Online Reference Resources
Consumer Information

• A Bell Tolls: the Telephone Service ClearingHouse--a comparison of phone service providers, with calling card rate comparisons as well.
• Bad Bug Book--the FDA's guide to food-borne bacteria. Describes each organism and its effects and probable sources.
• Charity Reports -- collects and distributes information on hundreds of nonprofit organizations that solicit nationally or have national or international program services. It provides what percentage of funds given go to administrative costs and how much to the intended benefits. It also provides tips on wise giving.
• Computers.Com-- CNet has moved its hardware and software reviews to this site.
• Consumer Action Handbook 2001 -- contains advice on a variety of subjects, from the Federal Consumer Information Center
• Consumer Credit Law: An Overview
• Consumer Guide--product ratings
• Consumer Information Center, Federal Trade Commission--click for free brochures on housing, food and nutrition, health, cars, travel, etc.
• Consumer Information Brochures, General Services Administration
• Consumer Law Briefings--from National Consumer Law Center, on such topics as telemarketing scams, reverse mortgages, arguing with utility companies over disputed bills, the buy-or-lease decision, etc. Under Initiatives.
• Consumer Product Ratings--not only gives info about different brands of virtually any consumer product, it also charts comparisons between brands.
• Consumer Reports Online--they'd still like you to subscribe, but many of their product evaluations and comparisons are available here, as well as a manufacturer locator and info about product recalls.
• Consumer Web Watch -- investigates; informs; and hopes to improve the credibility of information published on the World Wide Web.
• Consumer World--  this site has a wealth of information
• Consumer's Resource Handbook -- an online guide to self-protection, including how to complain effectively
• Credit Card Information--find out which issuers have no annual charges, low rates, etc.
• Dr. Toy's Guide: the Best Advice on Children's Products-- Dr. Toy lists the 100 best children's products, the best classic toys, along with safe play tips, best toys by age group, and more.
• Fast Food Finder-- Choose your fast food restaurant, choose your menu item, and find out all the nutritional information on it.
• FinanCenter--provides a collection of calculation tools to figure all kinds of personal finance decisions: calculate your IRA, figure out how to decrease your spending, figure how much life insurance you need, decide whether to lease or purchase a car, and lots more.
• Four Food Groups for Vegetarians  -- provides a balanced diet.
• Health Insurance Reform--relevant federal and state law regarding group and individual health insurance plans.
• Identity Theft: A Quiz for Consumers -- this is a .pdf file, you'll need Adobe Reader to view it (free download here)

• Internet Fraud Complaint Center -- a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C).  

• Internet Scambusters--a guide to fraud on the internet.
• IVR Cheat Sheet -- this is a neat site that tells you the phone number and how to most quickly reach a human being of all sorts of corporations and retail and airlines, etc...
• National Fraud Information Center--includes daily reports, regular coverage of telephone and internet scams, and a special info for senior citizens page.
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) -- check for rollover stats of different vehicles and much more
• Nolo Law Center -- provides FAQs and a legal encyclopedia.  Searchable.  Covers 22 law topics.
• Project Vote Smart--a comprehensive bi-partisan, objective political information site. Find out where your polling place is, how to register to vote, who the canditates are, how they voted, what their stand on issues actually are, as well as up-to-date biographical and contact information. Sort of like a consumer's guide to politicians in your area. Just the facts.
• Quack Watch--the consumers' guide to health fraud and quackery. 
• Safer Car -- U.S. government's one-stop shopping center for ratings on tires, airbags, rollover ratings, defects and recalls.
• Safety Fact Sheet --  "resource guides, over 80 topics, offering stats, tips, and suggestions for making your life safer. From the National Safety Council.
• U.S. Consumer Gateway--6 government agencies have pooled their consumer information and made it easily accessible in this one handy site.
• USDA Nutrient Base--another program that will analyze the complete nutritional content of any food item.
• Vehix.com --an excellent site for all automobile purchases, new and used. One can get the specifics on individual cars for price, safety, lemon, recalls and crash test results and compares different makes and models. It also locates used cars of your choice of make and model in your local area.
• Where to Complain about products -- a form to use as well.