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Office of Consumer Protection

Anyone could fall victim to a scam. If you are unable to resolve a problem such as defective products, erroneous bills or non-delivery of goods or services, the dedicated employees of Pinellas County Consumer Protection can help. Consumer Protection is a division of the Human Services Department.

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Quick Facts

New Pinellas County Towing Rates

“On August 15, 2023, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners approved Ordinance 23-18, revising Chapter 122 of the code, adding clarifying language and adjusting defined terms; amending section 122-40 relating to maintenance of records and towing agreements; amending section 122-42 establishing towing rates and adjusting various fees; providing for severability; providing for areas embraced; providing for inclusion in the code; providing for an effective date.

The ordinance was filed with the Department of State and was effective on August 21, 2023.”

See new Pinellas County Towing Rates effective August 21, 2023.

The amended ordinance can be viewed here: ARTICLE II.5. – NONCONSENSUAL TOWING AND TRESPASS TOWING FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY/Code of ordinances/Pinellas County, FL/Municode Library

 

Consumer Protection Outreach

In a continued effort to increase fraud prevention and public awareness, Consumer Protection held 85 educational outreach events during the first half of FY26.  Addressing key topics including scams, identity theft, budgeting, auto buying/repair, and more.

During this time, Consumer Protection hosted three free community shredding events.  The events were dedicated to Fraud Awareness Week, Identity Theft Awareness Week, and National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW).  When possible, Consumer Protection partners with other municipalities and/or agencies on such events. Recent collaborations include partnering with the City of Pinellas Park for the NCPW shred event and a joint shredding and medication disposal event with the City of Safety Harbor and Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.  A total of 325 residents participated in the shred events, and 13,350 lbs. of documents were shredded.

Such events help safeguard people’s information, prevent fraud, and have a positive impact on the environment.

 

Accomplishments

Through collaborative departmental and community efforts, Consumer Protection was recently recognized for its efforts in reporting Fraud Schemes related to the Affordable Care Act. Recently, and Executive Vice President of an Insurance Brokerage plead guilty in a $133M Fraud Scheme which targeted many vulnerable, low-income individuals experiencing homelessness, unemployment and mental health and substance use diagnoses. Pinellas County Consumer Protection was one of the first entities raise these concerns to officials.

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October 14, 2025

Pinellas County Consumer Protection warns of scams targeting federal employees

As the partial shutdown of the federal government continues, it is especially important for furloughed federal workers in Pinellas County to be…

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We Investigate

We work to find solutions that restore fairness and ensure legal compliance. Millions of dollars have been recovered for consumers through refunds, adjustments and court-ordered restitution. For assistance with a consumer problem, the first step is to file a written complaint online, by email or at our office.

Dispute Resolution

Our goal is to assist the parties in reaching a satisfactory resolution. The mediation process is conducted through telephone contacts and informal hearings, which are held at the offices of Consumer Protection, the consumer’s residence or the business location.

Criminal Investigations

Violations of consumer protection laws can lead to criminal charges resulting in punishment for the offender and possible monetary reimbursement through court-ordered restitution.

We Regulate

The Office of Consumer Protection is responsible for licensing and enforcement of certain county ordinances that help protect the citizens of Pinellas County. These include:

Licensing

Monitoring

We Educate

  • Our goal is to prevent you from becoming a victim of a scam.
  • Consumer education presentations are given FREE to local civic groups, high schools and at community events.
  • Always verify that a business has the proper license for the job or service and check their complaint history.
  • Knowledge is your best defense against consumer fraud.

We Protect

Keep these helpful tips in mind:

  • Visit www.DoNotCall.gov to reduce unwanted solicitation calls by placing
    your telephone number on the national Do Not Call Registry.
  • Read the fine print before signing a document or finalizing a purchase.
  • Beware of fraudulent offers and promotions that are too good to be true. These may include email solicitations, home improvement scams or high-pressure sales transactions.
  • Never “wire” money to an unknown person. You should not have to send money to receive a free prize or promise of employment.
  • Protect your personal information to reduce the chances of becoming a victim of identity theft.
  • Visit www.annualcreditreport.com to review your credit report annually.
  • Shop around, compare prices and obtain more than one quote for a product or service.