Index

Index

This alphabetical index will help you find the right organization
to contact about your complaint. First, look for the specific
topic, for example, Cars. Under this topic heading, there will be
one or more contacts followed by the Handbook page numbers, where
you will find an address and/or telephone number for each contact.
Sometimes you will be directed to See another entry for a list of
contacts. See also references direct you to other topics that
might be related to your problem and help you locate the right
contact. This index also lists all sections in the Handbook.

Abuse. See Alcohol; Child abuse and neglect; Drugs

Accountants
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Occupational and Professional Licensing Boards

Advertising (fraudulent and deceptive practices)
Children's Advertising Review Unit, CBBB
Direct Marketing Association
Federal Trade Commission
National Advertising Division, CBBB
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices

Aging. See also Retirement
Social Security Administration
State Agencies on Aging

American Association of Retired Persons

Agriculture. See Farm programs; Food; Health

Agriculture, Department of (USDA)

Aid to Families with Dependent Children
(AFDC)--check local telephone directory for public welfare or
social services office

AIDS Hotline

Aircraft, airlines
Federal Aviation Administration, DOT
Office of Intergovernmental and Consumer Affairs, U.S. Department
of Transportation

Alcohol
abuse
National Health Information Center
beverage labeling and ingredients
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms

Aliens
Immigration and Naturalization Service

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)

American Indians. See Native Americans

Animal care and veterinary services
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA
humane societies--check local telephone directory
quarantine
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices
veterinary drugs
Food and Drug Administration

Apartments
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices

Appliances
dispute resolution
Major Appliance Consumer Action Panel (MACAP)
energy efficiency labeling
Federal Trade Commission
safety
Product Safety Hotline, CPSC
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices

Arbitration. See also specific industries and products
American Arbitration Association
Better Business Bureaus
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices
Trade Association and Other Dispute Resolution Programs

Attorneys. See Lawyers

Automobiles. See Cars

Bankruptcy. Consult your telephone directory under "U.S.
Government." Check all U.S. Courts and District Courts listings
for references to bankruptcy.

Banks and Banking. Banks are regulated by one or more agencies.
Check the Department of Treasury listing in the "Selected Federal
Agencies" section on page 105 to learn which agency to contact.
Consumer Tip
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices

Better Business Bureaus

Bilingual education. See Education

Bill collection. See Credit

Black lung benefits
Mine Safety and Health Administration, xxx

Blind. See Disabled

Boats and boating
recalls, safety
Boat Owners Association of the United States (BOAT/US)
Boating Safety Hotline, U.S. Coast Guard

Bonds. See Investments

Broadcasting (radio and television)
Federal Communications Commission

Brokers (stocks and bonds). See Investments

Builders (homes). See Housing

Buses (baggage, rates, and service)
Interstate Commerce Commission
State Utility Commissions
check with your State and Local Consumer Protection Offices,
starting on page 70, for other contacts.

Business opportunities. See Franchises

Cameras and photography equipment
Photo Marketing Association
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices

Campgrounds
Consumer Tip

Cancer Hotline

Car manufacturers

Carpeting. See Rugs

Cars
Consumer Tips:
Car Repair
Buying a Used Car
Buying from a Private Individual
Buying from a Dealer
Buying a New Car
Credit and Sublease Brokers
Car Leasing
Lemon Laws
Vehicle Repossessions
Renting a Car
advertising
Federal Trade Commission
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices
dispute resolution
Automotive Consumer Action Program (AUTOCAP)
BBB Auto Line
Chrysler Motors Customer Center
Ford Dispute Settlement Board
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices
manufacturers
emissions standards
Environmental Protection Agency Public Information Center fuel
economy standards
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
fuel economy testing and labeling
Environmental Protection Agency Public Information Center
imported car standards
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
U.S. Customs Service
insurance
Insurance Information Institute
State Insurance Regulators
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices
leasing
Consumer Tip
lemon laws
Consumer Tip
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices
new cars
Consumer tip
odometer tampering and fraud
Auto Safety Hotline
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices
pedestrian safety
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
repairs
Consumer Tip
BBB Auto Line
National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices
repossessions
Consumer Tip
safety
Auto Safety Hotline
Center for Auto Safety
tires
National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association
used cars
Consumer Tip
Federal Trade Commission
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices

Catalog shopping
Direct Marketing Association

Cemeteries
Cemetery Consumer Service Council
Monument Builders of North America
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices
veterans
Department of Veterans Affairs
National Cemetery System

Census Data
Bureau of the Census

Center for Science in the Public Interest

Charitable organizations (reports on) Council of Better Business
Bureaus
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices

Chemical and oil spills. See Environment

Child abuse and neglect
National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect

Child care
Information for employers
Women's Bureau--the Work and Family Clearinghouse
check local government listings in your telephone directory under
"Family" or "Children" for information about licensing
requirements for child care facilities in your area

Child support enforcement
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support
Enforcement

Children
Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU)

Citizenship applications
Immigration and Naturalization Service

City government
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices

Civil rights. See also Discrimination; specific departments in
"Selected Federal Agencies" section on page 105
Commission on Civil Rights

Clothing
American Apparel Manufacturers Association
American Textile Manufacturers Institute
care labeling
Federal Trade Commission
children's sleepwear
(flammability standards)
Product Safety Hotline

Coins. See also Investments
U.S. Mint

Collection Agencies. See Credit

Commerce, Department of

Commissaries
Military Commissary and Exchange Contacts

Commission on Civil Rights

Commodity futures and options. See also Investments

Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Complaints. See Consumer complaints

Construction (homes). See Housing

Consumer complaints
Better Business Bureaus
Corporate Consumer Contacts
Federal Information Center
Call for Action
banking and telecommunications Consumer Action
sample complaint letter
Selected Federal Agencies
State, County and City Government Consumer Protection Offices
strategies
Trade Association and Other Resolution Programs

Consumer education. See also National Consumer Organizations
American Council on Consumer Interests
National Coalition for Consumer Education
National Institute for Consumer Education
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices

Consumer Federation of America

Consumer Information--check the Table of Contents of this Handbook
for more information

Consumer Information Center (CIC)

Consumer organizations
Refer to list beginning on page 56

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Consumer protection offices
State, County and City Government
Consumer Protection Offices

Consumer Tips:
Car Repair, Purchase, Renting and Other Concerns
Mail Order
Mail Fraud
Telemarketing
Calls That Cost: 900 Numbers and Other Pay-Per-Call Services
Door-to-Door Sales
Home Improvement
Home Financing
Home Equity Credit Lines
Reverse Mortgages
Selecting a Financial Institution
Credit
Consumer Privacy
Advance Fee Scams
Health Clubs
Dating Clubs
Timeshares/Campgrounds
Travel Scams
Product Safety and Recalls
Nutrition Labeling

Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

Cooperative Extension Service

Corporate Consumer Contacts

Correspondence Schools. See Education

Cosmetics (labeling and safety)
Food and Drug Administration

County government
State and Local Consumer Protection Offices

Courts
small claims