Consumer Subject Guide
Digital Television Transition
On Feb. 17, 2009, television broadcasters will transmit only digital TV signals and not analog signals. Televisions (no matter what type) connected to cable, satellite, or one of the new telephone company fiber-optic services should continue to work as they do now. Televisions connected to an antenna might or might not work after Feb. 17, 2009. That depends on the type of TV. These links provide information on the transition.
National No Call List
Phone: 888.382.1222
Register your telephone number with the Federal Trade Commission's National No Call Registry to limit telemarking calls to your home. Wisconsin will not be transferring the National No Call Registry, thus you must register with both lists. To register online, you must have email. Your phone number will remain on the registry for five years from the date you register.
Wisconsin No Call List
Phone: 866.966.2255
Register your telephone number with Wisconsin's No Call List. It's free and available for residential telephone customers in Wisconsin. Your number will remain on the List for two years. Your phone number will go on the List approximately 30 to 120 days after you've registered. Renew your registration two months before it expires in order to ensure uninterrupted service. Adding your residential phone number to the List will help reduce (but not eliminate) telemarketing calls to your home. As of June 6, 2008, cell phone numbers can be registered.
Wisconsin Sites
Better Business Bureau - Northeast Wisconsin Office
1047 N. Lynndale Ave., Suite 1A, Grand Chute
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
920-734-4352
Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin
Locate your local better business bureau, find a company report or file a complaint.
Consumer Protection - Wisconsin
The latest news and alerts from The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Toll-Free Consumer Hotlines
List of toll-free consumer hotlines.
General Consumer
Better Business Bureau
Consumer alerts and online complaint forms. Links to local Better Business Bureau offices.
Charges on Your Phone Bill
The FCC explains the various charges of your telephone bill.
Consumer Information Center
Full Text versions of Federal Consumer publications. Service is provided by the Consumer Information Center of the U.S. General Services Administration.
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Help keep your family safe by checking product recalls and safety news from CPSC.
Consumer Reports
This site offers links to consumer websites, consumer advice and information on buying a variety of products. Ratings of products are available only to subscribers.
Consumer World
Contains over 1700 links to consumer resources on the Internet. Includes product reviews.
Consumer.gov
Provides links to official Federal Government information consumer sites. Subjects include food, health, product safety, your money, and transportation.
ConsumerSearch
Gives reviews of popular products such as electronics, household items, personal finance, and automobiles.
Epinions
Includes consumer reviews of the products they use. The reviews in this site range from automobiles to cameras to chain saws to guitars and many other common and not so common items.
The Free Site.com
Find all kinds of freebies available on the Internet from household items to computer software.
Internet Fraud Watch
The National Fraud Information Center give consumers the information they need to avoid becoming victims of telemarketing and Internet fraud and to help them get their complaints to law enforcement agencies quickly. File consumer complaints by filling out an online form or calling toll-free (800) 876-7060.
Most Energy-Efficient Appliances
Top-rated energy efficient washers, air conditioners, refrigerators, dishwashers, heat pumps, water heaters, furnaces and boilers. From the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
NADAguides.com
Online version of NADA price guides for cars, boats, RVs, motocycles, ATV, jetskis, and snowmobiles.
Quatloos!
Quatloos.com lists common scams, explains how they work, and offers advice on protecting yourself.
Rip-off Report.com
Check this site before agreeing to telephone and mail offers.
Tenant Resource Center Hotline
Tenant Resource Center is a housing counseling hotline which offers free counseling for tenants and landlords interested in learning more about their rental rights and responsibilities. Information on state and local rental laws and regulations and lease screening services are available. Call 1-877-238-7368 Monday - Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
U.S Consumer Gateway
Provides links to official Federal Government information consumer sites. Subjects include food, health, product safety, your money, and transportation.
Recalls & Alerts
Recalls.gov
Gateway to a federal resource of recalled products ranging from motor vehicles, child safety seats, food & medicine and many more products and sponsored by federal agencies such as the FDA, NHTSA, CPSC, and the EPA.
ToySafety.net
Public Research Interest Groups provide a "Trouble in Toyland" report listing potentially hazardous toys and recalled toys.
Guidestar.org
Search a database of more than 850,000 IRS-recognized nonprofit organizations.
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance collects and distributes information on hundreds of nonprofit organizations that solicit nationally or have national or international program services.
Charitywatch.org
The American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP) is a nationally prominent charity watchdog service whose purpose is to help donors make informed giving decisions.
Justgive.org
Indexes more than 850,000 charities to help you find the perfect fit.
Independent Charities of America
Choose your charity from a list of national and international charities sorted by topic or search by keyword.
Credit-Reporting Agencies
Free Annual Credit Report
(Free Credit Report - every 12 months)
Consumers will be allowed to receive (for free) one credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus every 12 months. You can order your free annual credit report online or by calling 877-322-8228.
Security Freeze Your Credit Report
Wisconsin residents have a right to place a security freeze on your credit report. A freeze will prohibit a credit reporting agency from releasing information in your credit report without your express authorization.
Equifax 1-800-525-6285
Check your credit profile, safeguard yourself from identity theft and credit fraud, and improve your credit rating at Equifax consumer services web page.
Experian 1-888-397-3742
Experian offers free credit and fraud resources and information and free vehicle history reports.
TransUnion 1-800-680-7289
TransUnion provides information on credit profiles and reports, identity theft and fraud safeguards, and disputing errors on your credit report.
Take charge: fighting back against identity theft
Federal Trade Commision's facts for consumers on preventing and reporting identity theft.
ID Theft
U.S. Government's central website for information about identity theft maintained by the Federal Trade Commission. Visit this site for information on how to minimize your risk, file a complaint, and avoid scams.
Identity Theft Resource Center
ITRC is a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting victims of identity theft, broadening public awareness and understanding of identity theft, and decreasing the number of victims of this crime.
Social Security Administration
Find out what you need to do if someone has used your Social Security Number and how to get a new number. Contact Social Security Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
Wisconsin Office of Consumer Protection
Tips on how to protect your privacy and personal information from the Wisconsin Department of Justice.