Consumer Issues & Services

Issues concerning the seeking to protect and inform the users of goods and services.

Sub-headings:

Automobiles

Includes pricing and related guides about the purchase of new and used vehicles as well as information about the repair and maintenance of automobiles and other motorized vehicles used for personal transportation

Food Safety

Issues such as food growth, additives and processing that affect consumer health.

House & Home

Consumer information and protection for home-buyers and home-owners.

Shopping

Resources intended to help those purchasing items or services.

Resources in this category:

American Association of Family and Consumer Science
http://www.aafcs.org/

"The American Association of Family and Consumer Science (AAFCS) is the only national organization representing family and consumer sciences professionals across practice areas and content specializations. Composed of 14,500 professionals in the family and consumer sciences, its members include elementary, secondary and post-secondary educators and administrators; cooperative extension educators; and other professionals in government, business and the nonprofit sectors." The site has association news, publications and information about awards, grants, and professional development resources.

American Bankruptcy Institute
http://www.abiworld.org/

"The American Bankruptcy Institute is the largest multi-disciplinary, non-partisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes nearly 6,500 attorneys, auctioneers, bankers, judges, lenders, professors, turnaround specialists, accountants and other bankruptcy professionals providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. In fulfillment of its mission to provide information to its members, journalists, Congress and the public, ABI is engaged in numerous educational and research activities, as well as the production of a number of publications both for the insolvency practitioner and the public."

Angie's List
http://www.angieslist.com/AngiesList/

"Angie's List is a consumer-driven organization that collects customer satisfaction ratings on local service companies in more than 250 categories...Today, Angie’s List is active in fifteen major markets and has ratings on more than 10,000 service companies."

Australian Consumers' Association
http://www.choice.com.au/defaultView.aspx?id=102314&catId=10...

The ACA is "committed to providing information on a whole range of consumer issues including health, finance, travel, computer technology and consumer policy." There's news on hot issues, consumer tips, and information on recent recalls and bans.

Better Business Bureau
http://www.bbb.org/

Web server for the better business bureau. "The Council of Better Business Bureaus is committed to promoting and fostering the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer andbusiness education, and service excellence." You can read BBB alerts, file a complaint online, get in touch with your local BBB, and access many online consumer publications through the BBB Library.

Consumer Product Safety Commission
http://www.cpsc.gov/

"Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is an independent federal regulatory agency that was created in 1972 by Congress in the Consumer Product Safety Act. In that law, Congress directed the Commission to 'protect the public against unreasonable risks of injuries and deaths associated with consumer products.'"

Consumers International
http://www.consumersinternational.org/

Consumers International is "a worldwide non-profit federation of consumer organisations, dedicated to the protection and promotion of consumer interests." The site has advice for consumers and information about current issues. It also has a searchable directory of members.

Funeral Consumers Alliance
http://www.funerals.org/

"FAMSA is dedicated to a consumer's right to choose a meaningful, dignified, affordable funeral." It "provides education on funeral choices to increase public awareness of funeral options, including how to care for your own dead; monitors the funeral industry trends and practices nationally and exposes abuses; serves as a consumer advocate for reforms on the national level and lends support for changes where needed on the state or local level."

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
http://www.jointcommission.org/

"The mission of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is to improve the quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 19,500 health care organizations in the United States, including hospitals, health care networks, managed care organizations, and health care organizations that provide home care, long term care, behavioral health care, laboratory, and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization, and the world's leading health care standards-setting and accrediting body." The site includes information on career opportunities for the general public, professionals, and current healthcare employees, accreditation & standards measurements and methodology and consumer information and complaint forms. The site does contain a search function.

McSpotlight
http://www.mcspotlight.org/

"The McInformation Network is dedicated to compiling and disseminating factual, accurate, up-to-date information - and encouraging debate - about the workings, policies and practices of the McDonald's Corporation and all they stand for. The Network also highlights opposition to McDonald's and other transnational companies."

The Media Foundation
http://www.adbusters.org/home

"The mission of our non-profit society is to transform our commercial media culture and direct it towards ecological and social awareness. " Publishes Adbusters Magazine; back issues of the magazine are available online.

National Consumers League
http://www.nclnet.org/

"NCL provides government, businesses, and other organizations with the consumer's perspective on concerns including child labor, privacy, food safety, and medication information." The site includes news, membership information, and recent publications.

National Foundation for Consumer Credit
http://www.nfcc.org/

"The National Foundation for Consumer Credit (NFCC) is a network of 1450 non-profit agencies that provide money management education, confidential budget, credit, and debt counseling, and debt repayment plans for both individuals and families. Our website is directed at providing adults with accurate information and direction in their attempts to obtain competent financial counseling." Website features Credit Facts, Budget Calculators, and Online Counseling.

Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Economics
http://www.usask.ca/economics/SABE/

"The Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Econoics is an association committed to the rigourous economic analysis of the world we live in. SABE members possess a deep and abiding interest in how people actually behave because an understanding of such behavior is a vital determinant in the micro foundations of economics as a social science." This site includes information on what behavioral economics are, newsletter and other publishing data, and ways to contact other indiviuals with in this field.

Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals in Business
http://www.socap.org/

"SOCAP is the only organization that offers comprehensive resources for professional development, benchmarking and networking for consumer affairs/customer support professionals." The site has a job bank, bookstore, and information about membership. Some areas of the site, such as the chat rooms, are accessible to members only.

United Seniors Association
http://www.unitedseniors.org/

"With more than 650,000 members nationwide, United Seniors Association (USA) is the leading conservative seniors organization working to ensure retirement security for all Americans. USA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, public interest organization dedicated to educating and informing senior citizens about Social Security, Medicare, taxes, and other issues related to traditional values, national security, and economic prosperity." The association's newsletter and a number of their publications are available online as well as information about policy issues and links to sites of interest to older adults.