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Recommended Links: Consumer Information
Best Places
Thinking of moving to another town? Use this site to compare the cost of living, school ratings, tax rates, climate, etc. in different cities. Or, use their tool to describe your ideal place to live and get a list of cities that match your needs. Free registration required for premium content.
http://www.bestplaces.net/
Better Business Bureau
Find your local BBB office, report a business, check out a charity to see if it is legitimate, and find out the latest news about scams.
http://www.bbb.org/
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Find out about product recalls, report an unsafe product or injury, find safety information for kids. Includes information en Espanol.
http://www.cpsc.gov/
Consumer Reports Magazine
Available online through our EBSCO Host database. You will need your library card and PIN number. Choose MasterFile Premiere.
Go to EBSCO Host Online »
Consumer Search
Find reviews and ratings for consumer products of all kinds, including household appliances and electronics, computers, fitness equipment, and cars.
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/
Direct Marketing Association Consumer Assistance
Reduce junk mail—use this collection of links to remove your name from mailing lists and telemarketers’ lists.
http://www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html
FannieMae Homepath
Learn about the homebuying process, especially options for financing your purchase.
http://www.homepath.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects-4/HomePathWOF
Federal Consumer Information Center
The Federal government’s free consumer information on everything from buying a house to car repair, avoiding scams and fraud, health information, and more.
http://consumeraction.gov/
FirstGov for Consumers
A portal for consumer information from the U.S. government. Find information on a variety of consumer topics, from food safety and nutrition to job searching, identity theft prevention, automobiles, and more. Find out how government agencies work together to prevent fraud by linking to the Consumer Sentinel, or link to Econsumer.gov to report Internet fraud.
http://www.consumer.gov/
Iowa Attorney General: Consumer Protection Division
The Attorney General’s website has lots of information to help consumers with advice on auto repairs, Iowa’s "lemon law" for cars, credit cards, scams and frauds, stopping telemarketers, and alerts on scams that target Iowans. Learn how to complain effectively about products or services, and access the attorney general’s online consumer complaint form.
http://www.iowaattorneygeneral.org/protecting_consumers/index.html
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Find out about the crash test results for your car or the car you are considering. Also, find information on air bags, child safety seats, recalls, tire safety, and more.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
Privacy Rights Now
A website by consumer advocate Ralph Nader to help citizens learn how to protect their privacy rights. Use this site to opt-out: let banks, credit card companies, and other businesses know you don’t want them to share your personal information with other businesses.
http://www.privacyrightsnow.com/
Polk County Assessor's Office Property Search
The Polk County Assessor's Office is the source for information relating to properties and property taxes in the Des Moines and Polk County Area. They also have online maps, property data, and forms.
http://www.assess.co.polk.ia.us/web/basic/searchI.html
Thomas Register
Search hundreds of thousands of American and Canadian companies by the products they produce, brand name, service, or company name. Find out who makes your favorite (or not so favorite) products and how to contact them. Requires free registration.
http://www.thomasregister.com/
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