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There have always been people and businesses trying to take advantage of consumers - and the problem has grown exponentially since the creation of the Internet. But if you know where to look, there are fantastic websites trying to protect you, your money and find ways to put more in that shoebox under your bed. We’ve scoured the web and found our favorite consumer advocacy sites.
From blogs to government websites, these resources let you know about scams, the best time to buy plane tickets and product recalls.
Who: As you’ll notice when you log on the site, David Horowitz has won a couple Emmys. Fifteen, in fact. He created, hosted, and produced "Fight Back!," a television show that ran from 1972-2007. Horowitz was a cameraman in the Vietnam War and an on-site reporter during the LA quake of ‘71.
What: Horowitz still updates his blog regularly, keeping you aware of telemarketing tricks, Ponzi pranks, identity theft - and that is all in one day’s blog! You can even ask David—he goes by his first name to keep the site personal—questions and he’ll promptly email you back.
Why: Horowitz’s voice is all over the site, listing countless of tips to avoid fraud and scams. On FightBack.com, you know you are reading the work of someone who cares deeply about you, the consumer.
Who: The "Clark Howard Radio Show" is nationally syndicated and can be heard every day on over 200 radio stations. Howard is an author, a radio host, a television host, and a philanthropist.
What: ClarkHoward.com is a portal for all things Clark Howard. And since Clark Howard is all about consumer action, it’s likely a good site for you. You’ll find videos that will help you book hotels cheaply and learn the best time to plan a trip to Disney World. Howard’s site is a multimedia madhouse and though messy, the information sticks.
Why: Howard created the Consumer Action Center, which is a free call-in service run by volunteers to answer your questions. There are podcasts, a rip-off alert RSS feed (and an explanation of what an RSS feed is). Howard both informs and teaches.
Who: After writing two books, Ben McConnel and Jackie Huba have teamed up again to write this informative blog. Their book Citizen Marketers: When People are the Message popularized the phrase “customer evangelism.” Their books have been reviewed by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.
What: McConnel and Huba’s website is part blog, part article database, and part collection of their public speaking appearances. They are great at helping you understand marketing and explaining why marketing efforts are successful—or why they aren’t. Either way, it’s good to know what people think you think.
Why: The Church of the Customer is not updated religiously, so it’s ideal for periodic browsing. They wait for the marketing world to change and then let you know not just what, but why things are happening.
Who: Run by Consumer Reports, The Consumerist is an incredibly active blog with the apt tagline “Shoppers bite back.” With more than 25 posts each day, the many bloggers not only bite, but do a lot of barking.
What: The Consumerist covers four broad topics, including Customer Service, How-To Guides, Shopping, and Take it Seriously. There is a very active audience that comments regularly. For instance, an article about price fixing in the milking industry received 68 comments in 45 minutes.
Why: The Consumerist is big site with big opportunities to get involved. If you like being a participant in the story, this is the place to be part of the dialogue.
Who: Consumer World is run by Edgar Dworsky, a consumer lawyer. Working out of Boston, Dworsky founded the site in 1995 and is a self-described consumer law addict. Read the Boston Globe’s bio on the man.
What: The site may look like it was built in the 80s, but it is up-to-the-minute current, if not ahead of the curve. Its “hot sites” tab lets you know about new consumer sites. In its weekly blog, Dworsky posts a helpful consumer article from the web. All told, Consumer World has more than 2,000 consumer resources waiting under your ready fingertips.
Why: Consumer World is all free—from the newsletter to the directories. It is run by a man who likes beating the big guys and he has compiled hundred of resources to help you do so. The website has new resources every week to keep you ahead of the competition.
National Consumer Protection Week
Who: The NCPW is a collection of consumer information compiled from federal and state government and non-profit organizations. Its blog is run by Federal Trade Commission officials who are, we promise, friendlier and more plain spoken than their title sounds.
What: They call themselves “Your information destination,” but they are more like a highway to other great government resources. The NCPW has databases for privacy, identity theft, mortgages, money management, and more. Here is one place that gets lots of traffic without slowing you down!
Why: Unlike most sites, the NCPW works towards a physical event. During the beginning of March, the NCPW shines the spotlight brightly on consumer issues and increases effort nationwide to expose shady scams. Throughout the year, the NCPW is big on getting people to community events—usually events sponsored by the government. This is a place for activists.
Consumer Federation of America
Who: The CFA is a 300 person non-profit organization that conducts research to advance consumer education. Since 1968, the CFA has been composed of passionate consumer advocates, educators and government watchdogs.
What: The CFA uses a variety of research methods, such as focus groups, surveys and think tanks to collect information. The CFA is on the forefront of shaping consumer protection dialogue. They lobby Congress and make sure the press covers the consumer’s side of stories.
Why: Check out the CFA’s surprisingly entertaining, over-the-top consumer education videos. They are both funny and informative! For statistic lovers, the CFA posts PDFs of its studies online so you can keep up to date with the ideas that are shaping the consumer’s world.
Who: Founded in 1899, the NCL is America’s oldest consumer organization. Its goal is to protect and promote social and economic justice for US consumers. In its long history, the NCL boasts Jane Addams as a member and played a large role in passing the Meat Inspection of Act. It’s a jungle out there and this private, non-profit advocacy group has your back.
What: Their homepage keeps you posted on consumer protection news. They make sure the fruit you’re buying is fresh and products you’re buying are produced in humane environments. The NCL runs the LifeSmarts program, which educates teens how to spend and shop smarter. All of its information is free. If you are really taken by their cause, you can become a paying member.
Why: The LifeSmarts program is a fun way to teach your children how to be responsible consumers. Organized as a competition, LifeSmarts gives teens an adult coach to teach literacy in personal finance, consumer rights and more. And it’s all online!