BCPL Web Resources - Consumer InfoCenter page.
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Web Resources > Consumer.
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.
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).
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
Provides mediation
services to consumers to help resolve complaints against businesses
and health insurance carriers. Keeps a record of complaints filed
against businesses.
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.
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."
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
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
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.
Savings
and Investment
Scams
What to know before you
invest. Tips from the Maryland Attorney General's Office.
| Agency / Problem / Concern | Phone Number |
|---|---|
|
Baltimore County: Ambulance / Fire / Police (local interest) |
911 |
|
Baltimore County: Crisis Response System (local interest) |
410-931-2214 |
|
Maryland State Police |
1-800-525-5555 |
|
National Response
Center |
1-800-424-8802 |
|
Natural Gas smell / leaks (Baltimore Gas and Electric) (local interest) |
410-243-6007 |
|
Poisoning / Suspected Poisoning - Maryland Poison Center |
1-800-222-1222 |
|
Sanitary Sewer Problems (local interest) |
410-887-7711 |
|
Storm and Snow Emergency (local interest) |
410-887-3560 |
|
Suicide Prevention - Maryland Youth Crisis Hotline |
1-800-422-0009 |
|
Water Main Breaks - Water Maintenance Division, Baltimore City |
410-396-5352 |
|
Air Quality Updates |
410-631-3247 |
|
Baltimore County Police (for non-emergencies) (local interest) |
410-887-2222 |
|
DOT Auto Safety Hotline (report auto safety issues, get recall info) |
1-888-327-4236 |
|
Illegal Firearms, reporting of (Baltimore County Police) (local interest) |
410-887-GUNS |
|
Household Hazardous Waste Recycling and Disposal (local interest) |
410-887-4066 |
|
Maryland Secretary of State - Charitable Giving Registry |
1-800-825-4510 |
|
Miss Utility - Call before you dig! |
1-800-257-7777 |
|
Power Outages (Baltimore Gas and Electric) (local interest) |
1-877-778-2222 |
|
Tenant Landlord Dispute - Baltimore Neighborhoods, Inc.: |
|
| Tenant Complaints |
410-243-6007 |
| Discrimination complaints |
410-243-4400 |
|
Weather Updates (Weatherline) |
410-662-9225 |
Legal and
Financial Assistance
AnnualCreditReport.com
This 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 People's Counsel
Legal representation, counseling and dispute resolution to
consumers of electricity, natural gas, telephone and water in
Maryland.
Maryland State Law Library -
Maryland Vehicle and Traffic Laws
Legal information on red light cameras, child safety seats, seat belt
requirements, parking, speed enforcement and detection devices,
vehicle registration and titling. Numerous links to full text
statutes, regulations, and other web sites. On the library's home
page, look for "Library Electronic Resources" and then "Reference
Guides".
Maryland Vital Records
Obtain certified copies of Birth, Death, and Marriage certificates,
for events which occurred within Maryland.
Office of the People's Counsel (OPC)
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
Is your broker or financial
planner registered with the state? How to file complaints with the
State Office of the Attorney General.
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.
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 the
Baltimore County Resource Recovery Facility, Monday
through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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).
Resources for
Persons with Disabilities
Persons
with Disabilities (local interest) [PDF]
Directory of agencies and telephone numbers; resources and
services for persons with disabilities.
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
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
MTA provides many services that make public transportation both easy
and affordable for seniors.
Directory of Consumer Resources
(local interest)
Locate 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.
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.
This page is provided by the Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, Maryland USA.
The text version of this page was last revised on
08 September 2008.
The graphics version of this page was last revised on
08 September 2008.
You are welcome to provide feedback.