Consumer Services Guide (CSG)
Consumer Services Guide (CSG) Edition
The Consumer Services Guide is searchable directory of resources which can help you with consumer problems and questions. There are multiple editions of the 'Guide', some which deal with specific issues such as housing or credit. The full directory, the Consumer Service Guide Edition, provides access to all the resources collected by Consumer Action.Listings for the City of Washington
These are the results for consumer specific consumer resources for DC. The listing is grouped by primary service category, then sorted alphabetically.
- Virginia - Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Contact for pre-purchase inquiry and complaint information on local businesses. Takes complaints on companies and arbitrates problems and disputes. Monitors and reviews local advertising and tracks and reports on charitable organizations. (Washington, DC) - West Virginia - Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Contact for pre-purchase inquiry and complaint information on local businesses. Takes complaints on companies and arbitrates problems and disputes. Monitors and reviews local advertising and tracks and reports on charitable organizations. (Washington, DC) - Office of Child Support Enforcement, (HHS)
The nation’s Child Support Enforcement Program (CSE) is a federal/state/local partnership to help families by promoting family self-sufficiency and child well-being. CSE provides four major services to their customers: locating non-custodial parents, establishing paternity, establishing support orders and collecting support payments. The program also provides services to non-custodial parents. (Washington, DC) - Civil Rights Division, (DOJ)
The Division is the program institution within the federal government responsible for enforcing federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, handicap, religion, and national origin. Contact the Housing Discrimination Tip Line to report an incident of housing discrimination: 1-800-896-7743 (toll-free Tip Line) (202) 514-4713 (local calls) (202) 305-1882 (TTY) (202) 514-1116 (Fax) fairhousing@usdoj.gov (Washington, DC) - Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Accepts online reports of suspicious activites or transactions involving the trading of commodity futures contracts or commodity options. Consumers seeking reparations in a dispute should print out the CFTC Reparations Complaint Form. Complaints for reparation are not currently accepted electronically. (Washington, DC) - Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD's mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. To fulfill this mission, HUD will embrace high standards of ethics, management and accountability and forge new partnerships--particularly with faith-based and community organizations--that leverage resources and improve HUD's ability to be effective on the community level. Recorded message will transfer your call to a local HUD office.… (Washington, DC) - Federal Reserve System (FRS)
Contact about complaints against state-chartered banks that belong to the Federal Reserve System. Also answers questions about consumer credit protection laws and regulations. (Washington, DC) - Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Enforces federal consumer protection laws concerning false advertising, deceptive business practices, inaccurate credit reports and handles complaints regarding credit cards, failure of banks to disclose credit terms, denial of credit because of discrimination and inaccurate disclosure of credit reports. May be able to assist with problems of abusive collection agencies. (Washington, DC) - HHS-TIPS Fraud Hotline, (HHS)
Accepts complaints about Medicare and Medicaid fraud. Callers are not required to identify themselves, and if they do not want to speak to a Hotline representative, they may mail, e-mail or fax their complaint. (Washington, DC) - Inspector General's Fraud Hotline, (HUD)
Accepts e-mail complaints related to fraud, waste, and abuse in HUD programs and operations, including mismanagement or violations of law, rules, or regulations by HUD employees or program participants. HUD's page warns consumers that sending e-mail complaints will not protect their privacy or confidentiality. (Washington, DC) - Mail Order Action Line
Handles complaints against direct marketing companies. (Washington, DC) - National Association of Securities Dealers Inc. (NASD)
Third party dispute resolution forum, including both arbitration adn mediation solutions, for the resolution of monetary and business disputes between investors and securities firms. (Washington, DC) - National Fraud Information Center (NFIC)
Use their "Online Incident Report Form" to report phone or mail fraud, fraudulent advertisements in magazines, newspapers, and television, or fraud via commercial online services or the Internet. (Washington, DC) - Office for Victims of Crime, (DOJ)
The Office for Victims of Crime offers information and publications about state victim assistance and compensation programs, as well as advice and resources for victims of a variety of crimes. (Washington, DC) - Office of Consumer Complaints, (FMC)
The FMC is a regulatory agency maintaining statutory authority over ocean carriers and certain other entities, operatiing in the waterborne foreign commerce of the U.S. Assistance to consumers engaged in disputes with tranporting carriers as well as with cruise operators is available through the Office of Consumer Complaints. (Washington, DC)