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New York City Consumer Protection
Guide
How to Get the Help You Need as a Consumer
Provided by
The Consumer Affairs Committee
The Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Every day, you face a variety of challenges that can affect your life
as a consumer. Overcoming these challenges may depend on how well-informed
you are. This brochure outlines the many organizations that can assist
you in protecting your rights as a consumer. Simply select the topic
area that applies to you, and reference the corresponding acronym for
the organization's telephone number in the table at
the end of the document.
| ANIMALS |
|
Abandoned/Lost/Stray |
DOH |
AUTOMOBILES |
|
Insurance |
DOI, III |
|
Leasing |
AUTO, BBB, NYAG |
|
Purchase |
AUTO, BBB, DCA,
FTC |
|
Rentals |
DCA, NYAG, NYPIRG |
|
Repairs |
AUTO, BBB, DMV,
NYAG |
|
Used Cars/Lemon Law |
AUTO, BBB, DCA,
NYAG |
PUBLIC RECORDS |
|
Birth/Death Certificates |
DOH |
BUSINESS LICENSING |
|
Business |
DCA, SOS, DOH, DMV,
NYSDOT, DOE |
CIVIC RIGHTS |
|
Discrimination |
CHR, DHR, DCA, FTC, NAACP |
|
Voting |
BOEL |
CONTESTS & SWEEPSTAKES |
|
Contests & Sweepstakes |
BBB, DCA, FTC |
ELDER SERVICES |
|
Elder Services |
NYOA |
|
Abuse |
NYOA |
|
Employment |
EEOC, NYOA |
|
Evictions |
NYOA |
|
Healthcare/HMOs |
NYOA, NYAG |
|
Nursing Homes/
Senior Centers |
DOH, HFA |
|
Public Assistance |
HRA, SSA |
|
Social Security |
FDIC |
|
Tax Benefits |
DTF |
|
Veterans' Benefits |
FDIC |
EMPLOYMENT |
|
Business Opportunities |
BBB, FTC, NYAG |
|
Discrimination |
EEOC |
|
Franchises |
FB, FTC, DOL |
|
Labor Disputes |
DOL |
|
Unemployment |
DOL |
|
Unions |
NLRB |
|
Work at Home |
BBB, FTC, NYAG, DOL |
|
Workers' Rights |
DOL |
ENVIRONMENT |
|
Air |
CPSC, DEP, DOH, NYPIRG |
|
Garbage |
DOS |
|
Lead Poisoning |
NYPIRG, HPD, DOH |
|
Noise |
DEP, DOH, NYPIRG |
|
Pollution |
DEP |
|
Potholes |
DOT |
|
Recycling |
DOH, DOS, NYPIRG |
|
Sewage |
DEP, DOH |
|
Street Lights |
DOT |
|
Street Cleaning |
DOS |
|
Water Contamination |
DEP, DOH |
FAMILY & CHILD CARE |
|
Adoption |
DCA, SOS |
|
Day Care |
DOH, BDC |
|
Schools |
BOE, DOH |
FINANCIAL |
|
Accountants |
DTF, IRS, ITB |
|
Banking |
DCA, DOB, FDIC |
|
Bankruptcy |
BUCCS |
|
Billing Disputes |
BBB, BUCCS,
DCA, DOB, FTC |
|
Budgeting |
BUCCS |
|
Check Cashing |
DOB |
|
Credit |
BBB, BUCCS,
DCA, FTC |
|
Credit Repair |
BBB, BUCCS,
DOB, DCA, NYAG |
|
Debt Collection |
BBB. BUCCS,
DCA, FTC |
|
Financial Services |
NYAG, SEC, DOF |
|
Income Tax |
DOF, DTF,
FDIC, IRS, ITB |
|
Real Estate/Property Taxes |
DTF, FDIC, III |
|
Tax Preparation |
DCA |
GENERAL VENDORS |
|
Advertising |
BBB, DCA, FTC |
|
Clothing/Furniture/Jewelry |
BBB, DCA, FTC |
|
Dry Cleaners/Laundromats |
BBB, DCA, NCA |
|
Food |
DCA, DOA,
DOH, FDA |
|
Funeral Homes |
DCA, DOH, FTC |
|
Layaway Programs |
BBB, DCA, FTC |
|
Product Safety |
CPSC, FDA |
|
Restaurants |
DCA, DOA, DOH |
HEALTH |
|
AIDS |
DCA, DOH, HRA |
|
Dentists |
DOH |
|
Diseases |
DOH |
|
Fraud |
BBB, CPB, DCA,
FDA, FTC |
|
HMOs |
DOE, DOI, III |
|
Medicare |
HRA, DOI |
|
Medical Devices/Equipment |
BBB, FDA, FTC, NYAG |
|
Medical Services |
DOH |
|
Women's Services |
PPH, WH |
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS |
|
Appliances |
BBB, CPSC, DCA |
|
Defective Merchandise |
BBB, DCA, FTC |
|
Furniture |
BBB, DCA, FTC |
|
Warranties |
BBB, DCA, FTC |
HOUSING |
|
Housing |
RHM, LAS |
|
Asbestos |
CPSC, DOH |
|
Co-ops/Condos |
BBB, HPD |
|
Elevators |
DBU |
|
Heat/Hot Water |
DOH, HPD, RHM |
|
Home Improvement |
BBB, CPB, DCA, NYAG |
|
Insects/Rodents |
DOH, RHM |
|
Landlord/Tenant/Rent |
RHM, NYAG |
|
Mortgages |
DOB, FDIC |
|
Lead Poisoning |
DOH |
|
Window Guards |
DOH |
IMMIGRATION |
|
Immigration & Naturalization |
INS |
INSURANCE |
|
Unemployment Insurance |
DOI, III |
LEGAL |
|
Arbitration |
AAA, LAS , LSNYC |
|
Legal Referral Service |
ABCNY |
|
Pro Bono Legal Services |
LAS , LSNYC, SHIELD |
|
Small Claims Court |
SCC |
MAIL & PACKAGES |
|
Mail |
NYAG, USPI, USPS |
|
Delivery Problems |
USPI, USPS |
|
Pornography |
USPI, USPS |
|
Fraud |
BBB, USPI |
|
Mail Order |
BBB, DCA, USPS |
|
Sweepstakes |
BBB, NYAG |
|
Theft |
USPI, USPS |
MOVING & STORAGE |
|
Moving |
BBB, DCA, NYSDOT |
|
Storage Facilities |
BBB, DCA |
PUBLIC BENEFITS |
|
Food Stamps |
HRA, FDA, LAS |
|
Public Benefits |
HRA, SSA |
TELEPHONE RELATED |
|
Telemarketing Problems |
BBB, DCA, NYAG, FTC |
|
Telephone Problems |
PSC |
TRANSPORTATION & TRAVEL |
|
Buses/ Subways |
DOT, MTA |
|
Taxis |
TLC |
|
Travel |
BBB, DOA |
TOURISM |
|
Sight Seeing Buses |
DCA |
|
Travel |
BBB, DCA, NYAG, DOA |
UTILITIES |
|
Gas & Electric |
CPB, DCA, PSC, NYPIRG |
|
Water |
DOH, DEP, PSC |
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Organizations & Phone
Numbers
| AAA |
American Arbitration Association
212-484-4000 |
| AARP |
American Association of Retired Persons
800-523-5800 |
| ABCNY |
Association of the Bar, City of NY
212-626-7373 |
| AUTO |
Autocap
800-522-3881 |
| BBB |
Better Business Bureau
212-533-6200 |
| BDC |
Bureau of Day Care
212-676-2444 |
| BOE |
NYC Board of Education
718-935-2000 |
| BOEL |
Board of Elections
800-367-8683 |
| BUCCS |
Budget & Credit Counseling
212-675-5070 |
| CHR |
NYC Commission of Human Rights
212-306-7500 |
| CPB |
NYS Consumer Protection Board
518-474-8583 |
| CPSC |
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
212-466-1612, 800-638-2772 |
| DBU |
NYC Dept. of Buildings
212-312-8000 |
| DCA |
NYC Dept. of Consumer Affairs
212-487-4444 |
| DEP |
NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection
718-DEP-HELP |
| DHR |
NYS Division of Human Rights
212-961-8400 |
| DMV |
NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles
212-645-5550 |
| DOA |
NYS Dept. of Agriculture
718-722-2876 |
| DOB |
NYS Dept. of Banking
800-522-3330 |
| DOE |
NYS Dept. of Education
212-951-6400 |
| DOF |
NYC Dept. of Finance
718-935-6000 |
| DOH |
NYC Dept. of Health
212-788-4520 |
| DOI |
NYS Dept. of Insurance
212-602-0203, 800-342-3736 |
| DOL |
NYC Dept. of Labor
212-337-2319 |
| DOS |
NYC Dept. of Sanitation
212-219-8090 |
| DOT |
NYC Dept. of Transportation
212-442-7070, 212-827-6255 (travel & tourism) |
| DTF |
NYS Dept. of Taxation & Finance
718-935-6000 |
| EEOC |
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
212-748-8500, 800-669-4000 |
| FB |
NYC Franchise Bureau
212-442-8040 |
| FDA |
Food & Drug Administration
800-532-4440 |
| FDIC |
Fed. Deposit Insurance Corp.
800-688-9889 |
| FTC |
Federal Trade Comm.
212-264-1207 |
| HFA |
NYS Health Facilities Association
518-462-4800 |
| HPD |
NYC Dept. of Housing Preservation & Development
212-960-4800 |
| HRA |
NYC Human Resources Adminis.
212-645-7070 |
| III |
Insurance Information Institute
800-942-4242 |
| INS |
Immunization & Naturalization Service
212-206-6500 |
| IRS |
Internal Revenue Service
800-829-1040, 800-829-3676 |
| ITB |
Income Tax Bureau
718-935-6000 |
| LAS |
Legal Aid Society
212-431-7200 |
| LSNYC |
Legal Services of NYC
212-431-7200 |
| MTA |
NYC Transit Authority
718-330-3000 |
| NAACP |
Nat'l Association for the Advanc. of Colored People
212-666-9740 |
| NCA |
Neighborhood Cleaners Association
212-967-3002 |
| NLRB |
National Labor Relations Board
212-264-0300 |
| NYAG |
NYS Attorney General
212-416-8345, 800-771-7755 |
| NYCHA |
NYC Housing Authority
212-289-8000 |
| NYOA |
NYC Dept. of the Aging
212-442-1000 |
| NYPIRG |
NY Public Interest Research Group
212-349-6460 |
| NYSDOT |
NYS Dept. of Transportation
718-482-4594 |
| PPH |
Planned Parenthood
212-677-6474 |
| PSC |
NYS Public Service Commission
800-342-3355 |
| RHM |
NYC Dept. of Rent & Housing Maintenance
212-960-4800 |
| SCC |
Small Claims Court
212-791-6000 |
| SEC |
Securities & Exchange Commission
212-748-8000 |
| SOS |
NYS Secretary of State
212- 417-5800 |
| SSA |
Social Security Administration
800-772-1213 |
| SHIELD |
ABCNY
212-382-6702 |
| TLC |
Taxi & Limousine Commission
212-221-TAXI |
| USPI |
U.S. Postal Inspector
212-330-3844 |
| USPS |
U.S. Postal Service
212-330-2908 |
| WH |
NYC Women's Healthline
212-230-1111 |
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