BCPL Web Resources - Consumer InfoCenter page.
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Consumer InfoCenter

Are you looking for ways to protect yourself from identity theft?  Want to do your own car repairs to save money? BCPL can help.

• Agencies and Services
• Automotive
• Complaint Resolution
• Computer Purchasing
• Coupons
• Digital Television Transition
• Energy Awareness
• Fraud, Scams, and Identity Theft
• Hotlines: Emergency | Non-emergency
• Legal Help and Financial Assistance
• Recycling
• Product Recalls and Reviews
• Resources for Persons with Disabilities
• Transportation
• General Resources

Agencies and Services

Baltimore County Government Home Page (local interest)
Directory of agencies and services, Baltimore County news, link to County Council web site and district maps.

Baltimore County Telephone Referral Guide (local interest)
Find Baltimore County Government telephone numbers listed alphabetically by service or topic.

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Automotive

Autotropolis.com
Research and review new cars. Find new car photos, specs, videos, reviews, pricing and much more. Also one of the nation's largest selections of previously-owned vehicles, with thousands of new used cars added daily. Find and compare used cars

BaltimoreGasPrices.com (local interest)
See where you can find the lowest gas prices in the area, as reported by the general public. Can also search for pricing information in other areas of Maryland.

Child Passenger Safety
Proper child safety seat use and other tips from the National Highway Safety Administration.

Disposal of Motor Oil / Anti-freeze / Automobile Batteries (local interest)
Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management (DEPRM) provides information on household hazardous waste recycling and disposal, including locations of facilities that accept hazardous automobile waste.'

How to Buy a Car (local interest)
From the Enoch Pratt Free Library's Business, Science and Technology Department. This guide will show you how to research 10 important aspects of buying a new or used vehicle.

Kelley Blue Book
Find new car prices, used car values, reviews and ratings, information about auto insurance, financing, search the used car listings or list your car to sell.

Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA)
Registration renewal, license applications, VEIP extension, locations and hours, download forms.

NADA Price Guide
Find vehicle pricing and information  new car reviews and prices, used car values, tips and advice for buying or selling your car from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).

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Complaint Resolution

Better Business Bureau - Greater Baltimore Division (local interest)
The local bureau gives up-to-date information on businesses in Greater Baltimore as well as information on scams and alerts.

Consumer Law - BCPL Law InfoCenter (local interest)
Links to local and national resources for legal information.

Consumer Protection Division - Maryland Office of Attorney General (local interest)
Provides mediation services to consumers to help resolve complaints against businesses and health insurance carriers. Keeps a record of complaints filed against businesses.

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Computer Purchasing

Dave's Guide to Buying a Home Computer
Information provided by Dave Krauss, Senior Specialist, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University. He has taught online computer courses at the university since 1995, and offers information on computer operating systems, hardware, configuration, terminology, shopping tips, and internet service providers.

Introduction to PC Hardware
Computer basics for the newcomer to the world of computers.

Reviews and Comparison Shopping
Browse or search for prices and reviews of computer hardware and software.

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Coupons
provided by the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Maryland's State Library Resource Center
"A penny saved is a penny earned, and coupons help you save a lot of pennies. Look at these places that give coupon offers you may not see anywhere else."

CoolSavings.com
Free grocery coupons, online coupons, printable coupons, free offers from top brands, free samples and more.

Coupons.com
Printable coupons for many grocery store items. You need to download special printing software, but it is free.

Fatwallet.com
Free online coupons, online bargain shopping, price comparison

RetailMeNot.com
Coupon codes for thousands of online stores

SalesCircular.com
A listing of advertised items compiled from newspaper inserts, weekly/monthly store circulars and junk mail. You choose a state, pick a category, and they show you a listing of sale items.

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Digital Television Transition

Baltimore County Resource Recovery Facility (BCRRF) - Electronics
Drop off your old electronics locally.

Digital Television (DTV)
What the DTV transition means for you and information about the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program, from the Federal Communications Commission.

DTV Transition
"Information and resources on this site will help ensure that you’re prepared for the digital TV transition and that you’ll continue to receive free broadcast television in the digital age."

myGreenElectronics.org
The FCC recommends this site to help consumers locate electronics recycling centers and purchase green electronics in their area. Search by ZIP code.

TV Converter Box Coupon Program
Apply for your TV Converter Box coupon and locate a converter box retailer.

Fraud, Scams and Identity Theft

A Consumer Guide for Seniors [PDF] (local interest)
Highlights many common scams and crimes aimed at seniors. Also provides information about living trusts, pre-need burial and funeral contracts, help with medical insurance problems, and how to stop telemarketing calls and junk mail.

Credit Card Fraud (local interest)
The Maryland Office of the Attorney General provides pointers on protecting your credit cards, and what to do if they are stolen.

Credit Repair Scams (local interest)
Pertinent information from the office of the Attorney General of Maryland.

Identity Theft (local interest)
Information on identity theft provided by the Baltimore County Police Department.

Identity Theft: What To Do If It Happens To You (local interest)
What to do if it happens to you. Tips from the Maryland Attorney General's Office.

Identity Theft Resource Center
A nonprofit organization helping people prevent and recover from identity theft.

Internet Safety and Security
A collection of important links to information on the perils of social networking sites, cyber crime; fraud alerts, on-line shopping security, spyware and other aspects of Internet safety.

Savings and Investment Scams (local interest)
What to know before you invest. Tips from the Maryland Attorney General's Office.

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Hotlines

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Legal and Financial Assistance

AnnualCreditReport.com
This official central site allows you to request a free credit report from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting agencies.

BenefitsCheckup.org
Learn about state and federal assistance programs you may be eligible for. From the National Council on Aging.

Consumer Law site - BCPL Law Center (local interest)
Legal information and links on the Baltimore County Public Library's Government and Law InfoCenter.

Credit Reports
How to get a free credit report. A publication of the Enoch Pratt Free Library.

Energy Star
Maryland residents may qualify for sales tax exemptions or income tax credits when purchasing certain high-efficiency Energy Star appliances. This is an EPA program.

Federal Trade Commission - Your Access to Free Credit Reports
Information and answers to the most common questions about obtaining copies of your credit report from the consumer credit reporting agencies.

Maryland Vital Records (local interest)
Obtain certified copies of Birth, Death, and Marriage certificates, for events which occurred within Maryland.

Office of the People's Counsel (OPC) (local interest)
Independent state agency that represents residential customers in utility matters, and works to ensure that Maryland's residential utility consumers of natural gas, electricity, telephone, water and sewer and transportation receive safe and reliable service at the lowest possible cost.

Securities Division - Maryland Office of the Attorney General (local interest)
Is your broker or financial planner registered with the state? How to file complaints with the State Office of the Attorney General.

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Product Recalls and Reviews

BizRate
Shopping comparison site providing a way to quickly find products, compare prices and buy almost anything. Consumer feedback gives reviews of retailers and  the products they sell.

ConsumerSearch
Consumer Search reviews hundreds of product reviews, analyses them and recommends which products are the best.

Epinions
Consumer feedback and reviews of products and retailers, buying tips and advice, ratings, price information. Search by price, product type or name brand.

FDA Product Recalls and Safety Alerts
News about product recalls and market withdrawals, including food, drugs, medical devices, animal products, and cosmetics. Search by brand name, product name or company name from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Google Product Search
Formerly named Froogle, this price comparison and shopping site allows you to easily find and compare prices on any product.

Recalls.gov
Alerting consumers about unsafe, hazardous or defective products, six federal agencies with different jurisdictions joined together to create this "one stop shop" for information about U.S. Government recalls.

US Consumer Product Safety Commission
Help keep your family safe by checking for product recalls and safety news from CPSC.

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Recycling Information

Baltimore County Electronics Recycling (local interest)
Accepted items include TVs, VCRs, DVD players, computer monitors, CPUs, mice, keyboards, cell phones, laptops, scanners, computer cables and cords, stereos, answering machines, and other home electronics. No appliances! Baltimore County residents can drop off their electronics for recycling at three  Baltimore County Resource Recovery Facilities Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.(3:30 Eastern Sanitary Landfill).

Baltimore County Reuse Directory (local interest) [PDF]
Directory of reuse organizations for Baltimore County residents and businesses. The directory is a tool for matching people who have materials to give away with organizations that accept those materials.

Lazarus Foundation Computer Recycling (local interest)
Accepts tax deductible donations of surplus computer equipment, which they restore and donate to schools and non-profits.

Maryland Computer Recycling and Reuse (local interest)
Excellent local computer recycling and reuse directories.

Recycling in Maryland (local interest)
County, City and State recycling services, drop-off locations, and contact information.

Recycling and Waste Prevention Guides (local interest)
Links to information on Baltimore County's trash and recycling collections programs, recycling at work, and vermicomposting (composting with worms).

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Resources for Persons with Disabilities

Resource Guide for Individuals with Disabilities (local interest) [PDF]
Directory of agencies and telephone numbers; resources and services for persons with disabilities.

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Transportation

County Ride (local interest)
Transportation service for county residents 60+ and the disabled.

Medical Assistance Transportation Program (local interest)
Enables eligible individuals to access needed medical care by providing transportation services.

Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Special Fare Programs (local interest)
People with disabilities and citizens 65 years and older, with an MTA photo identification (ID) card, can ride for reduced fares on bus, Light Rail and Metro and one-half the regular fare on MARC service.

Senior Transportation Service (local interest)
MTA provides many services that make public transportation both easy and affordable for seniors.

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General Resources

Directory of Consumer Resources (local interest)
Locate County senior centers, nutrition sites, health centers, support groups, and other consumer information.

FDA Consumer Health Information
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Comprehensive site for health information including food safety, nutrition, drugs and medications, vaccines and more from the US Food and Drug Administration from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Health and Health Care Information
from Baltimore County Public Library's Health InfoCenter
Links to sites with information on alternative medicine, how to find a doctor, hospital or nursing home, medical conditions, prescription drug information and diet, nutrition and fitness.

Household Products Database
Find what ingredients are in common household products, any potential health effects, safety and handling of products, find product manufacturers and information on product recalls from the National Institutes of Health.

Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Publications (local interest)
Links to various MDE publications containing articles on various environmental issues, including fish and shellfish contamination, air quality, drinking water, recycling, waste disposal, emissions, etc.

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This page is provided by the Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, Maryland USA.
The text version of this page was last revised on 21 October 2009.
The graphics version of this page was last revised on 21 October 2009.
You are welcome to provide feedback.