| "MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS" |
| Did you know that the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Consumer Affairs does not regulate or enforce any consumer protection laws? Often we are contacted by consumers for assistance in locating help and information. Here are our responses to your "Most Frequently Asked Questions." |
| Airline Service |
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| Service Complaints |
Aviation Consumer Protection Division Call the Aviation Consumer Protection Division at 202-366-2220 or e-mailairconsumer@ost.dot.gov |
| Automobiles |
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| Lemon Laws | Center for Auto Safety (202) 328-7700 |
| Safety Hotline | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 1-800-424-9393 (202) 366-0123 Washington, DC metro area only Web site: www.nhtsa.dot.gov |
| Banking & Credit |
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| Credit Cards, Credit Identity Theft | Consumer Response Center Federal Trade Commission (202) 326-2222 Web Site: www.consumer.gov |
| Credit Counseling | Consumer Credit Counseling Services 1-800-388-2227 Web site: www.nfcc.org Debt Counselors of America |
| Federal Credit Unions | National Credit Union Administration (703) 518-6330 Web site: www.ncua.gov |
| Federally-Insured State Banks | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 1-800 934-3342 E-mail: consumer@fdic.gov Web site: www.fdic.gov |
| Savings & Loan Associations Federal Savings Banks |
Office of Thrift Supervision 1-800 842-6929 or (202) 906-6237 in Wash., D.C. |
| Business Information |
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| Starting a Business | Answer Desk U. S. Small Business Administration 1-800-827-5722 |
| Business Opportunity Scams from Nigeria | Financial Crimes Division U. S. Secret Service (202) 435-5850; (202) 435-5031 fax |
| Uniform Product Code(UPC) | Uniform Code Council (937) 435-3870 |
| Communications | |
| Telephone Surcharge Long Distance Service |
Common Carrier Bureau Consumer Protection Division Federal Communications Commission 2025 M Street, N.W., Room 6202 Washington, D.C. 20554 (202) 632-7553 or (888) 225-5322 |
| Radio/Television | Mass Media Bureau Enforcement Division Federal Communications Commission (202) 418-1430 |
| Cable/Service | Federal Communications Commission (202) 418-7096 |
| Informal Complaints & Public Inquiries | Federal Communications Commission 1-888-225-5322 |
| Credit | See "Banking & Credit" |
| Department of Commerce | Information/Locator (202) 482-2000 Web site: www.doc.gov |
| Census Bureau |
Customer Service (301) 457-4100 Web site: www.census.gov |
| Consumer Business Daily | Electronic Version: (202) 482-5781 Subscription: Govt. Printing Office (202) 512-1800 |
| International Trade Administration | (202) 482-5487 Web site: www.ita.doc.gov |
| Metric Information | National Institute of Standards and Technology (301) 948-1416 phone, (301) 975-3690 fax E-mail: metric_prg@nist.gov |
| National Trade Data Bank | (202) 482-1986 phone; (202) 482-2164 (fax) |
| Patents & Trademarks | 1-800-PTO-9199 Web site: www.uspto.gov |
| Survey of Current Business | Bureau of Economic Analysis (202) 606-9900 Web site: www.bea.doc.gov |
| Trade Information Center | International Trade Administration 1-800-USA TRADE |
| Employment | |
| Americans with Disabilities Act | Information Line U. S. Department of Justice 1-800-514-0301 |
| Employment Practices | Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 1-800-663-9889 |
| Exports/Imports |
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| Export Counseling | See "Department of Commerce" |
| Import Information/Regulations | Customs Office U. S. Department of Treasury (202) 927-0370 Web site: www.customs.treas.gov/index.htm |
| Trade Information | See "Department of Commerce" |
| Federal Government |
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| U.S. Consumer Gateway | www.consumer.gov (available on-line only) |
| Consumer Information | Catalog & Publications Consumer Information Center 1-888-8-PUEBLO E-mail: catalog.pueblo@gsa.gov Website: www.pueblo.gsa.gov |
| Consumer Price Index (CPI) |
Bureau of Labor Statistics U. S. Department of Labor (202) 606-6950 |
| Consumer's Resource Handbook | 1-888-8-PUEBLO Web site:www.pueblo.gsa.gov |
| Copyrights | Library of Congress (202)707-3100 |
| Federal Information Center | 1-800-688-9889 |
| Food Labeling | Food and Drug Administration (301) 827-4420 or 1-888-463-6332 |
| Drugs Labeling | Food and Drug Administration 1-800-688-9889 |
| Product Labeling | Consumer Response Center Federal Trade Commission (202) 326-2222 Web site: www.consumer.gov |
| Standard Industrial Code (SIC) |
Office of Management & Budget (202) 395-3000, (202) 392-3093 |
| Telemarketing | Consumer Response Center Federal Trade Commission 202-FTC-HELP (382-4357) Web site: www.ftc.gov |
| Imports | See "Exports/Imports" |
| Insurance |
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| Complaints | Contact your state insurance regulator and state department of insurance |
| Consumer Protection |
National Association of Insurance
Commissioners (202) 624-7790 phone; (202) 624 8579 fax |
| Helpline |
National Insurance Consumer Helpline (auto, homeowner, and life insurance only) 1-800-942-4242 Web site: http://www.iii.org |
| Phone and Mail Orders |
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| Phone Number Removal | Telephone Preference Service P.O. Box 9014 Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014 (Handles written requests for name and telephone number removal from most national telemarketing lists) |
| Removal from Mailing Lists | Mail Preference Service Direct Marketing Association P.O. Box 9008 Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008 (Handles written requests for name removal from most national advertising mailing lists.) |
| Mail Order Complaints | Mail Order Action Line Direct Marketing Association 1111 19th Steet, NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 955-5030 E-mail: consumer@the-dma.org Website: www.the-dma.org (Handles written complaints) Contact your local post office or the |
| Moving & Storage |
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| Before You Move | Contact your State Department of
Transportation to see if the mover is licensed.
Contact the Better Business Bureau in your area to determine the mover's reputation. |
| Information & Arbitration Service | American Moving & Storage Association (703) 683-7410 phone; (703) 683-7527 fax Web site: www.amconf.org |
| Complaints | Contact your state consumer protection agency and the Federal Highway Administration Office of Motor Carriers - Section of Insurance HMT-25, ROOM 4133 1201 Constitution Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20423 (Responds with suggested options to written requests) |
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