These sites are jointly recommended and maintained by librarians at Westminster Public Library and Front Range Community College Library.

CONSUMER INFORMATION

Automobiles
Government
Internet Safety Information
Medical
Product Guides
Real Estate & Bank Loans
Shopping
Miscellaneous

Automobiles

• Air Care Colorado
  http://aircarecolorado.com/
  Metropolitan Denver's vehicle emissions testing program. Lists the 16 testing sites and maps with driving directions.
   
• Auto.com
  http://www.auto.com
  Daily auto news and reviews from the Detroit Free Press.
   
• CarTalk.com
  http://www.cartalk.com/
  Tom and Ray Magliozzi (aka "Click and Clack The Tappet Brothers") from the NPR radio show.
   
• Edmund's Automobile Buyer's Guides
  http://www.edmunds.com/
  Prices, road test results, reviews, etc.

• Fuel Economy.gov
  http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
  This site provides gas mileage information on cars from 1985 to the present. It also provides information on alternative fuel vehicles, gas mileage tips, and more.
  
  
• Kelley Blue Book
  http://www.kbb.com/
  "The official guide."
   
• NADA Guides
  http://www.nadaguides.com/
  Use this site to find out the value of new and used cars, motorcycles, manufactured homes, boats, and recreation vehicles.
  

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Government

• Consumer.gov
  http://www.consumer.gov/
  Consumer information from the federal government. Includes articles on varied subjects such as food, product safety, health, money, transportation, careers, education, and more.
   
• Denver/Boulder Better Business Bureau
  http://www.denver.bbb.org/
  If you want to file a complaint about  a business, this is the organization to contact. There is also a link to find Better Business Bureaus throughout the United States and Canada.
   
• Environmental Protection Agency
  http://www.epa.gov/
  The official EPA website, focusing on EPA laws, regulations, and local environmental information. Supports a wide variety of educational materials for all ages.
   
• Federal Trade Commission Consumer Protection
  http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm
  Consumer education resources and on-line complaint filing.
   
• Federal Trade Commission's Information on Free Annual Credit Reports
  http://www.ftc.gov/freereports
  This government website provides information and a link to obtain free annual credit reports from the three nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
   
• Food and Drug Administration
  http://www.fda.gov/
  Consumer information from the federal agency that approves and regulates drugs and medical devices.

• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
  http://www.cpsc.gov/
  Need to report an unsafe product? This is an independent federal regulatory agency that works to protect people from unsafe consumer products. This site provides information about laws, recalled products, publications, safety alerts, and more.

Internet Safety Information

• Identity Theft Reporting
  http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
  The place to start if you think you've been the victim of identity theft, this is the official Federal Trade Commision page.
   
• Safe Shopping
  http://www.safeshopping.org/home.shtml
  This site, run by the American Bar Association, includes all aspects of safe online activity, including computer maintenance and password selection.
   
• Wired Safety
  http://www.wiredsafety.org/safety/index.html
  All aspects of safe online activity, including computer maintenance and password selection.
  

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Medical

• Physician Profile Search: Division of Registrations, State of Colorado
  https://www.dora.state.co.us/pls/real/PPR_SEARCH_GUI.show_page
  State database of all licensed, practicing physicians in Colorado. Includes information on disciplinary actions and malpractice claims, contact information, business and association affiliations, and licensing history.
   
• Pillbox: Medication Identification
  http://pillbox.nlm.nih.gov/index.html
  A reference system for tablet and capsule medications. Use this site to search for and identify unknown pills.
  

Product Guides

• Consumer Reports Online
  http://www.ConsumerReports.org
  The electronic link to one of the best known consumer magazines.
   
• Consumer World
  http://www.consumerworld.org
  "A public service non-commercial guide cataloging over 2000 of the most useful consumer resources." Good price comparison guide.
   
• Epinions
  http://www.epinions.com
  Reviews of over 200,000 products and services.
   
• my Simon
  http://www.mysimon.com/
  Another good price comparison guide for a multitude of products.
   
• Recalls.gov
  http://www.recalls.gov
  U.S. government site that lists recalled consumer items, including motor vehicles, boats, food, medicine, cosmetics, environmental products, and more. Also in Spanish.

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Real Estate & Bank Loans

• Bankrate.com
  http://www.bankrate.com/
  Comprehensive consumer and finance site that provides rates on mortgage and car loans, credit cards, banks, and IRA comparison shopping. Also has online mortgage and loan calculators.
   
• Colorado Assistance and Real Estate Programs
  http://www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=co&topic=homeownership
  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Colorado section, with links to state, county, and city programs and initiatives to aid in the homebuying process. Includes educational and financial assistance information.
   
• Federal Housing Authority Buying Guide
  http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/topics/buying_a_home
  Information on buying, affording, finding, and evaluating homes for purchase. Includes links to federal assistance programs, loan calculators, pricing calculators, and a checklist to help you through the process of purchasing a new home.
   
• House Moving Relocation Calculators
  http://www.homefair.com
  Many interactive tools to calculate costs of living, moving expenses and salaries.
   
• Realtor.com
  http://www.realtor.com/
  The official site of the National Association of realtors. You can look at houses for sale throughout the United States and Canada.
   
• Westminster Housing Assistance
  http://www.ci.westminster.co.us/101.htm
  Interested in buying or renting a home in Westminster? Check out the City's home-buyer assistance and education options here.

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Shopping

Local Businesses

• Shop Westminster
  http://www.ci.westminster.co.us/busdir/alpha.HTM
  Search for businesses in Westminster.
  

Organic and Local Foods

• Colorado Farm Fresh Guide and Colorado Market Finder
  http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Agriculture-Main/CDAG/1167928159956
  Includes links to the current Farm Fresh directory, market list, pumpkin patch and corn maze finder, CSA information, and the CO Food and Beverage Gift Guide.
   
• Colorado Organic Stores
  http://www.organicstorelocator.com/colorado.html
  Includes stores and farmers markets across Colorado.
   
• Farmers Markets and Craft Fairs
  http://www.coloradofarmers.org/find_a_market.htm
  Find farmers markets and craft fairs around Colorado.
   
• Local Harvest
  http://www.localharvest.org/
  A clearinghouse for information on Community Supported Agriculture (CSA's), local and organic farms, farmers markets, restaurants, and grocery stores. Includes a store-finder, reviews, upcoming events, and seasonal-produce recipies.
   
• Organic.org
  http://www.organic.org/
  All about organic foods, plus a store locator, kids recipies, and organic product reviews.
  

Savings

• Coupons.com
  http://www.coupons.com/
   
• CouponCabin.com
  http://www.couponcabin.com/
   
• CouponMom.com
  http://www.couponmom.com/
   
• Restaurant.com
  http://www.restaurant.com/
   
• RetailMeNot.com
  http://www.retailmenot.com/
   
• SmartSource.com
  http://www.smartsource.com/
  

Miscellaneous

• Give.org
  http://www.give.org/
  This Better Business Bureau web site provides reports on hundreds of nonprofit organizations. It includes information about their programs, governance, fund raising practices, and finances. This is a good source for anyone thinking about donating to a charity.
   
• Troubleshooter
  http://www.troubleshooter.com
  Site of consumer advocate Tom Martino.

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Return to Recommended Websites Home Page

Please send comments and suggestions to drhodes@cityofwestminster.us
Updated: 2/11/10