Federal Agencies Many federal
agencies have enforcement and/or complaint-handling duties for products
and services used by the general public. Others act for the benefit
of the public, but do not resolve individual consumer problems.
If you need help in deciding whom to contact with your consumer problem, check the index at the end of this book or call the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) toll free, 1-800-FED-INFO. The
Federal agencies listed below respond to consumer complaints and
inquiries. Architectural
and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (ACCESS Board) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC National
STD and AIDS Hotline General Inquiries www.cdc.gov/spanish (Spanish) Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Commodity Futures
Trading Commission (CFTC) Also, see CFTC Consumer Alerts/Advisories under "Customer Protection" on the CFTC web homepage at www.cftc.gov. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC) CPSC oversees the safety of over 15,000 kinds of consumer products, including toys and nursery equipment, appliances, sports, yard and playground equipment, furniture, clothing, computers, and fireworks. It announces about 250 recalls a year of potentially unsafe products. To get information on product recalls or report a hazardous product or product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline (Spanish-speaking staff available), visit its web site, or send an e-mail. To order free publications, visit the web site or write to the address above, Attention: Publications Request. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Public Affairs Center for Nutrition
Policy and Promotion Cooperative
State Research, Education, and Extension Service Or consult county government listings in your local telephone directory for the number of your local Cooperative Extension office. Meat and Poultry
Hotline Office of Communications Department of Commerce Bureau of the
Census National Institute
of Standards The metric program educates the public and offers free resources to facilitate greater awareness and understanding of the metric system of measurement. Office of Weights
and Measures The Office of Weights and Measures of the National Institute of Standards and Technology promotes uniformity in U.S. weights and measures laws, regulations, and standards to achieve equity between buyers and sellers in the marketplace. Seafood Inspection
Program The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) oversees fisheries management in the United States, and through the 1946 Agricultural Marketing Act, provides a voluntary inspection service to the industry. The NOAA Seafood Inspection Program offers a variety of professional inspection services which assure compliance with all applicable food regulations. In addition, product quality evaluation, grading, and certification services on a product lot basis are also provided. Benefits include the ability to apply official marks, such as the U.S. Grade A, Processed Under Federal Inspection (PUFI) and Lot Inspection. These services can be provided nationwide, in U.S. territories, and in foreign countries. All types of establishments such as vessels, processing plants, and retail facilities may receive these services. United States
Patent and Trademark Office Department of Defense National Committee
for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Provides assistance with employer/employee problems for members of the Guard and Reserve and their employers. See page 124 for Family and Community Service Centers. Department of Education Department of
Education 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327) TTY/TDD: 1-800-437-0833 Fax: 202-401-0689 e-mail: USA_LEARN@ed.gov http://www.ed.gov/about/contacts/tollfree/index.html#geninfo Use this phone number and website to obtain information on the Department of Education's programs and major initiatives; publications, videos, and other materials; directory assistance; and referrals to specialists or other experts. Comments or questions about No Child Left Behind Telephone: 1-888-814-NCLB TTY: 1-800-437-0833 Fax: (202) 401-0689 e-mail: NoChildLeftBehind@ed.gov National Library of Education 1-800-424-1616 TTY/TTD: 202-219-1699 e-mail: Library@inet.ed.gov www.ed.gov/NLE Use this phone number to obtain information about education statistics, research, and publications published by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement. Educational Resources Information Center 1-800-LET-ERIC Use this phone number to find out about the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) and the world's largest database of educational materials. Call to learn about new materials or receive referrals to other agencies. EDInfo Electronic
Newsletter Join the EDInfo mailing list by: 1. Addressing an email message to listproc@inet.ed.gov 2. Writing this (and nothing else) in the message: subscribe EDInfo yourfirstname yourlastname (for example "subscribe EDInfo John Doe"). If you have a signature block please turn it off. National Clearinghouse
for English Language Acquisition (NCELA) NCBE is funded by the Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs (OBEMLA) to collect, analyze, synthesize and disseminate information related to the education of bilingually and culturally diverse students in the U.S. Office of Intergovernmental
and Interagency Affairs Office of Public
Affairs Office of Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) Publications
Center (EDPUBS) Ed Pubs is the Education Publications Center for the US Department of Education. You can contact ED Pubs to find out what's available on topics of interest to you and to order free copies of publications, videotapes, CD-ROMS, posters, bookmarks, and other products. Many Department publications can be acquired instantly in electronic form via the Internet. You can order copies of publications using one of the ways listed above. Federal Student
Aid Information Center If the student has already filed a free Application for Federal Student Aid, he or she can check the status of the application by calling (319) 337-5665. For Direct Loan toll-free services, including information about repayment options call: Direct Loan Origination Center Applicant Services: 1-800-557-7394 Consolidation: 1-800-557-7392 TDD: 1-800-555-7395 School Relations: 1-800-848-0978 Additional web sites: for students, www.ed.gov/studentaid for financial professionals, iafap.ed.gov for Direct Loans, www.ed.gov/DirectLoan for information about our organization: www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP Department of Energy Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse For information about conservation and renewable energy Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy For inquiries about weatherization assistance Office of Scientific
and Technical Information Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration
on Aging The Eldercare locator is run by the DHHS and two association for the aged. Set up to locate community assistance for senior citizens, its trained volunteers can provide you with the names and phone numbers of local organizations that can help you and the person you have been caring for. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) National Clearinghouse
on Child Abuse and Neglect Information Food and Drug
Administration Center for Food
Safety and Applied Nutrition Information Line Center for Beneficiary
Choices Call 1-800-MEDICARE to get help with your questions about Medicare. You can order Medicare publications (english, spanish, audi-tape, braille), get detailed information about the Medicare managed care plans in your area, order Medicare health plan quality and customer satisfaction information, and listen to recorded questions and answers on topics such as Medicare health plan choices and health plan quality information. CMS runs the Medicare, Medicaid, Clinical Laboratories (under the CLIA program), and Children's Health Insurance programs, and works to make sure that the beneficiaries in these programs are able to get high quality health care. National Cancer
Institute (NCI) National Health
Information Center A health information referral service which links consumers and health professionals who have health questions with organizations best able to provide answers. Also maintains http://www.health.gov/nhic/ National Institute
of Mental Health Fax on Demand: 301-443-5158 (Mental Health Fax 4U) NIMH is the federal agency that conducts and supports research that seeks to understand, treat, and prevent mental illness. Trained information specialists are availableÿ 8: 30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday thru Friday.ÿ Contact NIMH for information on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, clinical trials and research. A publications ordering system is available on the NIMH website. Some publications are available in Spanish. National Runaway
Switchboard Office of Civil
Rights Office of Civil
Rights Office of Child
Support Enforcement President's
Council on Physical Fitness and Sports HHS-TIPS Fraud
Hotline Department of Homeland Security Department of
Homeland Security Terrorism Preparation Website: www.ready.gov Bureau of Citizenship
and Immigration Services (BCIS) Customs and
Border Protection United States
Coast Guard National Response
Center NRC must be called immediately if there is environmental release of hazardous chemicals, biological, radiological or etiological agents or oil pollution; NRC provides the WMD hotline. United States
Secret Service Department of Housing and Urban Development Home Improvement
Branch Home Mortgage
Insurance Division Inspector General's
Fraud Hotline Office of Manufactured
Housing Program (Also visit www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/mps/mpshome.cfm) The Manufactured Housing Program is a consumer protection program that regulates the construction of certain factory-built housing units called "manufactured homes", formerly known as "mobile homes". HUD works with 37 states to respond to consumer complaints. The Minimum Property Standards (MPS) establish certain minimum standards for buildings constructed under HUD housing programs. This includes new single family homes, multi-family housing and health care type facilities. Office of Affordable
Housing Programs Office of Fair
Housing and Equal Opportunity Office of RESPA
and Interstate Land Sales (Also visit : www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/ils/ilshome.cfm (Interstate Land Sales)) Handles complaints and provides information regarding real estate loan transactions and borrower rights under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). The Interstate Land Sales program protects consumers from fraud and abuse in the sale or lease of land. The Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act requires land developers to register subdivisions of 100 or more non-exempt lots with HUD and to provide each purchaser with a disclosure document called a Property Report. The Property Report contains relevant information about the subdivision and must be delivered to each purchaser before the signing of the contract or agreement. Department of Justice Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) Information Line Antitrust Division Civil Rights
Division Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) Federal Bureau
of Investigation (FBI) Department of Labor Office of Disability
Employment Policy Employment Standards
Administration Employment and
Training Administration Mine Safety
and Health Administration Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Office of Public
Affairs Employee Benefits
Security Administration Provides information and answers questions on private sector, employer-sponsored pension benefit and health benefit plans. Women's Bureau The Women's Bureau covers work issues such as sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination, and family and medical leave, and dependent care (child and/or elder care) policies. Department of Labor (DOL) Veteran's Employment
and Training Service Department of State Overseas Citizens
Services For help with emergencies and non-emergencies affecting private Americans abroad. Office of Children's Issues (international child abduction & adoption of foreign children) 202-736-7000 Fax: 202-663-2674 National Passport
Information Center For information on U.S. passports, including the status of pending applications, as well as the locations of the over 4,500 passport acceptance facilities. Visa Services For information on U.S. visas for foreigners. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian
Affairs Bureau of Land
Management Fish and Wildlife
Service Geological Survey National Park
Service Department of the Treasury Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms Bureau of Engraving
and Printing Office of the
Commissioner Customer Assistance
Group Office of Legislative
and Public Affairs Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) IRS e-file: IRS e-file is fast, easy, and safe; more than 46 million Americans chose IRS e-file to file their 2001 tax returns. Information about filing from your home computer is available at www.irs.gov. IRS e-payment: IRS e-payment options offer secure, convenient payment of tax balances. Direct debits can be authorized on electronically filed returns. Credit card payments can be made through e-filing software, by phone, or via the Internet. For more information, go to www.irs.gov and www.eftps.gov. Refund Status: IRS has more options than ever for you to check the status of a federal income tax refund. Access the secure Web site www.irs.gov to find out if the IRS received your return and whether your refund was processed and sent to you. You can also call 1-800-829-4477 or 1-800-829-1040. Whichever method you choose, you'll need your social security number, filing status, and the refund amount. Employer Identification Numbers: Employer Identification Numbers (EIN) can be obtained by fax, mail, or phone. To get an EIN by fax or mail, download Form SS-4, Application for Employer ID Number, from www.irs.gov or order a copy from 1-800-829-3676. Complete the form and fax or mail it to the number or address shown on the form for your state. To get an EIN by phone, call toll-free 1-866-816-2065 Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. local time. Frivolous Tax Arguments and Abusive Schemes: Don't fall victim to a frivolous tax argument or abusive scheme. Be on guard for tax scams and recognize that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Office of Thrift
Supervision The Office of Thrift Supervision handles complaints about Federal savings and loans and Federal savings banks. Bureau of the
Public Debt Customer Service
Center Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration Household Goods Consumer Complaint and Safety Violation Hotline. Consumers may and are encouraged to submit household goods (HHG) commercial complaints to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration by calling toll-free number, 1-888-368-7238 (DOT-SAFT). Additional information about rights and responsibilities when moving may be found at: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/factsfigs/moving.htm. This same toll-free number may be used to report dangerous safety violations involving a commercial truck or bus. Federal Aviation
Administration Federal Aviation
Administration (ASY- 300) AIR Consumer
Protection Division Airline Service Complaints. Office of Safety
(RRS) Railway Safety Mailing Address: Federal Railroad Administration 400 Seventh Street, SW Mail Stop 25 Washington DC 20590 National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Auto Safety Hotline. NHTSA wants to hear from consumers regarding potential defects in their cars. NHTSA's hotline has information on safety recalls; crash test ratings; child safety seats; bicycles; air bags; and impaired driving prevention. Transportation
Security Administration Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) For information about VA medical care or benefits, write, call or visit your nearest VA facility. Consumer Affairs
Service (075B) For consumer information or general assistance. National Cemetery
Administration (402B2) For information about burials, headstones or markers, State cemetery grants program, and presidential memorial certificates. Veterans Benefits
Administration (20S5) For information about benefits. Veterans Health
Administration (10C3) For information about medical care. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Starr
Program The ENERGY STAR label is awarded to products for the home and office that are highly energy efficient. Buying appliances, consumer electronics, lighting, heating and cooling equipment and other products that carry this label helps protect the environment and saves money as well. Indoor Air Quality
(IAQ) Information Clearinghouse (IAQ INFO) The IAQ is an easily accessible, central source of information on indoor air quality, created and supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Inspector General's
Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline EPA Headquarters
Information Resources Center Mailing address: 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Mailcode 3201 Washington DC 20460 This is the EPA headquarters library, which provides assistance in locating EPA and environmental information, including general interest, non-technical publications on a variety of environmental topics. National Pesticide
Information Center A service that provides objective, science-based information about a wide variety of pesticide-related subjects, including: pesticide products, recognition and management of pesticide poisonings, toxicology, environmental chemistry. Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act Safe Drinking
Water Hotline Answers questions on the Safe Drinking Water Act, rules and regulations, and consumer questions. Toxic Substances
Control Act Assistance Information Service Hotline (TSCA) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Office of Communications
and Legislative Affairs Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) Public inquiries, informal complaints, cable, radio, satellite, telephone, television and wireless Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Consumer Affairs
Branch FDIC handles questions about deposit insurance coverage and complaints about FDIC-insured state banks that are not members of the Federal Reserve System. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Office of Inspector
General Office of Public
Affairs Federal Insurance
Administration United States
Fire Administration Response and
Recovery Directorate Disaster victims living in presidentially-declared major disaster area can find out if they are eligible to apply for disaster assistance by calling the toll free number. Federal Maritime Commission Federal Maritime
Commission Regulatory agency maintaining statutory authority over ocean carriers and certain other entities, operating in the waterborne foreign commerce of the United States. Our assistance is available to consumers engaged in disputes with transporting carriers as well as with cruise operators. Federal Reserve System Division of
Consumer and Community Affairs The Board of Governors handles consumer complaints about state-chartered banks and trust companies which are members of the Federal Reserve System. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Response
Center The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. General Services Administration Business Service
Centers These centers provide practical information on contracting procedures for small businesses wishing to do business with GSA. Call 1-888-633-4472 for information on how to reach the center serving your area or access the GSA web site at www.gsa.gov/oed. Federal Citizen
Information Center FCIC publishes the free Consumer Information Catalog, which lists more than 200 free and low-cost Federal booklets on a wide variety of consumer topics, and maintains the official web portal to federal government websites at www.firstgov.gov, which is also available in Spanish at www.espanol.gov. Federal Information
Center (see Federal Citizen Information Center) Federal Information
Relay Service (see page 114) Surplus Federal
Property Sales GSA disposes of both personal property and real estate. GSA's Public Buildings Service sells most surplus government real estate. For information, you may call 1-800-472-1313 or access the GSA web site at : www.gsa.gov/pbs/pr/prhome.htm. GSA's Federal Supply Service manages the disposition of surplus Federal personal property. Such property may be (1) donated to public agencies or qualified nonprofit organizations, or (2) sold to the general public. For more information, you may access the web site at www.gsa.gov. Government Printing Office (GPO) Superintendent
of Documents The Government Printing Office (GPO) sells many Government publications and subscriptions of interest to consumers. GPO accepts orders by mail, telephone, fax, and e-mail, and operates 24 bookstores nationwide. For a free catalog of new and popular titles, which includes a list of the Government bookstores, write to: Free Catalog, P.O. Box 37000, Washington, DC 20013. To order publications and subscriptions, write to: Gov't Publications address in PA listed above. National Archives and Records Administration National Archives
and Records Administration at College Park NARA is an independent Federal agency that helps preserve our nation's history by overseeing the management of all Federal records. NARA's mission is to provide ready access to essential evidence that documents the rights of American citizens, the actions of Federal officials, and the national experience. National Council on Disability (NCD) National Council
on Disability (NCD) The National Council on Disability is an independent federal agency making recommendations to the President and Congress on policies affecting 54 million Americans with disabilities. National Credit Union Administration National Credit
Union Administration The National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund provides Federal insurance for nearly 10,300 credit unions. National Labor Relations Board Office of the
Executive Secretary Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Office of Consumer
Affairs The NRC regulates the commercial use of nuclear materials and nuclear power in the U.S. to protect public health and safety. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Contact Center Questions and comments about the website should go to webmaster@pbgc.gov. Personal Pension Inquiries should go to mypension@pbgc.gov. There is a list of e-mails for the participants, plan administrators and others at www.pbgc.gov/contacts/allcontacts.htm. Postal Rate Commission Office of the
Consumer Advocate (OCA) The Commission holds hearings and makes recommendations to the Governors of the Postal Service on proposed changes in postal rates and mail classifications. The Office of the Consumer Advocate represents the interests of the general public in such cases. The Commission and the OCA are separate from the Postal Service and have no involvement in mail delivery or service matters. Railroad Retirement Board Railroad Retirement
Board The Railroad Retirement Board is an independent agency in the executive branch of the Federal Government. The Board's primary function is to administer comprehensive retirement-survivor and unemployment-sickness benefit programs for the nation's railroad workers and their families, under the Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Acts. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Office of Investor
Education and Assistance Small Business Administration (SBA) Small Business
Administration (SBA) SBA offices are located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. For the office nearest you, look under "U.S. Government" in your telephone directory. Social Security Administration Office of Public
Inquiries The Social Security Administration provides retirement, survivors and disability benefits, as well as, administers Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. To report Social Security or SSI fraud, call toll free: 1-800-269-0271. Surface Transportation Board (STB) Surface Transportation
Board (STB) Complaints about railroad rates and services. Office of Congressional
and Public Services Office of Press
Services Press Releases. U.S. Postal Service Office of Consumer
Advocate In order to meet the real-time needs of consumers and better serve them, the Consumer Advocate's office provides three channels to gather feedback from its customers. Customers can: SPEAK to their local postmaster/management staff CALL 1-800-ASK-USPS (275-8777) VISIT www.usps.com United States
Postal Inspection Service If you believe
you have been the victim of a crime involving the U.S. mail or need
assistance with postal-related problems of a law enforcement nature,
you should contact your nearest Postal Inspection Service office.
Addresses and telephone numbers can be found in the government pages
of your telephone book or by visiting the Postal Inspection Service
Web site.
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