Consumer Resources

Useful links (page down for Automobiles, Auto Repair, Credit & Debt, Charities, Credit Reports, Computer and Internet Privacy, Do Not Call reigstry, Funeral Planning, Home Improvement, ID Theft, Landlord and Tenant Information, Legal Resources, Mortgages, Recall Information, Shopping Rights and Workplace Rights):

AUTOMOBILES                

Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General:                                                                                 

Buying or Leasing a Vehicle

Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations:                                     

Lemon Laws         

Massachusetts Consumers’ Coalition:

Car Smart

Massachusetts Department of Transportation

Registry of Motor Vehicles             

Center for Auto Safety          

Auto Safety, Recalls, Service Bulletins 

Federal Trade Commission:

Renting A Car: What Everyone Should Know

Tips on Used Car Buying

Getting the most from your Car’s Warranty

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Auto Recalls, Highway & Vehicle Safety Standards, Crash Test   

AUTO REPAIR

Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations:  

Massachusetts Consumer Guide:  Mechanics of Auto Repair

CREDIT AND DEBT

Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General:

Guide to Consumer Credit

Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General  

Debt, Credit, and Foreclosure Issues

Credit               

Fair Debt Collection                                        

Guide to Consumer Credit                                                           

Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations:

Managing Credit and Debt

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:

CFPB

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Consumer News & Information

Federal Trade Commission:

Credit and Loans

United States Financial Literacy Education Commission:

My Money.gov

CHARITIES

Massachusettts Office of the Attorney General 

FAQs about Charities                                                                                            

The Not for Profit/Charity Division

Charities and Charitable Giving   

Better Business Bureau

Wise Giving Alliance for Charities and Donors                                                                                                                                                  

 

CREDIT REPORTS

Federal Trade Commission

Free Annual Credit Report

 

COMPUTERS AND INTERNET PRIVACY

Federal Trade Commission:

Computers and the Internet Privacy and Security 

DO NOT CALL REGISTRY

Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General  

National “Do not Call” Registry

Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations: 

Do Not Call Program

Federal Trade Commission:

National Do Not Call Registry

Federal Communications Commission (FCC):

Truth about Wireless Phones & the National Do-Not-Call List        

FUNERAL PLANNING

Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations  

 Consumers Guide to Planning a Funeral

Federal Trade Commission      

 Funerals- A Consumer Guide

Federal Trade Commission-Business Center      

Complying With the Funeral Rule

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General:    

Home Improvement

Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations:             

MA Guide to Home Improvement

IDENTITY THEFT

Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General 

Identity Theft

             

Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations:    

Identity Theft                                                                                      

Federal Trade Commission:

Fighting back against Identity theft

Medical Identity Theft

 

LANDLORD AND TENANT INFORMATION

Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General:    

Landlord and Tenant Law                                                                                  

Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations:    

Tenant and Landlord

Massachusetts Housing Court Department:

Frequently Asked Questions

Massachusetts Trial Court Law Library:           

Massachusetts Law about Landlord and Tenant

LEGAL

 Franklin County Bar Association

Referrals

             

 Hampshire County Bar Association

Referrals

Massachusetts Bar Association Referral         866-627-7577

Dial a Lawyer Program

Free legal questions answered:

1st Wednesday of the month    5:30- 7:30                        (617) 338- 0610

Community Legal Aid

 Legal Aid to Low-Income & Elderly Residents of Western MA

National Consumer Law Center

Advocacy Organization

MA Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations

Small Claims Court

 

MORTGAGES

Massachusetts Office of Attorney General:     

 Home & Housing                                                                                                       

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau                                                                                           Trouble Paying Your Mortgage-Explore options  

 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau                                                                 

Valley Community Development Corporation (Valley CDC):

Building Community through Housing and Business Development 

Franklin County Housing and Redevelopment Center:

Housing Consumer Education Center

Consumer Action Housing Help:

Foreclosure Prevention Guide

 

RECALL INFORMATION

US Consumer Product Safety Commission:    

Recent Recalls

SHOPPING RIGHTS

Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General:   

Retail Rights                                                                                                    

Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations:    

Shopping rights                                                               

Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations:  

Gift Certificate Law

 

WORKPLACE RIGHTS

Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General:    

Workplace Rights & Responsibilities