Consumer Services Guide (CSG)

Consumer Action 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

Fraud



• California - Department of Real Estate
  The mission of the California Bureau of Real Estate is to safeguard and promote the public interests in REAL ESTATE MATTERS through licensure, regulation, education and enforcement. 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• CharityWatch
  CharityWatch (formerly the American Institute of Philanthropy) is a nationally prominent charity watchdog service whose purpose is to help donors make informed giving decisions.
  
  
• Commodity Futures Trading Commission
  Accepts online reports of suspicious activites or transactions involving the trading of commodity futures contracts or commodity options. Visit http://www.cftc.gov/ConsumerProtection/ReparationsProgram/index.htm for consumers filing a complaint with their Reparations Program.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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
  The Consumer Protection Unit is responsible for handling a broad spectrum of consumer protection activities. Its focus is to protect honest citizens from fraudulent or dishonest business practices. They have four major areas of concern: enforcement, mediation, referral, and outreach.
  
  
• MIB Group, Inc.
  MIB Group, Inc. (formerly known as the "Medical Information Bureau,") has been in continuous operation for over 105 years pursuing its primary mission of detecting and deterring fraud that may occur in the course of obtaining life, health, disability income, critical illness, and long-term care insurance. MIB's fraud detection and deterrence saves its member companies, on an annual basis, an estimated $1 billion by allowing…
  
  
• Napa County District Attorney
  The Consumer and Environmental Protection Division of the Napa County District Attorney’s Office protects consumers and honest businesses from unfair business practices, ranging from a deceptive sales pitch by a local car dealer to false advertising by national corporations. It also serves to protect the environment and consequently, the health and safety of Napa County’s citizens.
  
  
• National Consumers League
  The National Consumers League is America’s oldest consumer organization, representing consumers and workers on marketplace and workplace issues since our founding in 1899. NCL provides government, businesses, and other organizations with the consumer’s perspective on concerns including child labor, privacy, food safety, and medication information.
  
  
• National Consumers League's Fraud Center
  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.
  
  
• New York - Investor Protection Bureau of NY State Attorney General
  The Investor Protection Bureau is charged with enforcing the New York State securities law, commonly known as the Martin Act. The Martin Act gives the Attorney General broad law-enforcement powers to conduct public and private investigations of suspected fraud in the offer, sale or purchase of securities. Where appropriate, the Attorney General may commence civil and criminal prosecutions under the Martin Act to protect investors.…
  
  
• Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), Dept. of the Treasury
  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
  The mission of the Solano County District Attorney’s Office is to seek and do justice by assisting law enforcement and other public agencies in the investigation of crimes, prosecuting only those crimes which can be proved beyond a reasonable doubt, ensuring a fair trial for those accused of crime as well as for victims and witnesses of crimes, advocating to the public and to the…
  
  
• 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.