Consumer Issues
Read Consumer Reports articles online:
Thanks to the Michigan Electronic Library (MeL) you can search and read Consumer Reports articles online. Simply follow the steps below:
- Go to General OneFile.
- Log in with your library card or Driver’s License.
- Choose the “Advanced Search” option at the top of the page.
- In the first search box, type in the product you are looking for.
- In the “publication title” box, type Consumer Reports.
- Click “Search.”
Search for products by keyword or browse through categories to find price comparisons and then order. There are also guides and articles about shopping as well as popular items and sponsored links.
You can locate the ratings of businesses near you, lodge a complaint, check out a charity and read articles on important issues.
“Consumer World is a public service, non-commercial guide with over 2000 of the most useful consumer resources.” Find articles, price comparisons, “hot sites”, bargains and much more. The site is searchable.
This site presents reviews of products that are written by real consumers. It provides over one million reviews on over 200,000 products, you can read other’s reviews or you can write your own product review. The site is searchable.
Federal Citizen Information Center
Get great free buying guides or information on a variety of topics ranging from cars to travel. Also available are various resources from consumer help to scams and frauds. The site is searchable and some information is available in Spanish.
Find the shortcut through the telephone menu maze and reach a human being on a company’s customer service number. Hundreds of companies’ phone numbers are available with the buttons to press for human contact. Also view tips on calling.
Health and safety information on household products from the National Institute of Health, the National Library of Medicine Specialized Information Services. Browse or search by product, ingredient or symptoms (using the material safety data sheet for effects of products). Also available are FAQs, a glossary and links including one to product recalls.
Insurance Information Institute
Find information on various insurance issues, consult a glossary, or research insurance issues. There is also free software and the site is available in Spanish.
Insurance Institute of Michigan
Offers consumers assistance determining their insurance options and providing objective answers to common questions.
Michigan Office of the Attorney General Consumer Protection
Review news, file a consumer complaint, access a free credit report, receive a consumer tip of the month, and view select consumer laws and recent consumer alerts at this site. Also available is information on the Freedom of Information and the Open Meetings Act.
A comprehensive listing of retail outlets in the U.S. and Canada that can be searched by store name, location, category or brand name. Search 275 outlet centers and over 12,000 factory outlets.
Search recalls by product type (autos, food or consumer products) or date at this site. Consumer news articles are also available.
“Your resource for consumer information from the government.” Extensive information on many categories of products and services including product recalls and safety. There are also guides to information on topics like identity theft, credit reports, internet safety etc. The site is searchable.