Consumer Protection | Products,
Services & Prices | Online Shopping
For Internet consumer
resources, please refer the following sites:
Librarians' Internet Index--Consumer Information
Consumer Protection
Agencies
That Process Complaints Against Businesses and People: A list provided by LAPD.
Better Business Bureau: Check out a business, file a consumer
complaint, or visit its resource
library.
California Department of Consumer
Affairs: Consumers
can verify a
professional license, file a complaint, or
learn how to protect themselves from unscrupulous and unqualified
individuals.
California Department of Real Estate Consumer Alerts: Find latest fraud warnings regarding real estate scams for California homeowners in financial distress.
Consumer Action Handbook: Maintained by the Federal Citizen Information Center,
the website provides tips for purchasing specific goods and services, how and
where to file a complaint and more.
FirstGov for
Consumers: Consumer information provided by the federal government.
Free Annual Credit
Report: Request a free credit report once every 12 months from each of
the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and
TransUnion.
Identity Theft Prevention and Solutions: Provided by
the Federal Trade
Commission, US Department
of Justice, US Social
Security Administration, US Postal Service,
and the Better Business Bureau.
Identity
Theft Sample Letters: Sample letters to help identity theft victims clear their
names and protect their credit.
Phone
Fraud: The Federal Trade
Commission’s consumer education program to educate consumers about fraudulent
and deceptive telemarketing, and how they can protect themselves.
Recalls.gov: Search for recalls of consumer
products, motor vehicles, boats, medicine, cosmetics and environmental
products, or sign up to receive new recalls and safety information
electronically.
Products, Services & Prices
Bank Rate Monitor: Posts
current national averages on mortgages, auto loans, savings deposits and
personal loans.
Bank Rating Services:
A list of FDIC recommended services that provide ratings on the safety and soundness
of banks and thrift institutions
Consumer Guide: Includes product reviews and information.
Consumer Reports: Provides product ratings and general
consumer information.
Consumer Search: Provides product reviews and
information.
Consumer World: Provides
information on products, prices and consumer agencies.
Edmunds.com: Find new and used automotive pricing guides, car reviews, inventory of
local dealers, loan and insurance information and more.
Kelley Blue Book: Car reviews and prices
for new and used cars.
The Gold Book: Provides the values
of classic automobiles from 1886 to 2003.
Property
Assessment Information System: Check a real property’s information
from Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office.
Realtor.com: Officialhome price, year built,
pictures, number of bedrooms, and other home features for free.
TheStreet.com
Ratings: The
strongest and the weakest Annuity
Insurers, Banks and Thrifts, Life Insurers,
and more
Online Shopping
eBay
Learning Center: Information on how to sell or buy at eBay.
Internet
Auctions A Guide for Buyers and Sellers:
The Federal Trade
Commission’s tips for buyers and sellers of Internet auctions.
PriceGrabber: Compare product prices
and check product reviews.
Shopping
Safely Online: Online shopping advice from the Better Business Bureau. More tips are available here.
