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Here you will find lists of consumer protection agencies, consumer organizations, state organizations, federal organizations, legislative committees, and legal information sites. In addition, you will find links to other fact sheets, flyers, brochures and more. If you have a link that you feel should be posted, please send it to anamontes@lif.org. Please double check to make sure that the link is not broken and that you have typed or copied the correct link before sending. Thanks.

 

AGENCIES

Consumer Protection Agencies

    • The Better Business Bureau – provides consumer and business education, business reliability reports, charity reviews and truth-in-advertising services to ensure fairness in the marketplace. http://www.bbb.org

    • Consumer Federation of California—campaigns for state and federal laws that place consumer protection ahead of corporate profit. http://www.consumerfedofca.org

    • The Consumer Federation of America—is a national consumer advocate organization that provides consumers with a comprehensive list of resources. http://www.consumerfed.org/backpage/telecom.cfm

Consumer Organizations

    • Call for Action—is an international, nonprofit network of consumer hotlines affiliated with local broadcast partners. http://www.callforaction.org/privacy/links.asp

    • California Public Interest Research Group
      http://ww.consumerfed.org

    • Consumer Action—serves consumers nationwide by advancing consumer rights, referring consumers to complaint-handling agencies through their free hotline, publishing educational materials in Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese and other languages, advocating for consumers in the media and before lawmakers, and comparing prices on credit cards, bank accounts, and long distance services.http://www.consumer-action.org

    • The Consumer Action Website Consumers Resources Handbook—provides various consumer information resources compiled by a coalition of consumer advocate organizations. http://www.consumeraction.gov

    • Consumers' Union--a comprehensive source for unbiased advice about products and services, personal finance, health and nutrition, and other consumer concerns. http://www.consumersunion.org

    • ConsumerVoiceUSA.com—is an interactive website that allows consumers to gain information and obtain assistance regarding consumer issues such as wireless phone services, defective products, among others.http://www.consumervoiceusa.com

    • The Federal Citizen Information Center—provides answers to questions about the Federal Government and everyday consumer issues.
      In English: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov
      En Español: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/spanish

    • Latino Issues Forum
      http://www.lif.org

    • Nat’l Assoc. of Consumer Advocates
      http://www.consumersunion.org

    • Nat’l Assoc. of State Utility Consumer Advocates
      http://www.nasuca.org

    • The National Consumers' League—The mission of the organization is to identify, protect, represent, and advance the economic and social interests of consumers and workers. http://www.natlconsumersleague.org

    • The National Fraud Information Center—Established to fight the growing menace of telemarketing fraud by improving prevention and enforcement. Services are available in English and Spanish, free of charge. http://www.fraud.org

    • Privacy Rights Clearing House
      http://www.privacyrights.org

    • The Utility Reform Network—is a consumer advocate organization that seeks to lower rates for essential services such as electricity, natural gas and telephone services. http://www.turn.org

    • Utility Consumers' Action Network—is a consumer advocate organization established to protect consumers from utility abuse, poor service, and excessive rate hikes. http://www.ucan.org

State Organizations

Federal Organizations

    • The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau—-is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumers.html

    • Federal Trade Commission—"Federal clearinghouse for identity theft complaints" http://www.ftc.gov

    • National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators—is a national non-profit association of consumer protection agency administrators.http://www.nacaanet.org

    • National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners—http://www.naruc.org

Legislative Committees

Legal Information Sites

    • Consumer Attorneys of California—is a professional association for attorneys who represent plaintiffs/consumers who seek responsibility from wrongdoers. http://www.caoc.com

    • The Consumer Law Page—provides practical legal first aid on a variety of consumer law issues. http://www.consumerlawpage.com

    • FindLaw Consumer Law Center—provides a comprehensive list of legal resources for consumers. http://public.findlaw.com/consumer

    • The National Consumer Law Center—is an advocate for low-income consumer justice and expert in low-income consumer issues.http://www.consumerlaw.org

     

CREDIT REPORTING BUREAUS

Equifax

P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348.
Report fraud: Call (800) 525-6285
Order credit report: (800) 685-1111
Web: http://www.equifax.com

Experian (formerly TRW):

P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013.
Report fraud: Call (888) EXPERIAN (888-397-3742) and write to address above.
Fax: (800) 301-7196.
Order credit report: (888) EXPERIAN.
Web: www.experian.com

Trans Union

P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834.
Report fraud: (800) 680-7289
Order credit report: (800) 888-4213.
Web: http://www.transunion.com

CREDIT COUNSELING

Bet Tzedex Legal Services
(323) 939-0506

Better Business Bureau
(213) 251-9696
http://www.bbb.org

Community Financial Resources
(323) 974-9759

Consumer Affairs
(213) 974-1452

Consumer Credit Counseling Service
(800) 750-2227

Debtor Counseling
(213) 640-3964

Small Claims Court Advisor
(213) 974-9759

Bad Checks
(213) 974-5951

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
(619) 298-3396

 

IDENTITY THEFT

Indentity Theft Resource Center
www.idtheftcenter.org

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
www.privacyrights.org

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)—"Federal clearinghouse for identity theft complaints"
(877) 438-4338

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)—"If you believe someone has assumed your identity to file fraudulent federal tax returns or to commit other tax fraud"
(800) 829-0433

Social Security Administration/Office of Inspector— If you believe someone has stolen or misused your SS #
General (SSA/OIG)" (800) 269-0271 or (800) 772-1213

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MATERIALS

Wireless Number Portability

What is wireless number portability (WLNP)?

 

MISCELLANEOUS ONLINE RESOURCES:

Additional Online Resources for international and long distance comparison shopping: