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Take the Stress Out of Summer: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Provides End of Schoolyear Tips To Help College Students
May 9, 2025
NEW YORK, NY – Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today shared some important tips for college students to keep in mind as the school year ends.
“Setting off on your own as a young adult is an exciting time, but it can also be challenging to know what decisions to make to set yourself up for a lifetime of financial success,” said DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “Whether you’re graduating and starting your career or continuing your education, the city offers free resources, like our Financial Empowerment Centers, to help set you up for a financially healthy future.”
Learn how to make smart money moves and understand the laws that impact your life. Get our new, multilingual Top 10 Tips for Young Consumers to help you navigate free resources available to you, reduce financial risks from products like “Buy Now, Pay Later” loans, and learn about new laws – like the upcoming ban on apartment broker fee – and how they impact your decision-making.
Know your rights and responsibilities when it comes to student loans. Whether you are considering student loans or already have student loan debt, be sure to read DCWP’s tips and resources at nyc.gov/StudentLoans. NYC’s Financial Empowerment Centers also offer free one-on-one financial counseling services to help you set up a spending plan, accessing banking services or manage your debt – whether from student loans or ‘buy now, pay later’ loans – and more. Visit nyc.gov/TalkMoney to schedule an appointment.
Beware of predatory moving company, Dorm2Dorm. In 2023, DCWP filed a lawsuit against Dorm2Dorm LLC, a moving and storage company that targets New York City area college students. Dorm2Dorm regularly failed to provide services that consumers paid for, misplaced possessions, or returned them damaged or broken. Last year, a New York County Supreme Court ruled in favor of the City, ordering the business to pay nearly $3.8 million in civil penalties and consumer restitution, and cease operating illegally. Consumers who were deceived by Dorm2Dorm, are encouraged to call 311 and say “Dorm2Dorm” or visit nyc.gov/dcwp to file a complaint.
Understand your worker rights if you have a new job or summer job. The newly expanded Workers’ Bill of Rights, a multilingual and comprehensive guide to rights in the workplace in New York City, summarizes the laws that protect workers and job applicants in New York City, regardless of immigration status. The Workers’ Bill of Rights includes information on rights enforced by DCWP, like Paid Safe and Sick Leave, the Fair Workweek Law, the Freelance Isn’t Free Act, the Temporary Schedule Change Law, and the city’s Delivery Worker Laws, as well as rights enforced by other state and federal agencies, like minimum wage and the right to organize. In most cases, NYCs worker protections apply to part-time and temporary employees, including students working summer jobs. Workers and employers can visit nyc.gov/workers or call 311 (212-NEW-YORK outside New York City) for more information about the laws that DCWP enforces or to file a complaint. Complaints can be filed anonymously. It is illegal for employers to retaliate against employees for filing complaints. The Department of Small Business Services’ Workforce1 Career Centers can help you prepare for, and connect to, jobs across New York City in every sector of the economy.
Consider all banking options for your paycheck. If you have a summer job, consider all your banking options to direct deposit your paycheck, including depositing your money into an FDIC-insured bank account. If you use a nonbank payment transfer app (like Chime, CashApp, or Venmo), keep in mind that your money may not be as protected as it would be in a traditional bank. Find a low-cost bank account at nyc.gov/SafeStart.
The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)—formerly the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)—protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses more than 45,000 businesses in more than 40 industries and enforces key consumer protection, licensing, and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources and, by helping to resolve complaints, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance. Through its community outreach and the work of its offices of Financial Empowerment and Labor Policy & Standards, DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to be educated consumers and to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCWP also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp or on its social media sites, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Media Contacts:
Michael Lanza / Stephany Vasquez Sanchez
Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
(212) 436-0042
press@dcwp.nyc.gov