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Library Resources | Internet Sites | Community Resources
Internet Sites
Consumer Information / Education | Products & Comparisons | Auto | Household
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Consumer Information / Education
- AnnualCreditReport.com
- A centralized service for consumers to request free annual credit reports, created by the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
- Better Business Bureau
- Check out a company, file a complaint, learn from the consumer guidance section.
- Consumer Protection (Federal Trade Commission)
- Consumer information on topics from abusive lending to identity theft to telephone service. Includes links to related laws and online complaint forms.
- Consumer.gov
- A one-stop link to a broad range of federal information. Categories such as Food, Health, Product Safety, Your Money, and Transportation.
- Federal Consumer Information Center
- Provides full text versions of hundreds of federal consumer publications available from the U.S. Consumer Information Center in Pueblo, Colorado.
- Safeguarding Consumers: Washington State Attorney General's Office
- Information on the top consumer problem areas reported to the Attorney General's office. Online forms for filing a complaint and consumer tips.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Recalls, news, and reports on unsafe products.
Auto
- Consumer Guide Automotive
- Research used and new automobiles, includes comparisons, trade-in-evaluation, ratings and reviews etc.
- Edmunds.com
- Check used car prices back to 1990, safety information, reviews and updates on new vehicles. Includes advice on buying and selling cars and link to vehicle history records by VIN number.
- The Gold Book
- "The price authority for classics and collectibles." Find values of classics from as far back as 1886. The values are derived from the results of collector car auctions and private-owner sales.
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
- Vehicle ratings based on crash tests and other safety news and information.
- IntelliChoice CarCenter Auto Information
- Use this site to research new and used vehicles. Includes dealer invoice prices, ownership costs, used auto values, best leases, and side by side comparisons of new cars.
- Kelly Blue Book
- An interactive site that gives up-to-date prices on new and used cars.
- MechanX Files
- National Public Radio's Car Talk and its listeners help you find a great mechanic. Search the database by zip code, type of car and the attributes you most want in your mechanic.
- NADAguides.com (National Automobile Dealers Association)
- Provides price information for new and used cars and trucks, as well as used boats, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, all terrain vehicles (ATVs), snowmobiles, and personal watercraft.
- 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.
- Washington's Motor Vehicle Lemon Law
- “Designed to help new vehicle owners who have substantial continuing problems with warranty repairs.”
Household
- Bankrate.com
- “Bankrate.com provides the tools and information that can help consumers make the best financial decisions.” Includes information on mortgages, credit cards, automobile loans, certificates of deposit, checking and ATM fees.
- Energy Savers (Department of Energy)
- Tips on saving energy and a guide to renewable energy.
- EnergyStar (Environmental Protection Agency & Department of Energy
- Find out about your home's energy performance and how to improve it. Learn about products that have earned the Energy Star label.
- Hugh's Mortgage and Financial Calculators
- Many personal financial calculators from retirement to tuition savings to estate taxes.
- Insure.com - The Consumer Insurance Guide
- In-depth articles and daily news in addition to interactive tools to assist users in their insurance decisions.
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Subject Resources
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Library Resources
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Library Catalog
To find books with consumer information, search the online catalog using the following subjects:
- Consumer credit
- Consumer complaints
- Consumer education
- Consumer goods
- Consumer protection
Databases
To find reviews of products or services in magazine articles, use General OneFile which is part of our subscribed Online Databases. Search using the product name and the word evaluation, for example:
- digital cameras evaluation
- evaluation panasonic
Magazines
The magazines listed below may be in your branch library. Please check the online catalog for holdings.
- Consumer Guide
- Consumer Reports
- Consumers Digest
- Consumers' Research Magazine
- Smart Money
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Community Resources
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- Better Business Bureau of Oregon and Western Washington
- PO Box 68926
Sea Tac, WA 98168-0926
(206) 431-2222, Fax (206) 431-2211
- Better Business Bureau of the Inland Northwest
- 508 West Sixth Avenue, Suite 401
Spokane, WA 99204-2356
(509) 455-4200, Fax (509) 838-1079
- State of Washington - Attorney General
- Consumer Protection (SW Washington Branch)
1220 Main St., Suite #549
Vancouver, WA 98660-2964
(360) 759-2150, Fax (360) 759-2159
- State of Washington - Attorney General
- Lemon Law Administration
Toll free: 1-800-541-8898
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Products & Comparisons
- Consumer Search
- Print and electronic reviews are collected and presented with analysis by Consumer Search staff.
- Consumer World
- “Consumer World is a public service, non-commercial guide cataloging over 2000 of the most useful consumer resources on the Web.”
- Retrevo
- Find information on consumer electronics from review sites, user reviews,blogs and forums. Links to owners manuals and How To articles for many of
the listed products.
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