsen, Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan A. Harris, and Department of Revenue Services Commissioner Kevin B. Sullivan said today.

• 11/24/2015 Statement from Attorney General Jepsen on PURA Draft Decision Approving United Illuminating Acquisition

  "I am particularly gratified that this approval paves the way for expediting remediation of the polluted English Station site in New Haven under a consent order negotiated by my office, working with Governor Malloy and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection."

• 4/22/2015 On Earth Day, State Officials Offer Advice on Solar Energy Promotions and Installation

  On Earth Day 2015, Attorney General George Jepsen, Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan A. Harris and Connecticut Green Bank President Bryan Garcia are urging consumers to do their homework when considering whether to purchase or lease solar photovoltaic panels, also known as solar PV or solar power.

• 1/15/2015 Don’t Pay for Financial Aid Forms or Information, State Officials Advise

  The Department of Consumer Protection, Department of Banking and the Office of the Attorney General are warning high school seniors and college students applying for college financial aid to steer clear of companies charging fees for financial aid forms. These services, which falsely imply that they will improve an applicant’s chances of success, often end up charging students as much as $1,000 for materials that are available at no cost.

• 2/11/2015 Consumer Alert: AG Jepsen, DCP Advise Consumers with RadioShack Gift Cards to Redeem Unused Balances Immediately

  Attorney General George Jepsen and state Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan A. Harris are advising Connecticut residents who may be holding gift cards, certificates or store credits to the electronic retail establishment RadioShack to use their gift cards as soon as possible. The company recently filed bankruptcy and has announced plans to close stores in Connecticut as early as February 17 and as late as March 31 of this year.