Selected Websites
General
ABA LawInfo.org
Your gateway to information on legal topics that affect your daily life. Find topics about your home, your job, your finances, buying and selling, the courts, and criminal justice.
Better Business Bureau
Too many consumers realize too late that they should have taken the time to research a company's reputation and location, advertising claims, customer satisfaction policies, privacy notices and complaint history before doing business with that company. This is the place to go to find that information.Consumer.gov
Consumer.gov -- is a "one-stop" link to a broad range of federal information resources available online. It is designed so that you can locate information by category -- such as Food, Health, Product Safety, Your Money, and Transportation. Each category has subcategories to direct you to areas within individual federal web sites containing related information.Consumer Guide
Consumer Guide, on SuperPages.com provides product reviews for thousands of products in a drop-down menu under Best Buys, as well as guides for new and used cars.Consumer Information Center
Provides full text version of hundreds of federal consumer publications available from the U.S. General Services Administration Consumer Information Center in Pueblo, Colorado.ConsumerReview.com
Consumer-generated product reviews to help you make smart buying decisions.ConsumerSearch
Reviews of products organized by category.Consumer World
Consumer World is a public service, non-commercial guide cataloging over 2000 of the most useful consumer resources on the Web.Direct Marketing Association Consumer Assistance
This site will provide you with information and tips about shopping and your rights as a consumer. The Direct Marketing Association (The DMA) is a trade association of businesses who advertise their products and services directly to consumers by mail, telephone, magazine, Internet, radio or television. There is information for removing your name from mailing lists at http://www.the-dma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.htmlEpinions.com
Offers reviews and comments from registered users of the site, and covers over 150,000 products and services to help you make better buying decisions.Federal Trade Commission Consumer Protection
Each Consumer Information topic on this page leads to several succinct and useful documents that can be displayed in web-page or PDF format. Examples include Children's Issues, Identity Theft, and TelemarketingFind-It! Consumer
The Find-It! Consumer web site is a collaborative effort of Washington state organization sponsors and Washington State Library staff to make useful, quality consumer information easily available to the public through a web site search engine for "one stop consumer help". By using keywords or browsing selected topics, one may search more than 100 consumer protection and public safety web sites.HoaxBusters
Built as a public service by the Computer Incident Advisory Capability division of the U.S. Department of Energy, this has information about internet and email hoaxes, an index, and a search engine where you can check to see if that email message from your well-meaning friend is actually a hoax.Internet Crime Complaint Center
A partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), IFCC's mission is to address fraud committed over the Internet, by providing a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of a suspected criminal or civil violation.PlanetFeedback
Allows consumers to send e-mail feedback directly to companies. The site is free to use and provides company contact info, an e-mail letter generator, consumer news, storage space for correspondence, and other resources to empower consumers.Product ReviewNet
"Find the latest review info on cameras, camcorders, vacuums, refrigerators, home theater components, notebook computers, and more!" Ask for product info you haven't been able to find elsewhere, even add your own reviews.Technocopia
A website for consumers "who want to make informed purchase and use decisions not just about PCs, but about the entire "digital household infrastructure," including home theaters, home networks, home automation systems, smart toys, and even pet tech."ValueStar
"America's leading rating organization of local service business" allows you to search by industry catagory or alphabetically by topic for business rated by credentials and customer satisfaction.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Automobiles
Autotrader
A searchable inventory of cars and trucks, updated daily. Allows you to enter a car make and your zip code, then narrow by model, years and price range to find cars or trucks for sale in your area.Car and Driver
Buyers' guide covers automobiles manufactured in last two years and can be searched by manufacturer, vehicle type, price range and more.DealerNet
Allows searches by make and model, or by location to find web sites of thousands of dealers across the nation.Edmunds Automobile Buyer's Guide
Used car prices back to 1990, safety information, and updates on new vehicles.Fuel Economy
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency site which allows you to compare gas mileage (MPG), greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution ratings, and safety information for new and used cars and trucks. There are also gas mileage tips, a page to search for cheapest gas in your area, and a page of links to other sites about automobiles, safety, and the environment.The Gold Book
"The price authority for classic and collectible cars." Includes an interactive price guide where you enter the make or year and follow the prompts to get value based on condition. The site also promises an upcoming Car Club and Museum.Insurance Institute for Highway Safety/Highway Loss Data Institute
Accident facts, results of crash tests, and news releases about safety for cars, drivers, and pedestrians.Insurance News Network
Crash test results; auto thefts by model; automobile insurance advice and facts.IntelliChoice Car Center
Dealer invoice prices, ownership costs, used auto values, best leases, and side by side comparisons of new cars.Kelley Blue Book
Kelley Blue Book gives you timely and accurate prices on new and used cars.LeaseSource
Everything you need to know about leasing an automobile on the web, from Leasing Classroom with "Ask the Expert" and "Negotiating Pointers" to Matchmaker with "Find a Dealor/Lessor."MechanXFiles
Using down-home humor, this site helps you find a great, honest, hard working mechanic. Search the database by zip code and type of car.MSN CarPoint
A shopping site for automobiles, with free quotes on new and used cars, information on insurance and loans, resale value, recall history, and much more.National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The U.S. Department of Transportation's safety site has information about recalls, crash tests, hot topics, and "Stuff for Kids."
Charity
Give.org
This site, built by the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, reports on nationally soliciting charitable organizations that are the subject of donor inquiries. The Alliance offers guidance to donors on making informed giving decisions through charity evaluations, various "tips" and giving information, and the quarterly Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide.
Financial
Bank Rate Monitor
Rates for mortgages, auto loans, home equity loans, savings, credit cards, and checking accounts.BenefitsCheckUp
A free service that identifies federal and state assistance programs for older Americans. You take 10 or 15 minutes to enter information about your financial situation into a confidential online questionnaire. Then, BenefitsCheckUp explains what benefit programs you may be eligible for and how to apply for them.CardRatings.com
Built and maintained by the U.S. Citizens for Fair Credit Card Terms, Inc. as an independent source of consumer information. This site collects information about low rate credit cards, cards for those seeking to establish credit, students, and for those who pay off their balance each month, and cards which offer rewards.Financenter.com
Over 100 online calculators on a wide range of topics, including credit lines, budgeting, stocks, homes, and more.Insurance Ratings
Provides consumers with letter-grade ratings for insurance companies from Standard & Poor's and Duff and Phelps Credit Rating. The ratings are based on the insurer's ability to pay policyholder claims.The Motley Fool
A site giving advice on investing, major purchases, managing your portfolio and taxes.
Health and Safety
Buying Medical Products Online
A Food & Drug Administration site that gives advice on buying prescription or over-the-counter drugs online. There are "Tips and Warnings for Consumers," and information on FDA efforts to protect consumers who purchase medical products online.FoodSafety.gov
This "Gateway to Government Food Safety Information" has buttons for such things as News & Safety Alerts, Consumer Advice, and Federal & State Gov't Agencies, among others. Selected Highlights on the main page might include topics such as Foot and Mouth Disease, or Food Safety for Seniors.National Safety Council
Online resources on Safety, Health & Environment from this nonprofit, nongovernmental, international public service organization which has been working for generations to protect lives and promote health.
Home and Household
A Bell Tolls
A central location for information on the telecommunications industry. Included are webpages of long distance carriers, information about the best rate plans, and some interesting tidbits about the industry.Energy Conservation Tips
These tips for saving energy in your home from Northwest Natural Gas could prove useful regardless of the energy source of your heat or water-heating systems.Energy Savers
This site, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, has information on insulation and weatherization, landscaping, appliances, and lots of other ways to save energy.HomePath: Your On-line Path to a Home of Your Own
A Fannie Mae site to help you with buying or refinancing a home.RepairClinic.com
An online source of appliance parts and repair help, this site gives advice, has a maintenance calendar, and sells parts and some repair manuals.What's the Best
A web site that helps you find out which household or consumer product is right for you and your family.