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Note: The links below take you outside our Web site. NewsChannel5 and newsnet5.com are not responsible for the content of these Web sites.Appliances, Car Complaints, Charities, Childcare , Child Support, Contracts, Courts, Credit and Finance, Crimes, Discrimination, Dry Cleaning, Elderly Care, Employment, Environmental, Florists, General Consumer Complaints, Government, Health and Medical, Home Improvement, Home Purchasing, Identity Theft, Insurance, Junk Mail and E-Mail, Legal , Mail , Recalls, Renters Complaints, Taxes, Telemarketing, Transportation , Utilities, Veterinary Issues
General Consumer Complaints
To file a general consumer complaint against a business, contact your local Better Business Bureau. In Cleveland, call the BBB at 216-241-7678. Appliances
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers provides information and expert advice on home appliances. AHAM.org
Car Complaints
The Better Business Bureau has a complete guide to the Lemon Law. LemonLaw.BBB.org
The BBB also handles complaints against manufacturers through its program Auto Line. BBB.org/Autoline
For complaints against car dealerships elsewhere in Ohio, contact the Ohio Automobile Dealers Association. 614-766-9100 or 1-800- 686-9100
Charities
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance rates charities to help consumers find the best place to donate. Give.org
Charity Navigator evaluates large charitable groups in the U.S. CharityNavigator.org
Childcare
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services provides a guide to Ohio's childcare system. JFS.Ohio/gov
To report child abuse contact your county’s Health and Human Services Department of Children and Family Services. Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services Department of Children and Family Services 216-432-3390
Child Support
Health and Human Services handles problems with child support. For assistance, contact your county’s Health and Human Services Department. Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services Child Support Enforcement Agency 216-443-5100 or 1-800-443-1431
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services website lists the local contact information for all Ohio counties. link name
Contracts
Once a person has entered into a contact, there is no grace period to withdraw from it. Unless the contract states there is a period in which the contract can be cancelled, the contract must be upheld. The Home Sales Solicitation Act allows buyers to cancel certain at-home purchases. AG.state.OH.US
The Ohio Attorney General's Web site explains consumer rights for prepaid entertainment purchases like fitness clubs and dating services. AG.state.OH.US
Courts
Small claims court handles cases dealing with amounts of $3,000 or less and do require a filing fee ranging from $40 to $150. To file with the small claims court, contact your local municipal court. Cleveland Municipal Court 216-664-4870
The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland allows consumers to file banking complaints. 1-800-537-5990 ClevelandFed.org
To file a complaint about a credit card or credit agency, contact the FTC. 202-FTC-HELP
The Securities and Exchange Commission takes complaints regarding the purchase of stocks, bonds and securities. 202-272-7450
The Ohio Department of Commerce -- Securities Division looks into complaints regarding brokers and dealers. 614-466-6140
The Ohio Department of Commerce -- Financial Institutions Division -- Office of Consumer Affairs handles complaints about predatory lending issues. 1-866-278-0003
Crime
The Ohio Attorney General's Web site has a search engine of registered sex offenders. ESORN.AG.state.OH.US
To report a missing child and issue an Amber Alert, call 1-877-AMBER-OH.
For Crime Victims Assistance, call 1-800-582-2877.
Dicrimination
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission investigates complaints of discrimination regarding housing, credit, higher education and employment. 216-787-3150 or 1-888-278-7101 CRC.Ohio.gov
Dry Cleaning
The International Fabricare Institute will examine damaged garments from a member dry cleaner. 1-800-638-2627 IFI.org
Elderly Care
To report abuse of the elderly, contact your local Health and Human Services Department. Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services Department of Senior and Adult Services 216-420-6750
Medicare's Nursing Home Compare Guide helps you search for a certified nursing home in your area. 1-800-MEDICARE Medicare.NHCompare.asp
The Administration on Aging offers information to the elderly and their caregivers to help them find local resources. 1-800-677-1116 ElderCare.gov
CICOA provides assistance to elderly and people living with disabilities. 317-254-5465 CICOA.org
Employment
For complaints against employers, contact the Ohio Department of Commerce, Wage and Hour Bureau. 614-644-2239
Environmental
For environmental questions, contact the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency at 614-644-3020, or go to the EPA's Web site, www.epa.state.oh.us.
Florists
Florist Detective.com contains resources for consumers to help them pick the best florist near in their area. FloristDetective.com General Consumer Complaints
To file a general consumer complaint against a business, contact your local Better Business Bureau. Cleveland BBB 216-241-7678
The Ohio Attorney General's office can look into consumer complaints as well. 1-800-282-0515 AGCares.AG.state.OH.US
The Federal Trade Commission provides an online complaint form for consumers. FTC.gov
Government
The Ethics Commission of Ohio looks into complaints and concerns about state, county and city officials. 614-466-7090
The Office of the Inspector General investigates corruption in state government. 1-800-686-0253
For information about legislators and legislations, contact Legislative Information. 1-800-282-0253
Health and Medical
The Ohio Medical Board investigates healthcare complaints. 614-466-3934 Med.Ohio.gov
The Ohio State Dental Board can look into complaints against licensed dentists. 614-466-2580 Dental.Ohio.gov
For additional information about Medicare, log onto to their Web site. 1-800-638-6833 Medicare.gov
To obtain birth and death certificates, contact the Ohio Department of Health or your local Department of Health. Cleveland Department of Public Health 216-664-2317 or statewide 614-466-2531 ODH.gov/VitalStatistics
For general health related questions in Cleveland, call the Cleveland Department of Public Health. 216-664-2324
Home Improvement
The Professional Remodelers of Ohio offers tips for consumers when hiring a professional contractor. Check out proohio.org
The National Association of Home Builders gives a detailed guide to the expected lifespan of most home components, from windows to roofing. NAHB.org
HomePurchasing
The Cleveland Area Board of Realtors allows consumers to search for realtors near them. 216-901-0130 CABOR.com
The Ohio Association of Mortgage Brokers' Web site includes information about homebuyers' rights. 330-497-7233 or 1-800-218-OAMB OAMB.org
Identity Theft
For issues concerning identity theft, contact the Ohio Attorney General. 1-888-MY-ID-4-ME, 1-800-282-0515 or 614-644-8529 AG.state.OH.US/IDtheft
To put a 90-day fraud warning on your credit report, contact one of these three national credit reporting agencies. The federal government also allows consumers three free credit reports a year.
TransUnion 1-800-680-7289 TransUnion.com
Equifax 1-800-525-6285 Equifax.com
Experian 1-888-397-3742 Experian.com
Insurance
The Ohio Department of Insurance answer questions and responds to complaints about insurance. Consumer hotline 1-800-686-1226 or fraud hotline 1-800-686-1527 OhioInsurance.gov
Junk Mail and E-Mail
To report SPAM to the FTC, send a message to UCE@FTC.gov.
To stop the number of credit offers you receive through the mail, call 1- 888-5OPT-OUT.
To stop receiving direct market mailing, contact the Direct Mail Marketing Association. 212-768-7277
Legal
To file grievances against lawyers and attorneys, contact the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. link name
The Ohio Bar Association also handles ethics complaints. 1-800-282-6556 ohiobar.org
Mail
To contact the U.S. Postal Service Customer Care Center, call 1-800-ASK-USPS.
To report criminal activity involving the mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-888-877-7644.
Recalls
For consumer product recalls, log onto the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site. CPSC.gov
For food and drug recalls, log onto the Food and Drug Administration's Web site. FDA.gov
For motor vehicle and child safety seat recalls, log onto the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Web site. NHTSA.gov
Renters' Complaints
Cleveland Urban League/Tenants Organization provides information about landlord/tenant law. 216-432-0609 ClevelandTenants.org
The Cleveland Housing Court hears criminal cases against landlords. 216-664-4295
Taxes
For federal tax information, call the IRS Information Hotline at 1-800-829-1040. To check on the status of Ohio taxes, call 1-800-282-1784 or log onto Tax.state.OH.US/WheresMyRefund
Telemarketing
To register for the National Do Not Call Registry, log onto DoNotCall.gov It is not necessary to register cell phones for the Do Not Call list.
Transportation
To file an air travel complaint, contact the Aviation Consumer Protection Division at 202-366-2220. DOT.gov
To make a cruise line complaint, contact the Federal Maritime Commission at 202-523-5807. FMC.gov
Utilities
The Ohio Consumers Counsel provides information about utilities 1-877-PICK-OCC PickOCC.org
The Public Utilities Commission's Web site has facts sheets and more about utilities. 1-800-686-PUCO
Veterinary Issues
For vet related questions, contact the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association. 1-800-662-OVMA or 614-486-7253 OhioVMA.org
General Consumer Complaints
To file a general consumer complaint against a business, contact your local Better Business Bureau. In Cleveland, call the BBB at 216-241-7678. Appliances
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers provides information and expert advice on home appliances. AHAM.org
Car Complaints
The Better Business Bureau has a complete guide to the Lemon Law. LemonLaw.BBB.org
The BBB also handles complaints against manufacturers through its program Auto Line. BBB.org/Autoline
For complaints against car dealerships elsewhere in Ohio, contact the Ohio Automobile Dealers Association. 614-766-9100 or 1-800- 686-9100
Charities
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance rates charities to help consumers find the best place to donate. Give.org
Charity Navigator evaluates large charitable groups in the U.S. CharityNavigator.org
Childcare
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services provides a guide to Ohio's childcare system. JFS.Ohio/gov
To report child abuse contact your county’s Health and Human Services Department of Children and Family Services. Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services Department of Children and Family Services 216-432-3390
Child Support
Health and Human Services handles problems with child support. For assistance, contact your county’s Health and Human Services Department. Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services Child Support Enforcement Agency 216-443-5100 or 1-800-443-1431
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services website lists the local contact information for all Ohio counties. link name
Contracts
Once a person has entered into a contact, there is no grace period to withdraw from it. Unless the contract states there is a period in which the contract can be cancelled, the contract must be upheld. The Home Sales Solicitation Act allows buyers to cancel certain at-home purchases. AG.state.OH.US
The Ohio Attorney General's Web site explains consumer rights for prepaid entertainment purchases like fitness clubs and dating services. AG.state.OH.US
Courts
Small claims court handles cases dealing with amounts of $3,000 or less and do require a filing fee ranging from $40 to $150. To file with the small claims court, contact your local municipal court. Cleveland Municipal Court 216-664-4870
The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland allows consumers to file banking complaints. 1-800-537-5990 ClevelandFed.org
To file a complaint about a credit card or credit agency, contact the FTC. 202-FTC-HELP
The Securities and Exchange Commission takes complaints regarding the purchase of stocks, bonds and securities. 202-272-7450
The Ohio Department of Commerce -- Securities Division looks into complaints regarding brokers and dealers. 614-466-6140
The Ohio Department of Commerce -- Financial Institutions Division -- Office of Consumer Affairs handles complaints about predatory lending issues. 1-866-278-0003
Crime
The Ohio Attorney General's Web site has a search engine of registered sex offenders. ESORN.AG.state.OH.US
To report a missing child and issue an Amber Alert, call 1-877-AMBER-OH.
For Crime Victims Assistance, call 1-800-582-2877.
Dicrimination
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission investigates complaints of discrimination regarding housing, credit, higher education and employment. 216-787-3150 or 1-888-278-7101 CRC.Ohio.gov
Dry Cleaning
The International Fabricare Institute will examine damaged garments from a member dry cleaner. 1-800-638-2627 IFI.org
Elderly Care
To report abuse of the elderly, contact your local Health and Human Services Department. Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services Department of Senior and Adult Services 216-420-6750
Medicare's Nursing Home Compare Guide helps you search for a certified nursing home in your area. 1-800-MEDICARE Medicare.NHCompare.asp
The Administration on Aging offers information to the elderly and their caregivers to help them find local resources. 1-800-677-1116 ElderCare.gov
CICOA provides assistance to elderly and people living with disabilities. 317-254-5465 CICOA.org
Employment
For complaints against employers, contact the Ohio Department of Commerce, Wage and Hour Bureau. 614-644-2239
Environmental
For environmental questions, contact the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency at 614-644-3020, or go to the EPA's Web site, www.epa.state.oh.us.
Florists
Florist Detective.com contains resources for consumers to help them pick the best florist near in their area. FloristDetective.com General Consumer Complaints
To file a general consumer complaint against a business, contact your local Better Business Bureau. Cleveland BBB 216-241-7678
The Ohio Attorney General's office can look into consumer complaints as well. 1-800-282-0515 AGCares.AG.state.OH.US
The Federal Trade Commission provides an online complaint form for consumers. FTC.gov
Government
The Ethics Commission of Ohio looks into complaints and concerns about state, county and city officials. 614-466-7090
The Office of the Inspector General investigates corruption in state government. 1-800-686-0253
For information about legislators and legislations, contact Legislative Information. 1-800-282-0253
Health and Medical
The Ohio Medical Board investigates healthcare complaints. 614-466-3934 Med.Ohio.gov
The Ohio State Dental Board can look into complaints against licensed dentists. 614-466-2580 Dental.Ohio.gov
For additional information about Medicare, log onto to their Web site. 1-800-638-6833 Medicare.gov
To obtain birth and death certificates, contact the Ohio Department of Health or your local Department of Health. Cleveland Department of Public Health 216-664-2317 or statewide 614-466-2531 ODH.gov/VitalStatistics
For general health related questions in Cleveland, call the Cleveland Department of Public Health. 216-664-2324
Home Improvement
The Professional Remodelers of Ohio offers tips for consumers when hiring a professional contractor. Check out proohio.org
The National Association of Home Builders gives a detailed guide to the expected lifespan of most home components, from windows to roofing. NAHB.org
HomePurchasing
The Cleveland Area Board of Realtors allows consumers to search for realtors near them. 216-901-0130 CABOR.com
The Ohio Association of Mortgage Brokers' Web site includes information about homebuyers' rights. 330-497-7233 or 1-800-218-OAMB OAMB.org
Identity Theft
For issues concerning identity theft, contact the Ohio Attorney General. 1-888-MY-ID-4-ME, 1-800-282-0515 or 614-644-8529 AG.state.OH.US/IDtheft
To put a 90-day fraud warning on your credit report, contact one of these three national credit reporting agencies. The federal government also allows consumers three free credit reports a year.
TransUnion 1-800-680-7289 TransUnion.com
Equifax 1-800-525-6285 Equifax.com
Experian 1-888-397-3742 Experian.com
Insurance
The Ohio Department of Insurance answer questions and responds to complaints about insurance. Consumer hotline 1-800-686-1226 or fraud hotline 1-800-686-1527 OhioInsurance.gov
Junk Mail and E-Mail
To report SPAM to the FTC, send a message to UCE@FTC.gov.
To stop the number of credit offers you receive through the mail, call 1- 888-5OPT-OUT.
To stop receiving direct market mailing, contact the Direct Mail Marketing Association. 212-768-7277
Legal
To file grievances against lawyers and attorneys, contact the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. link name
The Ohio Bar Association also handles ethics complaints. 1-800-282-6556 ohiobar.org
To contact the U.S. Postal Service Customer Care Center, call 1-800-ASK-USPS.
To report criminal activity involving the mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-888-877-7644.
Recalls
For consumer product recalls, log onto the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site. CPSC.gov
For food and drug recalls, log onto the Food and Drug Administration's Web site. FDA.gov
For motor vehicle and child safety seat recalls, log onto the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Web site. NHTSA.gov
Renters' Complaints
Cleveland Urban League/Tenants Organization provides information about landlord/tenant law. 216-432-0609 ClevelandTenants.org
The Cleveland Housing Court hears criminal cases against landlords. 216-664-4295
Taxes
For federal tax information, call the IRS Information Hotline at 1-800-829-1040. To check on the status of Ohio taxes, call 1-800-282-1784 or log onto Tax.state.OH.US/WheresMyRefund
Telemarketing
To register for the National Do Not Call Registry, log onto DoNotCall.gov It is not necessary to register cell phones for the Do Not Call list.
Transportation
To file an air travel complaint, contact the Aviation Consumer Protection Division at 202-366-2220. DOT.gov
To make a cruise line complaint, contact the Federal Maritime Commission at 202-523-5807. FMC.gov
Utilities
The Ohio Consumers Counsel provides information about utilities 1-877-PICK-OCC PickOCC.org
The Public Utilities Commission's Web site has facts sheets and more about utilities. 1-800-686-PUCO
Veterinary Issues
For vet related questions, contact the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association. 1-800-662-OVMA or 614-486-7253 OhioVMA.org
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