Note: The links below take you outside our Web site. RTV6 and TheIndyChannel.com are not responsible for the content of these Web sites.

Appliances | Banks | Charities | Child Care | Child Support | Contracts & Purchases | Credit | Crime & Law Enforcement | Dry Cleaning | Elder Care | Flowers | Gas Prices | Health & Medical | Home Buying & Selling | Home Improvement | Identity Theft | Indianapolis/Marion Co. Concerns | Junk Mail | Legal Issues | Lotteries & Sweepstakes | Mail | Motor | Recalls | Taxes | Telephone | Transportation & Travel | Unclaimed Property | Utilities | Work

Appliances

Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers -- purchase, use and maintenance information -- 202-872-5955 -- www.aham.org

Energy Star -- Government program to help consumers with efficient, environmentally-friendly appliances and home issues -- www.energystar.gov

Banks

File a banking complaint with the Federal Reserve Board -- 202-452-6393 -- www.federalreserveconsumerhelp.gov/

Federal resources for dealing with and understanding banks -- www.consumer.gov/yourmoney.htm#Banking

Charities

The attorney general's office provides information about fundraising rules in Indiana and a listing of professional solicitors working in the state. 800-382-5516 -- www.indianaconsumer.com/consumer_guide/charitable_fundraising.asp

BBB Wise Giving Alliance -- rates charitable groups based on a set of standards -- www.give.org

Charity Navigator -- provides access to detailed information about charitable organizations – www.charitynavigator.org

Guidestar -- provides access to detailed information about charitable organizations -- www.guidestar.org

Child Care

Check a child care provider's license status, inspection report or complaint file. The service from the state's FSSA also has laws and regulations for child care facilities. www.in.gov/fssa/carefinder/

To report child abuse or neglect to the Department of Child Services -- 800-800-5556 -- www.in.gov/dcs/protection/dfcchi.html

Child Support

The Department of Child Services administers child support in Indiana. The Web site includes information about local offices and calculator to determine support needed. You can report information about parents who are evading their obligations by phone (866-926-8332) or online. www.in.gov/dcs/index.htm

Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement -- U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services Administration for Children and Families -- 202-401-9373 -- www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/index.html

Contracts and Purchases

Most of the time you can not cancel a contract or purchase decision. However, in some cases, Indiana law does allow you to change your mind within three days (sales in your home, health spa contracts, credit repair contracts, timeshares/camping clubs) or 30 days (business opportunities like "work at home" jobs) www.indianaconsumer.com/consumer_guide/canceling_contract.asp

Check Overpayment Offers -- The FTC warns most check overpayment offers are scams to steal your money. -- www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/overpayalrt.htm

How to Complain Effectively -- AARP -- www.aarp.org/money/wise_consumer/smartshopping/a2002-10-04-WiseConsumerComplainingWisely.html

Report business complaints to the Indiana attorney general -- 800-382-5516 -- www.indianaconsumer.org/filecomplaint.asp

Search state legal action against companies and their leaders -- http://atgindsha01.atg.in.gov/cpd/enforcement

Credit

Federal law allows consumers three free credit reports per year -- one from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. You must request the free report through a specific Web site www.annualcreditreport.com, a specific phone number (877-322-8228), or by mail.

The Federal Trade Commission provides much information about your rights when dealing with credit records, debt collectors and privacy concerns. www.ftc.gov/credit

Information about Credit Service Organizations -- from the attorney general's office -- www.indianaconsumer.com/consumer_guide/credit_organizations.asp

Momentive Consumer Credit Counseling Service -- a nonprofit organization that offers debt repayment plans, credit counseling, home buying counseling and other financial advice. -- www.momentive.org

Report a problem with a credit card or credit agency to the FTC. 202-FTC-HELP. www.ftc.gov

Credit Bureaus: Equifax -- 800-865-1111 -- www.equifax.com; Trans-Union -- 800-888-4213 -- www.transunion.com; Experian -- 888-EXPERIAN -- www.experian.com

Understanding Credit Scores and Credit Reports -- www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnwin0203

To limit the number of credit applications and other financial offers you receive -- 888-5OPT-OUT

Credit Cards -- Guide to the terms and how to select a card -- www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre05.shtm

Consumer Handbook to Credit Protection Laws -- published by the Federal Reserve Board -- www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/consumerhdbk

Crime & Law Enforcement

Indiana Sex and Violent Offender Registry -- www.insor.org/insasoweb

Dry Cleaning

International Fabricare Institute (Silverspring, Md.) – will analyze a damage garment at the request of a member dry cleaner) -- www.ifi.org

Neighborhood Cleaners Assoc. International (New York City) -- will analyze a damaged garment for consumers) -- www.nca-i.com

Elder Care See also Health/Medical

Report patient abuse or neglect in nursing homes or residential care facilities -- attorney general's hotline 800-382-1039 -- www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/consumer/patient

Report abuse in a nursing home or hospital to the Department of Health – 800-246-8909

CICOA provides assistance to older people or people with disabilities, including care giving and meal delivery. 317-254-3660 or 800-432-2422 -- www.cicoa.org

Administration on Aging (Dept. of Health and Human Services) -- assists finding elder care across the country. 800-677-1116 -- www.eldercare.gov

Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare Guide -- 800-MEDICARE www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/home.asp

Assistance for Caregivers -- from the National Aging Information Center -- www.aoa.dhhs.gov/eldfam/How_To_Find/How_To_Find.aspx

Flowers

FloristDetective.com has information designed to help consumers pick a florist. www.floristdetective.com

Check for any BBB (Better Business Bureau) complaints against a business -- http://search.bbb.org

Gas Prices

Gas Prices -- information from the attorney general -- www.indianaconsumer.com/consumer_guide/gasoline_resources.asp

To file a complaint about gas prices -- 800-382-5516 or 317-232-6330 www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/consumer/gasonline.html

Understanding Gas Prices -- from the Energy Information Admin. (Department of Energy) -- www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oild_gas/petroleum/analysis_publications/primer_on_gasoline_price/html/petro.html

Health & Medical

Check the status of an individual’s professional license (doctor, nurse, etc) -- https://extranet.in.gov/WebLookup/Search.aspx

File a complaint about an insurance company with the state Department of Insurance - www.in.gov/idoi/2328.htm#1

Health insurance information from the state Department of Insurance - www.in.gov/idoi/2330.htm

SHIP (State Health Insurance Program) is a free health care counseling program provided by the Department of Insurance for Medicare beneficiaries in Indiana. -- www.in.gov/idoi/2399.htm

Hospital, Nursing Home and Acute Care Facility Inspection Reports -- Indiana Department of Health -- www.in.gov/isdh/reports/QAMIS/acc/hosrpt/index.htm

Medicare Information and Assistance -- 800-638-6833 -- www.medicare.gov

Medicare Fraud Warning -- FTC -- www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/meddalrt.htm

To check if you qualify for state assistance programs -- www.in.gov/fssa/dfr/3674.htm

Certified copies of birth and death certificates are available from the state Department of Health of from the health department in the county where the event occurred. -- www.in.gov/isdh/19042.htm#VitalRecords

Home Buying and Selling

Attorney general's home buying guide -- www.indianaconsumer.com/consumer_guide/homebuyers.asp

Check the status of an individual's professional license (real estate agent, home inspector, etc) -- https://extranet.in.gov/WebLookup/Search.aspx

Insurance – consumer guides from the Department of Insurance -- www.in.gov/idoi/2414.htm

Momentive Consumer Credit Counseling Service -- a nonprofit organization that offers foreclosure and home buying counseling as well as other financial advice -- www.momentive.org

Home Improvement Some cities and counties require contractors to be licensed, bonded and/or insured. Others do not. Check with your local government entity for the requirements and for a list of contractors who meet those standards.

Marion County lists contractors online -- indygov.org/egov/city/dmd/compliance/licenses/Pages/contractors.aspx

Indiana law requires that home improvement contracts include certain details, including start and finish dates and a contingency plan. Check state law for complete details: www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title24/ar5/ch11.html

Avoiding Home Improvement Scams -- from the attorney general -- www.indianaconsumer.com/consumer_guide/home_improvement.asp

Housing – Rental Properties

Report defects that endanger health and safety to your county's health department. Tenants can also consider legal action when repairs are not made. In Marion County, contact the office of Housing and Neighborhood Health -- 317-221-2150 -- www.mchd.com

Tenant Landlord Coalition for complaints against landlords in Marion County -- 317-322-2369

Indiana law regarding tenant and landlord rights and obligations -- www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title32/ar31

Identity Theft

The Federal Trade Commission has a comprehensive guide about what to do if you become a victim of identity theft. www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.htm

FTC's ID Theft Site – www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/idtheft/idt04.shtm

ID theft information from the attorney general -- www.indianaconsumer.com/idtheft/index.asp

Indianapolis/Marion County Concerns

Mayor's Action Center – 317-327-4MAC

Police Department Citizen's Complaint Board -- 317-327-3440 -- indygov.org/eGov/City/DPS/CPCO/Pages/faq.aspx

Marion County Animal Care and Control -- 317-327-1397 -- indygov.org/eGov/City/DPS/ACCD/Pages/home.aspx

Marion County Pothole Hotline -- 317-327-HOLE

Legal claims against Indianapolis and Marion County -- Operation of Corporation Counsel -- 317-327-4055 -- indygov.org/eGov/City/CorpCounsel/Pages/home.aspx

Junk Mail
Online

Report unsolicited commercial emails (SPAM) to the FTC. Leave the subject line untouched and forward the message to uce@ftc.gov.

Regular Mail

To limit the number of credit applications and other financial offers you receive -- Call 888-5OPT-OUT

To remove your name or the name of a deceased relative from direct marketing mailing lists, contact the Direct Mail Marketing Assoc. 212-768-7277 -- www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html

Faxes

Indiana Law to Limit Junk Faxes - www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/press/unwanted_faxes.html

Consumers can opt-out of receiving junk faxes by requesting their number be eliminated from the send list. To complain about a junk fax, contact the Federal Communications Commission. www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/unwantedfaxes.html

Legal Issues

To Find Legal Advice -- state listing of pro bono attorneys -- www.in.gov/judiciary/probono/attorneys/provider/index.html

Legal Assistance for Low-Income or Elderly Hoosiers -- www.indianajustice.org/Home/PublicWeb

File a complaint about a judge -- www.in.gov/judiciary/jud-qual

File a complaint about an attorney or prosecutor -- www.in.gov/judiciary/discipline/

Indiana State Bar Assoc. Lawyer Referral Service – 317-639-5465 – www.inbar.org

Indiana Self-Service Legal Center -- www.in.gov/judiciary/selfservice

Find your local court and procedures for filing -- www.in.gov/icrc

Lotteries & Sweepstakes

Foreign lotteries and sweepstakes are illegal in the United States.

Identity theft experts advise consumers not to give their personal or financial information to someone they do not know.

File a complaint about online offers with the FBI -- www.ic3.gov/crimeschemes.aspx#item-12

The Federal Trade Commission provides a number of pages of information about watching for and avoiding them. -- www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alert/intlalrt.htm

'El Gordo' Spanish Lottery Information – www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/12/elgordo.htm

Mail

US Postal Service Customer Care Center -- 800-ASK-USPS

US Postal Inspection Service -- investigates criminal activity, including fraud involving the postal service – 888-877-7644 -- www.uspsoig.gov

Motor Vehicle Repairs

Lemon Law -- Indiana's lemon law applies to vehicles when the problems are reported in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, whichever is shorter. The lemon law does not apply to most used vehicles. Attorney general's office -- 800-382-5516 -- www.indianaconsumer.com/consumer_guide/lemon_law.asp

BBB Autoline -- Warranty Dispute Resolution Program - www.dr.bbb.org/autoline/index.asp

Motor Vehicle Purchase Decisions

Purchasing a car -- Indiana Laws from the attorney general's office -- www.indianaconsumer.com/consumer_guide/purchasing_car.asp

Buying a new or used car -- Federal Trade Commission -- www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/automobiles/index.html

Carfax -- www.carfax.com To order a car history report using the VIN number

Motor Vehicle Safety

Recall Information -- from the National Highway Traffic Safety Admin. (US DOT) www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls

National Highway Traffic Safety Admin. (US DOT) Auto Safety Hotline 888-327-4236

Report a vehicle defect -- National Highway Traffic Safety Admin. (US DOT) 888-327-4236 www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq

Vehicle Safety Ratings -- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety www.iihs.org and National Institute for Highway Safety (US DOT)www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.bead436724af02e770f6df102008a0c

Recalls

Consumer Products -- www.cpsc.gov

Food, Drugs and Cosmetics -- www.fda.gov

Automobiles and Children’s Car Seats -- www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls

Taxes

IRS Information Hotline -- 800-829-1040

Advice from the IRS on a number of tax scams and frauds -- www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=98269,00.html

Telephone

Indiana's Do No Call Law -- www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/consumer/telephone

Cell Phones and the Do Not Call Registry - www.ftc.gov/opa/2006/06/dnccellphones.htm

Dealing with telephone solicitations -- Indiana attorney general -- www.indianaconsumer.com/consumer_guide/telephone_solicitation.asp

Telephone Information and Alerts from the FCC -- www.fcc.gov/cgb/information_directory.html

Warning signs of telemarketing fraud -- Indiana attorney general -- www.indianaconsumer.com/consumer_guide/telemarketing_fraud.asp

For an explanation of the fees and taxes on your telephone bill -- FCC -- www.fcc.gov/cgb/phonebills/samplephonebill.html

“Cramming” is the practice of placing unauthorized, misleading or deceptive charges on your telephone bill. Indiana attorney general -- www.indianaconsumer.org./consumer_guide/cramming.asp

Cramming refund information from the FTC - www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/cramalrt.htm

Transportation and Travel

Air Travel Complaints -- Aviation Consumer Protection Division (US DOT) – 202-366-2220 – www.dot.gov/

Airline Safety -- Federal Aviation Administration – 800-FAA-SURE -- www.faa.gov

Cruise Line Complaints -- Federal Maritime Commission -- 202-523-5807 -- www.fmc.gov

Railroad Safety Concerns -- Federal Railroad Administration -- 202-493-6024 -- www.fra.dot.gov

Unclaimed Property

The Attorney general's office collects unclaimed property for people with last known addresses in Indiana. To check for property in your name or to file a claim -- 866-IN-CLAIM -- www.indianaunclaimed.com

To check for unclaimed federal money in your name and for more information regarding services that charge to find unclaimed property -- U.S .Treasury Department -- www.fms.treas.gov/faq/unclaimed.html

Utilities (See Also Telephone)

The Office of Utility Consumer Counselor deals with complaints regarding natural gas, electric, and landline telephones. The office also has information about disconnection rules. -- www.in.gov/oucc

RTV6 Fan Club Information -- www.theindychannel.com/news/4516699/detail.html

Work

Unemployment Claims -- www.in.gov/dwd/2609.htm

Job Training and Assistance -- www.in.gov/dwd

Rules regarding child/teen labor in Indiana -- www.in.gov/dol/2781.htm

File a wage complaint with the Department of Labor -- 317-232-2673 -- www.in.gov/dol/2767.htm

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission -- information about discrimination or to file a complaint -- www.eeoc.gov

Warnings about business and job offers from the attorney general - www.indianaconsumer.com/consumer_guide