The Consumer Action Handbook
The Consumer Action Handbook
The Consumer Action Handbook
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iv<br />
Contents<br />
How to Use This <strong>Handbook</strong> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1<br />
Part I Before You Buy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1<br />
Car Repair, Buying, Leasing and Renting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3<br />
Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7<br />
Investing Wisely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9<br />
Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10<br />
Money and Credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13<br />
Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13<br />
Credit Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15<br />
Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19<br />
Health Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19<br />
Shopping from Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20<br />
Identity <strong>The</strong>ft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25<br />
Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26<br />
Travel Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27<br />
Services and Resources for <strong>Consumer</strong>s with Disabilities .28<br />
Part II After You Buy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29<br />
How to Complain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29<br />
Legal Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31<br />
Sample Complaint Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33<br />
Part III <strong>Consumer</strong> Assistance Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34<br />
Corporate <strong>Consumer</strong> Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34<br />
Car Manufacturers and Dispute Resolution Programs . . . .68<br />
State, County and City Government <strong>Consumer</strong> Protection Offices .72<br />
State Banking Authorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92<br />
State Insurance Regulators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96<br />
State Securities Administrators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100<br />
State Utility Commissions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105<br />
State Weights and Measures Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109<br />
Selected Federal Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113<br />
Better Business Bureaus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126<br />
National <strong>Consumer</strong> Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135<br />
Trade and Professional Associations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140<br />
U.S. Military <strong>Consumer</strong> Services Programs . . . . . . . . . . .146<br />
U.S. Military Commissary and Exchange Offices . . . . . . .147<br />
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149