Resources
Consumer Protection
Chamber of Commerce (local chamber contact information)
Federal Trade Commission (will assist in unfair advertising schemes)
U.S. Post Office (if you feel you have been swindled through mail order)
Food & Drug Administration (for problems dealing with food, drugs or cosmetics)
Federal Communications Commission (problems with misleading or deceptive radio or TV ads)
Legal Aid Society (may provide organized help for persons who cannot afford to obtain legal assistance)
Michigan Attorney General (for problems with products made, sold or advertised within your state)
National Do Not Call Registry (to opt out of telemarketing calls)
Opt Out Prescreen (to opt out of pre-approved credit offers)
Consumer Rights
The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) specifies your rights concerning the correct accounting and billing of accounts.
The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) specifies your rights concerning the collection of debts by debt collectors.
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), credit bureaus must accurately report information they supply to third-party lenders.
The Truth in Lending Act (TILA) requires disclosure in credit billing of the many additional fees and points that arise in loan/lease agreements.
Credit Reports
There are three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Not all creditors report to the same bureaus, so each of your reports may contain different information. You can order a free copy of your credit report from each bureau once a year. The free report will not include your creditor score, which you can purchase for a small fee. To obtain your yearly free credit report, start here.
