Consumer Resource Links

Annual Credit Reports Visit this site to obtain your annual credit reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You are eligible to receive one report from each bureau once a year at no cost. For additional copies, there will usually be a fee (unless you’ve been turned down for credit, are a victim of fraud, etc.). You may obtain all three at once, or, check just one every four months, which would cover you for the entire year. Information on each report may vary slightly, so if you are trying to clear up ID theft issues, obtain all three at once.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) The CFPB is an important resource for Americans, as it supervises and regulates financial products and the companies that offer them. Consumers can file complaints with the CFPB and use its website for research. The CFPB recently released a new tool called Ask CFPB that makes finding information even easier. The tool has an English version and is also available in Spanish.

Equifax One of the three main credit bureaus. Obtain consumer education, dispute errors on your report, order your credit report and more.

Experian One of the three main credit bureaus. Obtain consumer education, dispute errors on your report, order your credit report and more.

TransUnion One of the three main credit bureaus. Obtain consumer education, dispute errors on your report, order your credit report and more.

Consumer Action A non-profit consumer education and advocacy group. For objective comparison shopping, the website includes a very helpful annual survey of credit cards, long distance telephone companies, online banks and more. Also includes section on credit card fraud, identity theft, home equity loan fraud, credit repair scams, insurance fraud, telemarketing scams and more and tips on how to protect yourself from these scams and what to do if you have been a victim.

Federal Trade Commission The FTC is a governmental agency that enforces a variety of federal antitrust and consumer protection laws. In addition to carrying out its statutory enforcement responsibilities, the agency promotes consumer education. Under the “For Consumers: Consumer Information” section, the site offers numerous free, downloadable brochures on hot topics such as identify theft, your privacy rights, buying a car, telemarketing scams and more.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HUD’s mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. The site is full of useful information for those interested in buying a home such as finding out how much mortgage you can afford, avoiding predatory lending, how to shop for a home, a list of HUD-owned, foreclosed homes for sale, and much more.

Better Business Bureau Provides consumers with free service to check company’s history and complaint file as well as tips for consumers.

Credit Union National Association (CUNA): Locate a credit union. Credit unions are member-owned, not-for-profit, cooperative financial institutions, formed to permit those in the field of membership to pool their savings, lend to one another, and own the organization where they save, borrow, and obtain related financial services. The not-for-profit status of credit unions enables them to operate at a lower cost than many for-profit institutions, and helps them to offer highly-competitive loan and savings rates.