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The Federal Trade Commission

Education is a key tool to prevent consumer injury. In this section of the FTC website, you'll find publications with advice on avoiding scams and rip-offs, as well as tips on other consumer topics.

Automobiles

Credit

Diet, Health & Fitness

E-Commerce & the Internet

Energy & Environment

Franchise & Business Opportunities

At Home

Identity Theft

Investments

Privacy

Products & Services

Scholarship & Employment Services

Telemarketing 

Telephone Services

Tobacco

Travel

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Consumer Information

Consumer Information

The following organizations can provide you with information on purchasing, companies, consumer credit and government organizations.

Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC)
Pueblo, CO 81009
Phone: 1 (800) FED INFO
Web: www.pueblo.gsa.gov
Part of the U.S. General Services Administration, FCIC is a one-stop source for consumer information from the Federal Government. The free Consumer Information Catalog lists more than 200 free and low-cost publications on topics such as cars, child care, education, Federal benefits, money management, food, health, housing and travel. Order a copy of the Catalog from the FCIC website or call 1 (800) FED INFO (that’s) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time, M-F. You can also get a copy by sending your name and address to FCIC at the address above.

FirstGov
Web: www.FirstGov.gov The official Web portal for the U.S. government, FirstGov.gov links you to government representatives, services and information at the federal, state and local level. You can get easy-to-understand information from the government 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Similar information is posted in Spanish at www.Espanol.gov.

Center for the Study of Services
733 15th Street, NW, Suite 820
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: / Fax:
Web: www.checkbook.org
This nonprofit organization publishes information and services to help you choose and get the best price when making purchases such as autos, major appliances, audio-video equipment, doctors, hospitals and health care plans. In the Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Seattle, San Francisco and St. Paul/Minneapolis areas, a subscription to CHECKBOOK magazine will give you information on many local services as auto repair, cell phones, plumbers, and banks.

Consumers Union of U.S., Inc. (CU)
101 Truman Avenue
Yonkers, NY
Phone: / Fax:
Web: www.consumerreports.org
CU is a nonprofit, independent consumer organization that researches and tests goods and services such as automobiles, appliances, food, clothing, luggage, and insurance. Some of the information is free via the Internet, radio and television. Print publications including subscriptions to the monthly Consumer Reports magazine must be purchased.

Consumer World
Web: www.consumerworld.org
Consumer World is a public service website with links to hundreds of consumer resources available on the Internet. You will find consumer news, product reviews and shopping bargains. Directories provide contact information and web links for many corporations and government agencies.

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)
CooperativeStateResearch, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), USDA The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Services, USDA, is federal partner in the Cooperative Extension System, a nationwide, non-formal educational network.  Cooperative Extension has been a source of consumer information and assistance for nearly 100 years.  With an educator in nearly every county, Cooperative Extension brings the research-based knowledge of land-grant universities directly to families and communities.  Programs cover food and nutrition, housing, gardening, budgeting, using credit, saving for retirement, and more. To locate your county office, check the local government pages of your phone book or visit www.csrees.usda.gov and click on About Us, then Partnerships.

Libraries
Publications from many of the organizations mentioned on this page can be found at public libraries. Some university and private libraries also allow individuals to use their reference materials. Check your local telephone directory for the location of libraries near you.

The following organizations can provide you with information on purchasing, companies, consumer credit and government organizations.

Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC)
Pueblo, CO 81009
Phone: 1 (800) FED INFO
Web: www.pueblo.gsa.gov
Part of the U.S. General Services Administration, FCIC is a one-stop source for consumer information from the Federal Government. The free Consumer Information Catalog lists more than 200 free and low-cost publications on topics such as cars, child care, education, Federal benefits, money management, food, health, housing and travel. Order a copy of the Catalog from the FCIC website or call 1 (800) FED INFO (that’s) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time, M-F. You can also get a copy by sending your name and address to FCIC at the address above.

FirstGov
Web: www.FirstGov.gov The official Web portal for the U.S. government, FirstGov.gov links you to government representatives, services and information at the federal, state and local level. You can get easy-to-understand information from the government 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Similar information is posted in Spanish at www.Espanol.gov.

Center for the Study of Services
733 15th Street, NW, Suite 820
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: / Fax:
Web: www.checkbook.org
This nonprofit organization publishes information and services to help you choose and get the best price when making purchases such as autos, major appliances, audio-video equipment, doctors, hospitals and health care plans. In the Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Seattle, San Francisco and St. Paul/Minneapolis areas, a subscription to CHECKBOOK magazine will give you information on many local services as auto repair, cell phones, plumbers, and banks.

Consumers Union of U.S., Inc. (CU)
101 Truman Avenue
Yonkers, NY
Phone: / Fax:
Web: www.consumerreports.org
CU is a nonprofit, independent consumer organization that researches and tests goods and services such as automobiles, appliances, food, clothing, luggage, and insurance. Some of the information is free via the Internet, radio and television. Print publications including subscriptions to the monthly Consumer Reports magazine must be purchased.

Consumer World
Web: www.consumerworld.org
Consumer World is a public service website with links to hundreds of consumer resources available on the Internet. You will find consumer news, product reviews and shopping bargains. Directories provide contact information and web links for many corporations and government agencies.

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)
CooperativeStateResearch, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), USDA The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Services, USDA, is federal partner in the Cooperative Extension System, a nationwide, non-formal educational network.  Cooperative Extension has been a source of consumer information and assistance for nearly 100 years.  With an educator in nearly every county, Cooperative Extension brings the research-based knowledge of land-grant universities directly to families and communities.  Programs cover food and nutrition, housing, gardening, budgeting, using credit, saving for retirement, and more. To locate your county office, check the local government pages of your phone book or visit www.csrees.usda.gov and click on About Us, then Partnerships.

Libraries
Publications from many of the organizations mentioned on this page can be found at public libraries. Some university and private libraries also allow individuals to use their reference materials. Check your local telephone directory for the location of libraries near you.

Consumer Action Website

Order the 2007 Consumer Action Handbook.

This everyday guide to being a smart shopper is chocked full of helpful tips about buying a car or home, preventing identity theft, understanding credit, resolving problems after a purchase, and much more.

In the 2007 edition, you’ll find new information about filing for bankruptcy, finding a lawyer, and planning a funeral, along with many other useful topics. Order the book today. If you click on the link above you can view the 2006 Handbook and get specific help if you are in the Military, are a Teacher or a person with a disability. The 2006 handbook is a .pdf of the entire 166 page Consumer Action Handbook, including the consumer topics, the directory listings, the sample complaint letter, and the index. For your convenience we have also created the sectional .pdfs below, which you can use to reduce download time.

Consumer Topics: This .pdf includes all of the Consumer Topics listed in the left hand sidebar. (42 pages)

Corporate Consumer Offices: This .pdf includes contact information for all of the corporations listed in the Handbook. (34 pages)

Car Manufacturers and Resolution Programs: This .pdf includes contact information for all of the automobile manufacturers listed in the Handbook. (4 pages)

State Offices: This .pdf includes contact information for all of the state and local offices listed in the Handbook. (32 pages)

Federal Agencies: This .pdf includes contact information for all of the Federal agencies listed in the Handbook. (17 pages)

BBBs: This .pdf includes contact information for all of the Better Business Bureaus listed in the Handbook. (6 pages)

Consumer Organizations: This .pdf includes contact information for all of the National Consumer Organizations listed in the Handbook. (6 pages)

Trade Associations: This .pdf includes contact information for all of the Trade and Professional Associations listed in the Handbook. (7 pages)

Military: This .pdf includes contact information for all of the Military Exchanges and Military Family Centers listed in the Handbook. (3 pages)

Better Business Bureau

Doing business on the internet is done by millions of people a day. How do you know if you can trust a company that you have never dealt with before. One of the easiest methods is to use the Better Business Bureau to investigate the company.

Their site is easy to use and pretty straightforward. It will tell you if the company is a member of the BBB and what their record is in resolving complaints. If you will notice, I did not say if they have any complaints. It is almost impossible for a national or worldwide company not to have any complaints and the BBB takes that into consideration when looking at a company. When you service millions of consumers, addressing complaints becomes very important to the BBB.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) system in the U.S. extends across the nation; coast-to-coast, and in Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico.

Since the founding of the first BBB in 1912, the BBB system has proven that the majority of marketplace problems can be solved fairly through the use of voluntary self-regulation and consumer education.

The BBB's Core Services include:

1. Business Reliability Reports;
2. Dispute Resolution;
3. Truth-in-Advertising;
4. Consumer and Business Education; and
5. Charity Review.

to see a sample report continue below