The Following
Consumer Resource Web Sites
Are Intended to Assist You in Your Search
for Information:
GENERAL CONSUMER INFORMATION:
To Check the Number of Complaints Against a Business at
the Attorney General’s Office:
(617) 727-8400
Commonwealth
of Massachusetts Home Page
Gateway to Information on Massachusetts
www.mass.gov
Massachusetts Attorney
General’s Office
Consumer Regulation and Information
www.mass.gov/ago
Lemon Law Arbitration
Program
Consumer Affairs Office
www.mass.gov/ocabr
Mass. Office of
Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation
Order or Download Consumer Pamphlets
www.mass.gov/ocabr
-- has consumer brochures on line
Massachusetts DO NOT
CALL Program
Add your telephone and cell number to the DO NOT CALL list
www.govone.com/man/welcome.asp
AUTOMOBILES:
Auto Safety Hotline,
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Highway & Vehicle Safety Standards, Crash Tests, Auto Recalls
(800) 424-9393
www.nhtsa.dot.gov
CARFAX
Gives history of vehicle, need VIN #, costs $35
www.carfax.com
Car Smart
Everything You Need to Know About Automobile Purchase, Lease,
Repair & Lemon Law
www.massconsumer.org
Car Talk
Automotive Advice & Information With A Touch Of Humor
www.cartalk.com
Center for Auto Safety
To find out if there are hidden problems on your vehicle,
please send a SASE with make, model, year and problem of car to:
2001 S Street NW; suite 410; Washington, DC 20009
(202) 328-7700
www.autosafety.org
Registry of Motor
Vehicles
Information on Motor Vehicles and Licensing
www.massdot.state.ma.us/rmv
Service Bulletins
for Cars
www.alldata.com
CONSUMER INFO:
Banking and Mortgages
Massachusetts Division of Banks
Hot Line: (800) 495-2265
Better Business
Bureau
Check Business Complaint History, Reliability Reports, Alerts,
and Consumer Advisories
290 Donald Lynch Boulevard, Suite 102, Marlborough, MA 01752-4705
(508) 652-4800
www.bosbbb.org
Consumer Information
Center
Excellent Consumer Information Resource
www.pueblo.gsa.gov
Consumer World
Complete Consumer News, Information & Resource Center
www.consumerworld.org
National Fraud Information Center (Consumer League)
Clearinghouse for Information About Online & Offline Scams
www.fraud.org/welcome.htm
National Association
of Consumer Agency Administrators NACAA
Association of Consumer Agencies (consumer information & links)
www.nacaa.net
National Consumer
Law Center
Consumer Laws Advocacy Resource
www.consumerlaw.org
National Consumer
League Center
Clearinghouse for Information About Online & Offline Scams
www.fraud.org/welcome.htm
CREDIT:
Money Management
International
Local Assistance for People Dealing with Financial Problems
866-310-7452
www.moneymanagement.org
Financial Reporting
Bureaus:
Trans Union - (800) 888-4213
Experian - (888) 397-3742
Equifax - (800) 685-1111
Central Source for
Combined Free Credit Report
(877) 322-8228
www.annualcreditreport.com
Consumer Finance Protection
Bureau
Directs consumers to resources and agencies to file complaints
www.consumerfinance.gov
My Money.Gov
22 Federal agencies provide financial planning tools
www.mymoney.gov
To opt out of marketing
lists:
(888) 567-8688
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT:
Environmental
Protection Agency
Information on the Environment
www.epa.gov
Federal Drug Administration
Information on Food or Drugs
(888) 463-6332
www.fda.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Information on Scams, Identity Theft, Fair Credit Reporting, Telemarketing
& More
www.ftc.gov/consumer
Internet
Crime Complaint Center
Accepts online Internet Crime complaints
www.ftc.gov
Social Security
Administration
Information on SSI; How to Obtain a Report on Your Benefit Status
www.ssa.gov
U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission
(800) 638-2772
Check on Product Recalls & Safety Warnings
www.cpsc.gov
U.S. Postal Service
Information on Rates, Regulations, Zip Codes
www.usps.gov
HOME IMPROVEMENT:
To Check on a
Contractor’s Registration,
Call the Office of Consumer Affairs
(617) 973-8787
www.mass.gov/ocabr
Home Improvement
Contractor Program
Contractor History, Information & Arbitration Program
www.mass.gov/ocabr
IDENTITY THEFT:
Resources
for Identify Theft Problems
Information from FTC about Identity Theft
www.ftc.gov/idtheft
LEGAL:
Boston Bar Association
Lawyer Referral
(617) 742-0625 or (800) 552-7046
Mass Bar Association
Lawyer Referral
(617) 654-0400 or (866) 627-7577
www.massbar.org
To answer a legal
question for free:
First Wednesday of the month, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
(617) 338-0610
SENIOR CITIZENS:
Elder Hotline
(888) 243-5337
AARP Consumer
Product Catalog
Information and Publications on Consumer Issues for Seniors
http://www.aarp.org/research
Board of Registration
of Nursing Homes
Information on Massachusetts regulation of Nursing Homes/Complaints
www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov
www.mass.gov/elders
UTILITIES, TELEPHONE:
Department of
Public Utilities
Information on the Electrical and Gas Companies in Massachusetts
(800) 392-6066 or (617) 305-3500
www.mass.gov/dpu
Department of
Telecommunications and Cable
Information on theTelephone and Cable Companies in Massachusetts
(800) 392-6066 or (617) 305-3500
www.mass.gov/dtc
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES:
Health Connector
Helps MA residents find the right health insurance plan
www.mahealthconnector.org
Massachusetts 2-1-1
Provides access to a range of information and referral
including fuel, food, shelter, disaster assistance
www.mass211.org
DISCLAIMER
The Internet sites listed as resources on this page
are included because of the helpful
and relevant information they contain, but we cannot vouch for the accuracy
of the
information provided. Some are commercial sites that promote purchases
of services
or publications and/or contain opinionated information. Inclusion in this
list does
not in any manner constitute endorsement of the opinions or products offered
in the
web sites or of its financial sponsors by the Consumer Assistance Office
- Metro West, Inc.
as host of this web site.
Consumer
Assistance Office - Metro West, Inc.
A non-profit organization working in cooperation with the Massachusetts Office
of the Attorney General
(508)
651-8812