December 2009
Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
1929 Gateway Circle •
Grove City, Ohio 43123
Local: (614) 466-3834 •
Statewide: 1-866-642-6723
http://cos.ohio.gov
Inspectors met with agents from the Ohio Department of Taxation in November to discuss a new partnership initiative. Understanding the guidelines regarding the selling of products and what is taxable income have become more of an issue than ever during these tough economic times. The Board has made a tremendous effort to educate individuals on who are Independent Contractors and why a separate license is needed.
It is important to remember to charge sales tax on those services that are required by law. These include personal care services such as skin care, application of cosmetics, manicures, pedicures, hair removal, tattoos, body piercing, tanning, massage and other similar services. It does not include hair care services such as cutting, coloring, and styling. Penalties are extremely severe and tax agents (who are sworn law enforcement officers) can actually subpoena you into court and your business records. If you are not sure what your obligations are, contact the Ohio Department of Taxation at: (888) 405-4089.
William J. Brown, a Youngstown native who was Ohio’s longest serving attorney general and who died of a sudden heart attack 10 years ago, held this job in the early 1970s, when the state finally began to get serious about protecting consumers.
Ohio was one of the last states to pass a comprehensive law protecting consumers. The Consumer Sales Practices Act, signed into law in 1972, protects Ohioans from unfair and deceptive business practices, among many other provisions. Backed by that law, Brown used this office to protect consumers, as have his successors, including myself.
Back then, Brown made an observation that almost certainly remains true today: “I doubt if there is a citizen today who hasn’t helped line the pockets of some dishonest person who has taken advantage of the natural, trusting nature of the American consumer,” he said.
Scammers, thieves and cheats often try to separate consumers from their hard-earned money by pretending to be someone else. In the name of making a quick buck, they will do just about anything.
I should know – they apparently are trying to pass themselves off as members of my office, right now.
My office has been receiving reports of a scam in which callers pose as representatives of the Attorney General’s office. The callers ask for Social Security numbers. We know that these scam artists are particularly assertive and in at least one instance have used threats of arrest and job loss. Please rest assured that we would never ask for such personal information and you should refuse to give it to me or anyone else unless you are quite clear on the reasons why you would really want to do so.
This scam confirms Brown’s observation from more than three decades ago: Scammers pretend to be someone regular people think they can trust – in this case, my office – in order to manipulate consumers. With a person’s Social Security number in hand, there is no telling what damage a scammer can do.
Scams such as these happen all the time. Earlier this year, scammers used buzz words like “stimulus package” and “Cash for Clunkers” to get people’s attention and give themselves the appearance of propriety. Veterans were targeted by scammers who said that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently changed its procedures on dispensing prescriptions and then asked for the veteran’s credit card number.
Those who feel they have been scammed can file formal complaints at my office’s Web site, www.SpeakOutOhio.gov, or (800) 282-0515.
If you have avoided a scam but have still noticed something fishy – something that sounds like the veterans phone scam, for instance – please also let us know so we can get the word out to others.
When my office finds out about scams or shady business practices, we will take action if we can. In our robust role as the state’s consumer watchdog, my office’s Consumer Protection Section tries to root out unscrupulous businesses who try to enrich themselves by cheating Ohioans.
Complaints can help us build cases that hold businesses accountable for their actions. For instance, after receiving more than 240 complaints against a wallpaper company, we sued the company, alleging that it accepted payment for wallpaper and other home decoration items but then failed to deliver the goods or to refund the payments.
Without hearing from consumers, we might not have known to pursue this lawsuit.
Thanks to Bill Brown’s legacy of strong state consumer laws, my office has the tools to protect consumers. With your help, we can use them most effectively.
We are happy to come to your salon and give you the tools to help prevent domestic violence in your community through the Cut It Out program. For more information, contact Venica Miller at Venica.Miller@OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or (614) 466-3552.
If you would like to host a seminar, please fill out the training request form online at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/CutItOut.
Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
1929 Gateway Circle
Grove City, Ohio 43123
Local: (614) 466-3834
Statewide: 1-866-642-6723
Fax: (614) 644-6880
E-mail: ohcosbd@cos.state.oh.us
http://cos.ohio.gov
Board Members:
Steve Thompson, Chairman, Independent Contractor
Daisy Rickman, Cosmetologist & Salon Owner
NeCole Cumberlander, School Owner
Kimberly Thomas, Salon Owner
Dr. Marilyn Huheey, Medical Doctor
Bernadine Neal, Cosmetology Instructor
Delores Gillis, Cosmetologist
Charles Penzone, Cosmetologist & Salon Owner
Dr. Milroy Samuel, General Public
