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: 25
- American Institute of Philanthropy
A charity watchdog service that can help you avoid giving your money to fraudulent "look-a-like" organizations. - Association of State Medical Board Executive Directors DocFinder
Run by Administrators in Medicine, the site provides disciplinary information through 20 states. - California - Department of Real Estate
Search current licensee records online. View a list of individuals or entities conducting real estate activities without proper licensing. - California - Office of Real Estate Appraisers (OREA)
OREA licenses real estate appraisers and ensures that appraisers obey national and California standards and law. This agency also investigates complaints against appraisers. Site features consumer information, as well as license verification of appraisers. - 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. (http://www.cftc.gov/proc/pcdform30.htm) Complaints for reparation are not currently accepted electronically. - Consumer Response Center, (FTC)
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. Contact the FTC to get free information on consumer issues. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law… - Department of Housing and Community Development
Contact with complaints about mobilehome sales, dealers and manufacturers, for warranty problems, escrow, contracts, fraud and misrepresentation, health and safety. - Department of Real Estate
Handles unfair, misleading or fraudulent treatment by a licensee in real estate transactions. Call for complaint form. State your specific complaint, list witnesses and include copies of all documents. - 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. - Fictitious Business Names Records
Provides information in person and by mail about fictitious business names to help locate businesses. Does not provide lists of all business corporate names. Check telephone book for your county's office. - Fresno County District Attorney
The Business Affairs Unit conducts investigations and prosecutions of consumer protection and fraud cases, business law violations, environmental law violations and major fraud. - Give.org
Website of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance (combines the National Charities Information Bureau and the Philanthropical Advisory Service of the Better Business Bureau Foundation). Features summaries of 166 national charitable organizations evaluated using 23 accountability standards, as well as tips and a guide to wise giving. - ID Theft
The U.S. government central website for information about identity theft. Find information about what to do if you are a victim, what state and federal laws apply, and how to minimize the risk of having your identity stolen. You can also input a complaint online. - 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. - Marin County District Attorney
Mediation of consumer/business disputes. Enforcement of consumer protection statutes and prosecution of unfair business practices. - Napa County District Attorney
Processes and mediates consumer complaints. Also provides consumer information in a variety of topics such as ID Theft, home improvement fraud, elder abuse and small claims court, among others. - National Consumers League
National Fraud Information Center (NFIC) provides recorded information on current frauds; tips on how to avoid becoming a victim; consumer publications you can order; and access to staff who provide referral services and assistance in filing complaints. - 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. - Office of the Commissioner, (DOTT)
The Bureau of the Public Debt and the rest of the United States Department of the Treasury (collectively, "we" or "us") are aware of a number of fraudulent schemes (we like to call them "scams") that involve what are claimed to be securities issued or backed by us or any other part of the United States Government. These scams have been directed at banks, charities,… - Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), (DOTT)
Contact to complain about federally-chartered savings and loans (S&Ls) or violations of federal rules by state-chartered S&Ls. - San Francisco Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Board (Rent Board)
Contact with questions about rent control in San Francisco. It may investigate reports of wrongful eviction as defined by city rent laws. This is an agency of the City/County of S.F. - Santa Cruz County District Attorney
Advises on buyer-seller disputes; provides legally-binding mediation/arbitration and investigates and prosecutes consumer fraud, misleading advertising and unfair business practices. - Solano County District Attorney
Consumer complaints taken; mediation services not available. - Sonoma County Legal Services Foundation
Information and referral to legal resources. Alternative Dispute Resolution Services. - Ventura County District Attorney
Consumer information and advice. Complaints accepted in consumer-merchant disputes where either the consumer or the merchant is located in Ventura County. Some landlord/tenant disputes accepted.