Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has launched a new, centralized consumer protection hotline, website, and email address to make it easier for Pennsylvanians to report scams, resolve financial and insurance issues and access, according to a news release dated May 1.

In February, the acting director of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered employees to stop working to protect consumers.

In recent weeks, the federal government has made clear it intends to leave this work to the states if it is going to happen at all.

To offer consumers recourse, the Shapiro Administration announced consumers can use 1-866-PACOMPLAINT (1-866-722-6675), visit the website pa.gov/consumer or email consumer@pa.gov to report financial, insurance and consumer concerns.

Whether it’s a denied health insurance claim, a suspicious financial transaction or a problem with a student loan servicer, help is now just a call or click away.

“Here in Pennsylvania, we have some of the strongest consumer protection laws in the country. That means agencies like the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and the Department of Banking and Securities have the power to stand up for consumers when they get ripped off or scammed. Whether it’s a denied insurance claim, a payday loan trap or a student loan scam, these agencies are empowered to take action and deliver real results for the people of Pennsylvania. People across our Commonwealth work hard every day — and my administration is fighting to deliver for them,” Shapiro said in his news release dated May 1.

The new tools represent a no wrong door approach to government services. No matter the issue – insurance, lending, utilities or financial scams – Pennsylvanians can get routed to the right agency for help.

The initiative connects consumers with the appropriate state agencies, including:

•Department of Banking and Securities – Protecting against financial exploitation, predatory lending and banking issues.

•Pennsylvania Insurance Department – Resolving disputes over insurance claims, coverage and unfair practices.

•Other agencies, including those regulating utilities, student loans and professional licensing.

In 2024, under Shapiro’s leadership, DoBS and PID returned more than $22 million to consumers.

DoBS received more than 10,000 consumer inquiries, issued nearly 40 enforcement actions – including multistate efforts targeting firms like Block and Vanguard – and held 279 educational events across the state.

Nearly 35,000 Pennsylvanians participated in DoBS’ outreach programs, helping them avoid scams, understand signs of fraud and avoid ID theft.

PID handled nearly 17,000 consumer complaints in 2024, up from 14,000 in 2023. More than 6,000 complaints involved auto insurance and more than 5,000 involved health insurance.

PID also oversaw more than 650 eligible external health insurance review requests – the first year the Commonwealth held this authority –helping Pennsylvanians get unfairly denied claims reconsidered.

The Shapiro Administration is expanding Pennsylvania’s use of the enforcement authority granted to states under the Dodd-Frank Act, allowing state regulators to enforce federal consumer protection laws when federal agencies fail to act.

This includes:

•Investigating predatory lending, student loan servicing abuses, insurance fraud and deceptive financial practices.

•Coordinating enforcement and investigations across agencies.

•Educating consumers through outreach and free public programming.

For more information about Pennsylvania’s consumer protection laws and how to file a complaint, call 1-866-722-6675, visit pa.gov/consumer or email consumer@pa.gov to report financial, insurance and consumer concerns.