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.
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- Alabama - Superintendent of Banks
The State Banking Department is the state agency that charters, regulates, and examines banks, and trust companies chartered by the State of Alabama. The Department also has regulatory and licensing authority over lenders, mortgage brokers, payday lenders, and pawnshops conducting business in Alabama. The State Banking Department regulates all state chartered banks, trust companies, and various providers of consumer credit. A primary objective of the…
(added October 2006) - Alaska - Attorney General
The Attorney General of the State of Alaska has the authority to investigate business and trade practices and takes legal action on behalf of the State of Alaska, in order to stop unfair, false, misleading or deceptive acts and practices. We concentrate our investigative activities on those complaints that indicate a pattern of unfairness or deception substantially affecting the public interest. The Attorney General serves…
(added October 2006) - Alaska - Director of Banking
The State Departments of Banking regulate and supervise state-chartered banks. Many of them handle or refer problems and complaints about other types of financial institutions as well. Some also answer general questions about banking and consumer credit.
(added October 2006) - Arizona - Attorney General
The Attorney General’s Office represents and provides legal advice to most State agencies; enforces consumer protection and civil rights laws; and prosecutes criminals charged with complex financial crimes and certain conspiracies involving illegal drugs. In addition, all appeals statewide from felony convictions are handled by this Office.
(added October 2006) - Arizona - Department of Financial Institutions
The Arizona Department of Financial Institutions (AZDFI), formerly known as the Arizona State Banking Department, was originally codified in 1922 and enacted into law in 1973. AZDFI is statutorily charged with the licensing, supervision and regulation of state-chartered financial institutions and enterprises ensuring the safety and soundness of the financial services industry in Arizona. The Department also investigates complaints that are filed by consumers against…
(added October 2006) - Arkansas - Attorney General
The Attorney General is charged with many duties under Arkansas law. He is the state's top law enforcement officer and its chief consumer advocate. Broadly, his duties include the following: - Representing most state agencies, boards and commissions in courts of law; - Advocating for citizens with regard to environment, utilities, antitrust and consumer protection issues; - Providing opinions on legal issues presented by legislators,…
(added October 2006) - Arkansas - State Bank Department
The State Bank Department was created by Act 60 of 1913. The Department is charged with regulating the safety and soundness of state chartered, bank holding companies, commercial banks, industrial loan institutions, trust companies and Arkansas Capital Corporation, for which it serves as primary regulator, in order to assure public confidence in these institutions. These banks and other entities hold assets of over $33 billion.
(added October 2006) - Attorneys General
Attorneys General serve as representatives of the public interest by enforcing laws, including many consumer laws. Typical areas of enforcement are elder care, predatory lending, product safety, privacy and telemarketing fraud.
(added October 2006) - Bet Tzedek Legal Services
Bet Tzedek, The House of Justice, provides free legal assistance to thousands of people who would otherwise be denied access to the legal system underpinning our democracy. Bet Tzedek was founded in 1974 by a few individuals who sought to act upon a central tenet of Jewish law and tradition, which appears in the Bible: "Tzedek, tzedek tirdof -- Justice, justice you shall pursue." This…
(added October 2006) - Board of Accountancy
The mission of the California Board of Accountancy is to protect the public welfare, particularly consumers, by ensuring that only qualified persons and firms are licensed to practice public accountancy and that appropriate standards of competency and practice, including ethics, objectivity and independence are established and enforced.
(added October 2006) - Board of Optometry
Write to file a complaint against an optometrist.
(added October 2006) - Board of Pharmacy
Investigates complaints against pharmacists and pharmacies. Send a detailed letter or call for complaint form.
(added October 2006) - Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR)
The Bureau handles complaints about non-warranty repairs and administers the smog program. (The Department of Motor Vehicles handles warranty repairs problems.)
(added October 2006) - Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair
Looks into complaints about invoices which exceed the written estimate, incompetent repairs, etc. Call to get a complaint form. Complaints in letter form are also acceptable.
(added October 2006) - Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
Contact about complaints or questions regarding repossession agencies, private patrols, alarm companies, security guards and locksmiths.
(added October 2006) - Cal-EPA
The California Environmental Protection Agency is charged with developing, implementing and enforcing the state's environmental protection laws that ensure clean air, clean water, clean soil, safe pesticides and waste recycling and reduction. They are at the forefront of environmental science, using cutting-edge research to shape the state's environmental laws. Their mission is to restore, protect and enhance the environment, to ensure public health, environmental quality…
(added October 2006) - California - Attorney General
The Attorney General represents the people of California in civil and criminal matters before trial courts, appellate courts and the supreme courts of California and the United States. The Attorney General also serves as legal counsel to state officers and, with few exceptions, to state agencies, boards and commissions. Exceptions to the centralized legal work done on behalf of the state are listed in Section…
(added October 2006) - California - Better Business Bureau Central California & Inland Empire Counties (BBB)
Contact for pre-purchase inquiry and complaint information on local businesses. Takes complaints on companies and arbitrates problems and disputes. Monitors and reviews local advertising and tracks and reports on charitable organizations. The California BBC is now Better Business Bureau Central California & Inland Empire Counties, also know as BBB CCIE.
(added October 2006) - California Center for Law and the Deaf
The mission of the California Center for Law and the Deaf (CalCLAD) is to protect and advance the legal rights of deaf and hard-of-hearing people to enable them to live independent, productive lives, with full access to the rights, privileges, entitlements, services, educational and employment opportunities available to others. Legal advice, consultation, and information are provided to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in issues involving deafness…
(added October 2006) - Colorado - Attorney General
As chief legal counsel to state government, the Attorney General is responsible for protecting the public interest, but does not serve as legal counsel or adviser to individual citizens. The Attorney General's Office is neither authorized nor able to provide legal advice, interpretation or counsel to private citizens. The Attorney General's Office provides general legal information on its web site as a courtesy to Colorado…
(added October 2006) - Colorado - Office of Consumer Counsel
The Consumer Services Division is responsible for gathering and responding to consumer inquiries regarding insurance company or producer activities.
(added October 2006) - Colorado - State Bank Commissioner
The State Departments of Banking regulate and supervise state-chartered banks. Many of them handle or refer problems and complaints about other types of financial institutions as well. Some also answer general questions about banking and consumer credit.
(added October 2006) - Connecticut - Attorney General
The Attorney General is the chief civil legal officer of the State. The Office of the Attorney General was officially established in 1897. The Connecticut Constitution and General Statutes authorize the Attorney General to represent the interests of the people of the State of Connecticut in all civil legal matters involving the state to protect the public interest, and to serve as legal counsel to…
(added October 2006) - Connecticut - Banking Commissioner
The State Departments of Banking regulate and supervise state-chartered banks. Many of them handle or refer problems and complaints about other types of financial institutions as well. Some also answer general questions about banking and consumer credit.
(added October 2006) - Delaware - Attorney General
The Delaware Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit handles matters when a business has engaged in unfair and/or deceptive practices directed toward a consumer. The Unit provides informal mediation services in order to resolve disputes without court intervention, enforces the landlord/tenant code, and provides a myriad of outreach and educational services for the consumer.
(added October 2006)
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