Consumer Information

Federal Communications Commission
Find here info on Freedom of Information Act requests; the national Do-Not-Call registry; filing complaints involving wireless, internet, radio, television, or telephone communications; and a downloadable 26-page guide to FCC's organization, function, and procedures.

Food and Drug Administration
Information regarding food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics.

Get Human
Instructions on how to get out of an automated phone answering system and talk to a live human for many companies and organizations. Searchable by company name.

Household Products Database
Links consumer brands to health effects. Products researchable by chemical ingredient.

National Fraud Information Center
Information about telemarketing and Internet fraud; how to protect yourself.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Searchable automobile complaint and recall databases; information on air bags and child safety seats.

Senior Citizens' Resources
U.S. Government information including consumer protection, end-of-life issues, health, housing, taxes, travel and recreation. English and Spanish.

Who Called Us
Browse through a list of recently reported Junk phonecalls OR Fill in a phone number from your caller ID display, and find out who that number belongs to.

Automobiles

Edmunds Automobile Buyer's Guides
More pricing information, plus tips for buying and selling used cars.

Kelley Blue Book Online
Used car values back to 1980, plus prices for some new models.

N.A.D.A. Appraisal Guides
This guide gives you the retail prices of used cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, motorhomes, trailers and other recreational vehicles.

Homes and Apartments

Apartments.com: Washington
Search for apartments from newspaper classifieds, apartment complexes and private landlords.

Better Business Bureau
Consumer alerts, resource library, and online complaint forms.

Consumer's Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
This site, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, has information on insulation and weatherization, landscaping, appliances, and lots of other ways to save energy.

Fannie Mae
Government sponsored enterprise (GSE) that cooperates with lenders to increase the level of funds available for home purchase. Info on Fannie Mae mortgage products, including Fannie Mae owned (HomePath) homes. English and Spanish.

Homefair: Move
Relocation, mortgages, and related topics

Landlord/Tenant Law
From the Washington Attorney General's office.

Northwest Real Estate
Real estate listings for nine western Washington counties.

Vacation Valley
Find vacation rentals all over the world.

Buyers Guides and Price Comparisons

10-10 PhoneRates
Comparisons of phone company rates and plans. Links to no-charge international phone books.

A Bell Tolls
A central location for information on the telecommunications industry. Included are webpages of long distance carriers, information about the best rate plans, and some interesting tidbits about the industry.

BuyersZone
Reviews for products and services with a business focus, from phone systems to benefits packages.

Consumer Reviews
Consumer-generated and selective product reviews for electronics, sport equpment, and photography.

ConsumerSearch
Listings of top-rated products, and rankings and descriptions of reviews and reviewers.

ConsumerWorld
The best directory of consumer-oriented links on the Web.

Epinions.com
Personal opinions of products with ratings.

ISP Finder
Locate internet service providers by area code.

Long Distance World
Long Distance rate comparison service for consumers and businesses.

National Geographic Green Guide
Guide to purchasing and using environmentally friendly products.

NexTag
Comparison shopping and products-services engine for searching online stores, small business, and private party sales. Includes retailer product availability and satisfaction reviews.

PC World
Offers product reviews and pricing, freeware and shareware downloads, interactive tools, and free e-newsletter.

Respond
Termed a 'reverse auction' site, it allows the consumer to browse and specify for both price and a wide range of products and services.

Charities

American Institute of Philanthropy
Non-profit institute rates their choices for the top 150 or so charities.

BBB Wise Giving Alliance
Promotes informed giving by providing about charitable organizations that solicit funds nationally from the general public.

Personal Finance and Insurance

Bankrate
Wide range of financial information and advice.

CARDWEB
Current information on payment cards, including credit, debit, smart, prepaid, ATM and phone.

Insurance Web
Comparison shopping for auto, term, health, renters, condo, and life insurance.

Insure
Providing information, quotes and articles on all types of insurance.

Tax Links
Download forms, find advice, and locate the tax department in all 50 states.

Travel

Bed and Breakfast
International directory of inns and bed & breakfasts, including the U.S. and Canada. Find also listings for cabins, historical hotels, resorts, and guest ranches.

Starting Page
Directory of travel sites, including airfare, hotel, cruise, bed & breakfast, restaurant, and world time info.

U.S. State Department Travel Advisory
Tips for safe international travel, including entry requirements, health information, and current warnings.

Washington State Accommodations
Search for a hotel or campground at this site provided by the Washington State Tourism Division.

Revised 3/24/2009

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Timberland Regional Library serves Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston counties in Western Washington State.