Internet Links: Consumer

Consumer Return to Internet Links Directory
Cars	Charities	General Information	Home	Money	Research Databases

Cars
Edmund's Automobile Buyer's Guide FuelEconomy.gov Find and compare cars' gas mileage (MPG), greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution ratings and safety information for new and used cars and trucks. Gas Price Watch This site will give you the stations with the lowest gas prices by zip code. Kelley Blue Book of Auto Values NADA Appraisal Guides National Lemon Law Center Vehicles & Equipment: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Highly informative site featuring testing results for vehicle safety and NCAP crash test results. Also-databases with recall information, technical service bulletins, consumer complaints and a guide on preventing injury.

Charities
Charity Navigator A database of ratings of over 2500 charities in the U.S. Donors Forum of Chicago A database listing grants in the Chicagoland area. Give.org Better Business Bureau site that collects information about nonprofit organizations. Guidestar Database on nonprofit organizations.

General Information
Better Business Bureau This site includes a national database of complaint on companies, lists of BBB's in the US and Canada, and links about charities. Better Business Bureau - Chicago This site provides information on businesses in Chicago and the Northern Illinois region. Catalog Choice Eliminate unwanted catalogs you receive in the mail. CNET Technology reviews and price comparisons, as well as news, tips, tutorials, and free downloads Consumer Price Index Consumer Reports Online Free access to safety alerts, product recalls, a manufacturer locator and 2 years of articles from Consumer Reports. ConsumerSearch Product reviews and reports. This site helps consumers find answers about what products are top-rated. CostHelper.com Average costs and shopping tips for hundreds of topics. Department of Professional Regulation This site allows you to determine if anyone who is licensed by the state of Illinois has been disciplined. The Digital TV Transition What you need to know about DTV from the Federal Communications Commission. Dr. Toy: The Best Advice on Children's Products Epinions.com Unbiased reviews of products from everyday people who use them. Federal Citizen Information Center Browse the numerous catalogs for consumer tips that will save you all kinds of cash. This site provides full text versions of over 200 of the best Federal publications as well as links to Consumer News. Federal Trade Commission Federal Trade Commission: Consumer Protection This database has information about avoiding scams and rip-offs as well as tips on other consumer topics. Federal Trade Commission - SPAM EMAIL This site sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission offers tips on how to reduce the amount of unwanted e-mail and has information about deceptive e-mail. Federal Trade Commission: Your National Resource for ID Theft FirstGov for Consumers Resource for consumer information form the federal government. Government Complaint Center A guide to where to file various kinds of complaints. Hearing Aids: How to Choose the Right One A useful article on selecting hearing aids. From the Mayo Clinic web site. Household Products Database This National Library of Medicine site identifies health and safety information on household products. Identity Theft Resource Center The Identity Theft Resource Center is a nonprofit program that provides consumer and victim support. Included on this site: scam alerts, assistance on lost/stolen wallets, victim issues, victim impact studies, and identity theft in the workplace. Insurance Information Institute Advice, news, and information about several types of insurance. Insure U From the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, this site provides consumer insurance information for those considering or buying insurance. Opt-Out, Get Off Lists Stop junk mail, e-mail, and unsolicited telephone calls with forms and information from this site sponsored by the Center for Democracy and Technology. National Do Not Call Registry Recalls.gov This database of defective products consolidates information from 6 government agencies. Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County Find information on recycling, drop-off centers, and more. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission This site provides safety tips and information on product recalls.

Home
Appliance411.com Efficient Windows Home Energy Saver RepairClinic.com Use this site to troubleshoot and maintain your appliances.

Money
Annual Credit Report This site allows you to request a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Bankrate.com Find the best rates on consumer loans, credit cards and certificates. CardRatings.com Sponsored by U.S. Citizens for Fair Credit Card Terms, this site evaluates credit information for consumers. Federal Reserve Board Consumer information from the Federal Reserve Board. Covers credit & credit cards, home mortgages, vehicle leasing and banking. What's a Dollar Worth? Calculate the change in the value of a dollar from 1913 to the present.

Research Databases Palatine Public Library subscribes to a number of Web-based services (databases) which are available to users of the Library. Some are available from home and some are for use in the Library only. Resources available from home will require Palatine Public Library cardholders to type in their Library bar code number.
Available from home for Palatine Library Cardholders.			Available to use inside the library.
Consumers' Checkbook A nonprofit consumer information and service resource. This database helps consumers in the Chicago area find high-quality products and reasonably-priced services.

Please Note: These pages contain links to non-library sponsored remote services and information. The Palatine Public Library District is not responsible for the content, reliability or availability of these services.