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.

Records Found: 22

Financial Services



• American Bankers Association
  Industry group site contains lots of information for consumers and calculators to help you figure mortgage, auto, and college loan rates.
  
  
• Bauer Financial Reports, Inc.
  Provides information on your bank's capital reserves and adequacy of performance. There is a fee for this service.
  
  
• Bay House
  Bay House is a decidedly outspoken site full of information on credit scoring. It features e-mail forums that let you post information, questions and personal diatribes on credit, real estate and finance.
  
  
• California - Housing Finance Agency (CHFA)
  CHFA finances below-market-rate loans to affordable rental housing and assists first-time home buyers.
  
  
• CardTrak.com, Inc.
  Surveys on regular and secured credit cards and charge cards. News and analysis relating to the consumer credit card industry
  
  
• Comptroller of the Currency
  Call for answers to questions about the regulations governing national banks. Complaints must be in writing.
  
  
• Consumer Price Index
  Provides Consumer Price Index figures both nationwide and for the San Francisco/East Bay areas.
  
  
• Department of Corporations
  Contact about complaints or questions concerning finance companies, state-chartered credit unions, escrow companies, money order companies, thrift and loan companies, franchises and investment activities as well as prepaid health plans.
  
  
• Fair Isaac Corporation (FIC)
  Fair Isaacs Inc. of San Rafael, CA, one of the largest and oldest creators of the consumer credit scoring models used by financial institutions to assess loan applicants' risk, offers very general information on credit scores.
  
  
• Fannie Mae
  Fannie Mae provides financial products and services to help low-, moderate-, and middle-income families to buy homes. Site includes a calculator to help you figure out the total costs of a mortgage.
  
  
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
  Contact about complaints against state-chartered banks that are not members of the Federal Reserve System and for information on deposit insurance.
  
  
• Federal Reserve Bank Consumer Education Site
  Basic financial education includes budgeting, goal setting and using credit wisely. For live or printed guidance, you can call the Fed hotline.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Federal Student Aid Information Center, (ED)
  If the student has already filed a free Application for Federal Student Aid, he or she can check the status of the application by calling (319) 337-5665. For Direct Loan toll-free services, including information about repayment options call: Direct Loan Origination Center Applicant Services 1-800-557-7394 Consolidation: 1-800-557-7392 TTY: 1-800-555-7395 School Relations: 1-800-848-0978 Additional websites: for students, www.ed.gov/studentaid for financial professionals, www.iafap.ed.gov for direct loans, www.ed.gov/DirectLoans
  
  
• FinAid! The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid
  Comprehensive guide to student financial aid. Discusses sources of financial aid, as well as tips on avoiding scams.
  
  
• Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy
  The Coalition's direct objective is to encourage curriculum enrichment to ensure that basic personal financial management skills are attained during the K-12 educational experience.
  
  
• Myvesta.org
  Offers free information and fee-based programs to help consumers get out of debt. (Formerly Debt Counselors of America.)
  
  
• National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC)
  NCRC's goal is to end discriminatory banking practices and increase the flow of private capital and credit into underserved communities across the country.
  
  
• National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC)
  NFCC is a national, non-profit network of 1,450 credit counseling centers. Their site provides debt and credit resources, on-line counseling and budget calulators, as well as a way to locate the Consumer Credit Counseling Service nearest you.
  
  
• Practical Money Skills for Life
  Advice, classroom curriculums, calculators and more from payment card network giant Visa
  
  
• The Credit Scoring Site
  The Credit Scoring Site examines credit industry policy not to make credit scores available to consumers.
  
  
• Veribanc, Inc.
  This is a private company that provides safety ratings for banks, savings and loans and credit unions - over the phone or by full written report. There is a $10 fee for each safety rating, $5 for each additional request made at the same time.