CONSUMER RESOURCES

• BestPlaces - Provides comparative information for cities including climate, schools, cost of living and crime rates. Includes a salary calculator which compares cities side-by-side in areas such as housing, food and taxes.
  
  
• Better Business Bureau - Consumer Alerts and Online complaint forms. Links to local Better Business Bureau offices.
  
  
• Consumer Information Center - Full Text versions of Federal Consumer publications. Service is provided by the Consumer Information Center of the U.S. General Services Administration.
  
  
• Consumer Protection - State of Wisconsin - The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection provides information on product alerts and recalls, common consumer complaints (with the option to file a complaint online), food safety issues, advice on animals and weights and measures.
  
  
• Consumer World - Contains over 1700 links to consumer resources on the Internet. Includes product reviews.
  
  
• Efficiency Ratings for Heating and Water Heating Equipment (GAMA) - The Gas Appliance Manufactureres Association updates ratings on gas and oil heating equipment and gas, oil and electric water heaters twice yearly. Uses PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat.
  
  
• Give.org - Provides ratings and financial information for hundred of nonprofits and notes whether they meet the standardsfor fund raising of the Better Business Bureau.
  
  
• GuideStar - While this site does not rate charities, potential donors can find information on over 700,000 nonprofit organizations. When available this includes a description of their mission, program services, finances, accomplishments, goals, and leadership. Information is obtained from the IRS and from the organizations themselves.
  
  
• HMDA (Home Mortgage Disclosure Act) - Public loan data that can be used to assist in determining whether financial institutions are serving the housing needs of their communities, provided by the Federal Financial Institutions Examinations Council.
  
  
• International Salary Calculator - Allows comparison of the cost of living between hundreds of U.S. and international cities.
  
  
• U.S Consumer Gateway - Provides links to official Federal Government information consumer sites. Subjects include food, health, product safety, your money, and transportation.