The Division of Consumer Services is the state’s clearinghouse for consumer complaints, information, and protection. The division regulates various businesses, such as motor vehicle repair shops, charitable organizations, pawnbrokers, health studios, sellers of travel, intrastate movers, professional surveyors and mappers, sweepstakes/game promotions, and telemarketers. In addition, the division protects consumers and businesses from unfair and unsafe business practices across a wide range of market sectors, including gasoline, brake fluid, antifreeze, liquefied petroleum gas, amusement rides, and weighing and measuring devices. Consumer education and protection are the main focus of the division.

• Bureau of Compliance has regulatory responsibility for the following business entities: motor vehicle repair shops, charitable organizations, pawnbrokers, health studios, sellers of travel, sellers of business opportunities, intrastate movers, sweepstakes/game promotions, and telemarketing. Additionally, the bureau issues agricultural dealer's permits, livestock markets permits, sale of thoroughbred horses permits, antifreeze and brake fluid permits, liquefied petroleum (LP) gas licenses, and weighing and measuring device permits.
• Bureau of Fair Rides Inspection has statewide responsibility to inspect all amusement rides in the state, except for certain large parks that have more than 1,000 employees and have full-time inspectors on staff. Inspections also include go-kart tracks, water related amusement rides, and zip-line courses operating throughout the state. The bureau also investigates accidents involving amusement ride patrons and incidents involving amusement rides when those rides may be unsafe for use.
• Bureau of Mediation and Enforcement is responsible for informally mediating consumer complaints about goods and services provided by businesses. Complaints that fall under the jurisdiction of another federal, state, or local government agency are referred to that office for processing. The bureau also processes administrative enforcement actions for violations by an entity that falls within one of the division's regulatory programs, including violations of the Do Not Call Program.  
• Bureau of Standards is responsible for conducting inspections of the petroleum distribution system and analyzing samples of petroleum products, including gasoline, alternative fuels (ethanol flex-fuel, biodiesel, and denatured fuel ethanol), kerosene, diesel, and fuel oil, as well as antifreeze and brake fluid products. The bureau also conducts routine tests of the accuracy of retail price scanners, the accuracy of labels and the net contents of packaged products purchased daily by consumers and businesses, and inspection and testing of all weighing and measuring devices that are used in commerce including scales and electric vehicle charging stations. The bureau also oversees liquefied petroleum (LP) gas related activities including training, examinations, and inspections of the LP gas distribution system throughout the state. The bureau inspects over 8,700 gas stations each year.

 The division also includes two other entities.

• Communications and Outreach aims to increase public awareness about consumer protection issues through publications and public presentations. In addition, the section facilitates a call center to assist individuals with consumer related issues, including the program areas regulated by the division, as well as a variety of other topics. The center may also direct callers to the appropriate governmental offices and maintains the A to Z Resource Guide, an online directory of government programs and consumer information.
• Florida Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers encourages the entry of qualified individuals into the profession by approving individuals and businesses applying for licensure as professional surveyors and mappers. In addition, the board protects the public by disciplining licensees who violate professional practice standards.

Safety Standards for Amusement Rides. The 2023 Florida Legislature enacted Ch. 2023-50, Laws of Florida, which among other provisions, requires permanent amusement rides operated for the first time in this state after a specified date to have a ride commissioning and certification report on file with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services within a specified timeframe; authorizes the department to conduct unannounced inspections for specified purposes; revises the circumstances under which the owner or manager of an amusement ride is required to report an accident and under which the department may impound an amusement ride involved in an accident.

Websites of Interest
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
U.S. Federal Trade Commission
Better Business Bureau

Performance Information

Chapters 472, 496, 501, 507, 525, 526, 527, 531, 534, 535, 539, 559, 570, 604, 616, and 849, and s. 20.14, Florida Statutes

Division of Consumer Services, 1-800-HELP-FLA (or 1-800-435-7352) and 1-800-FL-AYUDA (or 1-800-352-9832) en Español
Website