The Shadow
RICHMOND, Va. (VR) – Being an informed consumer is about more than buying products and services. It’s about making informed decisions and getting the best value for your money. Informed consumers understand their rights and responsibilities, know how to compare prices and terms and find products that meet their individual needs, recognize the red flags of fraud, and know where to turn for help.
During National Consumer Protection Week – March 1-7, 2026 – the State Corporation Commission reminds Virginians of the many ways we can help them.
A nationwide initiative, National Consumer Protection Week combines the efforts of the Federal Trade Commission and other federal, state and local agencies and organizations – including the SCC – to promote resources for well-informed consumer decisions.
Whether Virginians are investing, shopping for insurance, considering a loan, planning for retirement or looking for ways to save money on their household expenses, the SCC encourages them to protect themselves financially by arming themselves with information and knowing where to turn if a problem occurs. Our specially trained staff can assist Virginians in making informed choices and can help with questions if they are not satisfied with the responses they receive from businesses that the SCC regulates.
Those sectors include insurance companies and agents, state-chartered financial institutions, investment firms and their representatives, retail franchises, and investor-owned utilities providing electric, natural gas, water, sewer and landline telecommunications services.
The SCC also promotes underground utility damage prevention, rail safety and gas pipeline safety through training, outreach and inspections; is the central filing office for businesses operating in Virginia; and oversees Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace, which connects eligible Virginians with comprehensive health insurance options.
The SCC offers a wealth of consumer information on these and other topics through outreach and on our website.
Just one example of the many ways in which the SCC assists consumers is our Bureau of Insurance, which handles thousands of insurance-related calls,
During 2025, the bureau’s Life & Health and Property & Casualty divisions handled 16,367 calls, 6,762 inquiries and written complaints, 223 requests for appeal assistance with managed care health insurance plans, and 384 inquiries related to managed care health insurance plans from consumers, healthcare providers and legislators.
As a result of complaint investigations, managed care appeals and market conduct examinations, those two divisions recovered more than $17.9 million worth of benefits and savings for thousands of consumers in the form of refunds, insurance benefits, interest payments, claim reimbursements and reinstated coverage.
The SCC urges Virginians to thoroughly evaluate any offer; shop around and compare prices and terms; keep written records of all transactions; find products and services that suit your needs; and verify if an individual or company is licensed or registered with the SCC. If a problem arises, try to resolve it with the regulated individual or company first. If the issue remains unresolved, contact the appropriate SCC division by phone, mail, email or using our online complaint forms. To access complaint forms and a description of the complaint process, visit the SCC website at scc.virginia.gov and select the appropriate division.
To contact the SCC by phone, call toll-free at 800-552-7945 or visit the SCC contact page for contact information for each SCC division.
If the SCC does not have regulatory authority over a particular firm, individual, product or transaction, its staff will direct consumers to an appropriate local, state or federal authority for assistance. These may include local law enforcement, the Office of the Attorney General or the Federal Trade Commission, which consumers also may contact directly through its toll-free helpline at 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357).
