Current Events, Consumer Info, & Popular Culture (Electronic Reference Sources)

"This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion."

Find the BBB that serves your area; file a complaint about a company, new car, or charity; and read online publications including company reports for selected cities.

Provides evaluations and other information for thousands of charities.

Provides free consumer tips and information, but a subscription fee is required to access the comparison ratings and buying guides.

Part of Academic Search Premier (EBSCOhost), the site provides full-text searching and access to issues of the Buying Guide from 1999 to the present.

A public service, non-commercial guide cataloging thousands of consumer resources.

Links to publications with advice on avoiding scams and rip-offs, as well as tips on other consumer topics, and a consumer complaint form.

Provides information on limiting unwanted calls and emails, protecting kids online, online security, and identity theft.

Information from the BBB Wise Giving Alliance on hundreds of nonprofit organizations that solicit nationally or have national or international program services.

Rating information and other consumer resources relating to autos, boats, electronics, finance/insurance, healthcare, homes, telecommunications, and travel.

Provides automobile pricing information; extensive automobile reviews; consumer information; information about incentives and rebates; analysis of late-breaking developments in the automotive world; and more.

Millions of pricing reports for new and used cars every month. Site also includes information on financing, insurance, and new car reviews.

From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the site includes information on recalls; safety problems and issues; testing results; regulations and standards; and research and development.

Provides information on limiting unwanted calls and emails, protecting kids online, online security, and identity theft.

Enables consumers to learn to identify the danger signs of possible telemarketing and Internet fraud and to report suspected incidents to law enforcement agencies. From the National Consumer League.

From the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center, the site provides a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of a suspected criminal or civil violation.

Register a phone number or file a complaint.

Tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.

"Report fraud, scams, and bad business practices."

From the National Cyber Security Alliance, the site offers tips and resources for consumers, educators, families, and businesses.

"This guide is all about the things that students can do to stay safe and secure on the internet. It is intended as a basic backgrounder for college-age students, but the suggestions and best practices on how to increase personal security will work for everyone."

Describes and offers advice about common security issues for non-technical computer users. From the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, part of the Department of Homeland Security.

A site intended to give consumers a general understanding of legal issues and the legal process. Includes a information on courts and lawyers.

Links to legal forms and business contracts that are accessible on the Internet.

Links to a variety of legal resources on the Internet.

Includes a consumer-oriented collection of legal forms and documents. Site provides templates of the documents that are commonly used in thousands of routine legal transactions every day.

Official information and services from the U.S. Government.

Links to legal documents and forms, including wills, name change, real estate and more. Includes a Select by State option.

Information from the National Center for Health Statistics on where to obtain birth, marriage, divorce, and death records from each of the states and territories.

Provides information about state and federal government benefit and assistance programs.

Provides access to resources, services, and information available throughout the federal government.

Official information and services from the U.S. Government.

Locate federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies; find information on services; and other resources.

Includes calculators for retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.

"Provides estimates of health insurance premiums and subsidies for people purchasing insurance on their own in health insurance exchanges (or “Marketplaces”) created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA)."

The Federal government site for information on the Affordable Care Act.

Ranks cities and neighborhoods to showcase the best places to live in the United States. The "Livability Score" is based on metrics for each city, including: amenities, cost of living, crime rates, education, employment, housing and weather.

View the annual picks from CNN and Money Magazine of best places to live in the United States, with statistical details for each city listed.

Detailed profiles of cities throughout the United States including real estate data, maps, satellite photos, demographic data, crime data, cost of living, city government finances, employment, schools, and more.

Offers a variety of moving and relocation resources including salary calculators, city reports, school reports, and other options for researching a location.

Lists typical expenses, the living wage and typical wages for the selected location. From MIT.

Allows you to compare well-being across countries, based on 11 topics the OECD has identified as essential, in the areas of material living conditions and quality of life.

Includes a city comparison feature, neighborhood profiles, school statistics, cost of living, crime rates, climate profiles, and more.

This U.S. government agency acts to reduce the risk of injury or death from consumer products. Website features a listing of product recalls; an area for reporting unsafe products; and full-text publications including Consumer Product Safety Review.

Offers unbiased consumer product information and competitive analysis of products.

Browse or search to find health and safety information on household products.

Provides the latest recall information, links for reporting dangerous products, and safety tips.

Includes a product safety information database as well as information on how to report an unsafe product.