At 04:58 AM August 21, 2020, the Stratford 911 center received a medical alarm from a two-family residence at 20 and 22 Marsh Way, Stratford, CT. Stratford Police and EMS responded and found smoke in the area and requested for the Stratford Fire Department to respond. On arrival, Stratford Police and EMS found smoke coming from the second-floor window and saw the fire in the rear kitchen window. Stratford Police force entry and found heavy smoke in the front living room and yelled to occupants to evacuate. Stratford Police helped one occupant. Stratford Fire investigated and found a fire in the kitchen partially extinguish. Firefighters ensured the fire was completely out and did not extend within the building. Quick response and actions by Stratford, Police, EMS, and Fire with the help of the residents helped ensure everyone evacuated unharmed. The Stratford Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire. The Stratford Fire Department reminds residents to have and maintain smoke alarms. If a resident needs assistance with smoke alarms, they may call the Stratford Fire Marshal’s Office at 203-385-4073.
#Hartford, CT — Attorney General William Tong is alerting consumers to surcharges by healthcare providers that may violate the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act. Healthcare providers are strongly encouraged, if not required, to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and to require that their patients do so, too. However, some providers may be improperly charging patients for the additional PPE or other COVID-19 control measures.
Attorney General Tong sent a letter this week to several healthcare provider associations and licensing boards to alert their members to the Office’s position that charging patients an additional fee for PPE constitutes illegal balance billing when the charges are assessed in connection with in-network services covered by the patients’ insurance plans. State laws prohibit participating providers from charging such fees to insured consumers.
“I understand that some healthcare providers are charging patients a fee for the additional PPE necessary to provided healthcare services during the pandemic. [T]he imposition of additional fees on patients may violate the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act’s prohibition against unfair billing practices,” the letter states.
In the letter, Tong acknowledged that many providers and consumers are facing financial challenges. “While I understand that providers have incurred additional PPE costs as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, we must recognize that many patients are also experiencing financial hardship. For those contending with job loss or reduction in hours, as well as the loss of health benefits, any cost increase is devastating. We trust that you will work with us to ensure that patients are able to receive the care they need, consistent with consumer protection law,” the letter states.
Consumers may contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division with questions or complaints. The Division will investigate and mediate a billing dispute with a healthcare provider. Complaints may be filed at https://www.dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint/ or by calling 860-808-5420.
Consumer Protection Summer Intern Sarah Purtill assisted the Attorney General in this matter.
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Hartford, CT) — Attorney General William Tong along with Secretary of the State Denise W. Merrill and Department of Consumer Protection commissioner Michelle Seagull, announced a settlement today with ANS, INC. d/b/a Workplace Compliance Services resolving a case involving allegations of government imposter fraud.
ANS, a Michigan based corporation, sent mailings to Connecticut LLCs offering to assist with their annual report filings with the Secretary of State. The mailings closely resembled official government forms and led a number of Connecticut businesses to believe the communication was from the government, not a private company, and they were required to use ANS’s services in order to remain in compliance with state law.
“These types of scams can be devastating for Connecticut’s small businesses who believe the deceptive mailings to be important and urgent government forms,” saidAttorney General Tong. “This settlement is a favorable result for the Connecticut businesses that were victimized here and for small businesses generally. We recognize and appreciate ANS’s efforts to resolve this important issue.”
“We do not take efforts to mislead Connecticut businesses lightly, especially when they erode trust in government entities,” said Commissioner Seagull. “We are proud to partner with the Attorney General’s office to ensure businesses in our state are not misled by mailings like this.”
“Government imposter scams are a serious threat to thriving Connecticut businesses,” said Secretary Merrill. “I am proud to have worked with the Attorney General to have publicized this scam and am gratified to see it resolved. Connecticut businesses can always contact my office or visit business.ct.gov to get accurate information and official forms.”
ANS cooperated with the state’s investigation and agreed to bring its operations into compliance with Connecticut law. As a part of the settlement, ANS is required to register to do business in Connecticut, pay all past due taxes and fees, and issue refunds to customers who used its services. ANS is also required to clearly disclose on its mailings that it is not a government agency.
Government imposter scams can take many forms and can target individuals and businesses alike. In one of the more common schemes, scammers mail solicitations or send emails to businesses to “advise” them that they must purchase certain products or forms, or file particular reports in order to be in compliance with the law. The scammers then offer to assist businesses with satisfying these requirements in exchange for a fee.
Scammers are careful to design their mailings to resemble official government documents by incorporating elements such as seals, bar codes, and references to statutes and regulations. The mailings may include terms such as “IMPORTANT,” “OPEN IMMEDIATELY,” or “TIME SENSITIVE” to create a false sense of urgency. Businesses which fall prey to these tactics end up paying significant fees for services they either do not need, or could take care of themselves for much less money.
To report a scam or instance of fraud, contact the Office of the Attorney General at 860-808-5318 or file a complaint with the office at https://www.dir.ct.gov/ag/complaint
Assistant Attorneys General Brendan Flynn and Ann-Marie DeGraffenreidt, Michael Wertheimer, head of the Consumer Protection Department, and legal investigators Christine Buck and Caylee Ribeiro assisted the Attorney General with this matter.
2020-08-20@11:20pm–#Fairfield CT– First responders are on the scene of a one-car rollover on Lloyd Drive. All occupants are out of the vehicle and refused medical treatment.
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Police UPDATE: On Thursday 08/20/2020 at approximately 5:15pm, a Fairfield Police Traffic Enforcement Officer was conducting speed enforcement in the area of the Post Rd near River St when he conducted a motor vehicle stop of a vehicle speeding on the Post Rd. As the officer was standing outside of his vehicle speaking to the operator, his cruiser was struck from behind by a 2010 Ford Edge traveling east on the Post Rd. The force of this collision redirected the striking vehicle across both travel lanes where it came to rest in the westbound lane of travel.
The operator of the striking vehicle, identified as Sharon Elizabeth Lipp (DOB 04/23/1962) of 9 Milford Hunt Lane, Milford was transported to Bridgeport Hospital claiming of general pain with no life-threatening injuries. Lipp was later arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence (14- 227a), Failure to Drive Right (14-236), Distracted Driving (14-296(a)(a)b), Failure to Slow Down / Move Over (14-283b). She was released on a Written Promise to Appear in court on 09/15/2020. The officer was not injured as a result of this collision. This collision is under investigation by the Fairfield Police Crash Reconstruction Unit. “The Fairfield Police Traffic Unit reminds operators to stay off the phone while driving and to SLOW DOWN and MOVE OVER when approaching an emergency vehicle with their lights activated on the side of the roadway.”
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2020-08-20@5:20pm–#Fairfield CT–An officer was out on a traffic stop in front of 2425 Post Road when according to Deputy Chief Smith said a car hit the back of the parked patrol car and then veered into the next lane. The police officer was out of the car at the time but was injured by flying debris. The officer and the driver were transported to the hospital.
2020-08-20@7:19pm–#Bridgeport CT– Report of a crash between a truck and a two-wheeled motorized vehicle at Broadbridge and Silver Lane. The radio reports say a motorcycle and say the trucker and motorcyclist are fighting.
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