TTU Home Student AffairsStudent Legal ServiceResources

Resources

Disclaimer

These agencies are listed for informational purposes only. There is no warranty or guarantee concerning the reliability of their services.



Helpful Handbook

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

 
A
Automobiles

Automobile Complaints

Tow Truck Complaints

Vehicle Storage Facility Complaints

Lemon Law Information

Car & Truck Recall Hotline


Return to Top of Page

B
Business & Consumer Rights

Deceptive Trade Practices Complaints

Scam Complaints

Consumer Complaints

Consumer Information

Unsafe Product Complaints


Return to Top of Page

C
Credit

Credit Report Requests

Credit Card Consumer Rights Information


Return to Top of Page

E
Employment

Employment Disputes, Employment Discrimination, & Sexual Harassment

Personnel Employment Services Complaints


Return to Top of Page

F
Family

Child Support Information

Family Mediation


Return to Top of Page

H
Housing

Building/Apartment Complaints

Elimination of Architectural Barriers, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Property Tax Consultants

Landlord/Tenant Resources

Landlord/Tenant Mediation


Return to Top of Page

I
Information Hotline Phone Numbers

Insurance

Insurance Complaints

Insurance Mediation

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Free Publications


Return to Top of Page

M
Medical

Medical Complaints

Medical Records Insurance Verification


Return to Top of Page

O
Other Complaints

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Complaints

Travel Agent Complaints

Talent Agency Complaints


Return to Top of Page

T
Telephone

Direct Marketing & Charity Lists

Line Blocking - Southwestern Bell Customers

Mail Order Catalogs

Mail Order Complaints

National Advertising Mail & Phone Calls

Telemarketing Fraud Information

Telephone Service Complaints

Texas "No Call Lists"


Return to Top of Page

 

AUTOMOBILES

Automobile Complaints

The Center for Auto Safety can help direct your complaint in the right direction:

Center for Auto Safety
1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 330
Washington, DC 20009-5708
Phone: 202.328.7700
www.autosafety.org

You may also contact the Texas Attorney General's Office:

Office of the Attorney General
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548

Office of Attorney General (in Lubbock)
Consumer Protection Division
916 Main Street, Suite 806
Lubbock, TX 79401
Phone: 806.747.5238

Complaints: 800.687.7846
Consumer Protection Hotline: 800.621-0508
Lemon Law: 800.622.8682
www.oag.state.tx.us

The following organizations provide mediation referrals for consumers with automobile complaints:

National Automobile Dealers Association
8400 West Park Drive
McLean, VA 22102
Phone: 703.821.7000 or 800.252.6232

Better Business Bureau of the South Plains
3333 66th Street
Lubbock, TX 79413-5711
Phone: 806.763.0459
Fax: 806.744.9748
E-Mail: info@bbbsouthplains.org
www.bbbsouthplains.org


Return to Top of Page

Tow Trucks Complaints

For tow truck complaints, contact the Texas Department of Transportation:

Texas Department of Transportation
Motor Carrier Division
125 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: 800.299.1700 (select option 3) or 512.465.3696


Return to Top of Page

Vehicle Storage Facility Complaints

To file a complaint about vehicle storage facilities, send the following information to the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation:

· Pertinent documentation explaining the allegation
· Names and addresses of persons/witnesses involved
· Dates when the event(s) occurred.

Send to:

Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation
P.O. Box 12157
Austin, Texas 78711
Phone: 800.252.8026 or 512.463.6599
Fax: 512.475.2872
www.license.state.tx.us/


Return to Top of Page

Lemon Law Information

Contact the following for Lemon Law information:

Texas Department of Public Safety
Consumer Affairs Section
P.O. Box 2293
Austin, TX 78768-2293
Phone: 800.622.8682 or 512.416.4800
Fax: 512.416.4850
www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/mvd/lemon/hndbk_s1.htm


Return to Top of Page

Car and Truck Recall Hotline

The Car and Truck Recall Hotline has up-to-the-minute information on current vehicle recalls, as well as recall histories of particular makes and models of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and child-safety seats. The 24-hour hotline can also be used to report safety problems.

Car and Truck Recall Hotline
Phone Number: (800)424-9393

In the Washington, DC area:
Phone Number: (202)366-0123


Return to Top of Page

BUSINESS & CONSUMER RIGHTS

Deceptive Trade Practices Complaints

To file a complaint about deceptive trade practices, contact the following organizations:

Office of the Attorney General

Better Business Bureau of South Plains

Consumer Credit Commission
Consumer Complaints
2601 N. Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78705
Phone: 800.538.1579 or 512.936.7600
E-Mail: info@occc.state.tx.us
www.occc.state.tx.us

Federal Trade Commission
Southwest Region
1999 Bryan Street, Suite 2150
Dallas, Texas 75201-6808
Phone: 214.979.0213 or 1.877.FTC.HELP (1.877.382.4357) Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST
www.ftc.gov


Return to Top of Page

Scam Complaints

The National Fraud Information Center (NFIC) works with law-enforcement agencies to track and fight bogus prize offers, investment scams, work-at-home rip-offs and other frauds, and can sometimes help recover money. Call the NFIC hotline or file a complaint online:

National Fraud Information Center
Phone: 800.876.7060
www.fraud.org


Return to Top of Page

Consumer Complaints

The following government offices handle complaints from consumers:

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Washington, DC 20207-0001
Phone: 800.638.2772
Fax: 301.504.0124
E-Mail: info@cpsc.gov
www.cpsc.gov

Food and Drug Administration
Southwest Region
7920 Elmbrook Road, Suite 102
Dallas, TX 75247-4982
Phone: 214.655.8100 or 1.888.463.6332

Federal Trade Commission

The Consumer's Resource Handbook lists the addresses of hundreds of consumer representatives and federal and state agencies that handle consumer complaints. The handbook is available in most libraries, or you can request a free copy by writing to the Consumer Information Center:

Consumer Information Center
Dept. 592Z
Pueblo, CO 81009
Phone: 1.800.FED.INFO (1.800.333.4636)
E-Mail: catalog.pueblo@gsa.gov
www.pueblo.gsa.gov/call


Return to Top of Page

Consumer Information

To request a free Consumer Information Catalog that lists more than 200 free and low cost government booklets, write to the Consumer Information Center:

Consumer Information Center


Return to Top of Page

Unsafe Product Complaints

For complaints about unsafe products, call the Consumer Product Safety Commission or, to speak with one of the Commission's attorneys, contact the Office of Compliance and Enforcement:

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Compliance and Enforcement
TNRCC
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711-3087
Phone: 512.239.1000
Fax: 512.239.0532
www.tnrcc.state.tx.us


Return to Top of Page

CREDIT

Credit Report Requests

The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act) was signed into law in December 2003. The FACT Act, a revision of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, allows consumers to get one free comprehensive disclosure of all of the information in their credit file from each of the three national credit reporting companies once every 12 months through a Central Source.

Equifax Information, LLC
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
Phone: 800.685.1111
Price: $9.00 (service fee for online speed and convenience)
www.equifax.com

Trans Union, LLC
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022
Phone: 800.888.4213
Price: $9.00
www.transunion.com

Experian
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
Phone: 888.397.3742
Price: $8.00
www.experian.com


Return to Top of Page

Credit Card Consumer Rights Information

Bankcard Holders of America provides pamphlets that outline your rights as a credit card consumer and the complaint process. Most pamphlets cost $1.00.

Bankcard Holders of America
Phone: 703.481.1110


Return to Top of Page

EMPLOYMENT

Employment Disputes, Employment Discrimination, & Sexual Harassment

Contact the following organizations about employment disputes, employment discrimination, and sexual harassment:

Texas Workforce Center (formerly Texas Employment Commission)
1218 14th Street
Lubbock, TX 79401
Phone: 800.832.2829 or (806)765-5038
Fax: 806.747.8629
www.twc.state.tx

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
207 S. Houston, 3rd Floor
Dallas, TX 75202
Phone: 800.669.EEOC, 214.767.7015, or 214.655.3355

U.S. Department of Labor
Employment Standards Wage and Hour Division
1205 Texas Avenue
Lubbock, TX 79401
Phone: 806.472.7666

Texas Commission on Human Rights (employee vs. employer situations)
P.O. Box 13006
Austin, TX 78711-3006
Phone: 512.437.3450
Fax: 512.437.3478
www.tchr.state.tx.us/


Return to Top of Page

Personnel Employment Services Complaints

To file a complaint about personnel employment services, send the following information to the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation:

· Pertinent documentation explaining the allegation
· Names and addresses of persons/witnesses involved
· Dates when the event(s) occurred

Send to:

Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation


Return to Top of Page

FAMILY

Child Support Information

For child support information contact the following numbers:

Lubbock Office
Phone: 806.767.0521

Child Support Hotline
Phone: 800.252.3515

Family Mediation

To obtain mediation services on a sliding scale fee, contact the South Plains Association for Governments, Dispute Resolution Center at:

South Plains Association of Governments Dispute Resolution Center
Jerry Casstevens, Executive Director
1323 58th Street
P.O. Box 3730
Lubbock, TX 79452-3730
Phone: 806.762.8721 or 1.800.858.1809
Fax: 806.765.9544
www.spag.org


Return to Top of Page

HOUSING

Building/Apartment Complaints

For complaints about physical and structural problems with buildings, contact the Lubbock building inspector’s office:

Building Inspectors & Permits, City of Lubbock
1625 13th Street
Lubbock, TX 79401
Phone: 806.775.2088


Return to Top of Page

Elimination of Architectural Barriers, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Property Tax Consultants

To file a complaint about elimination of architectural barriers, air conditioning and refrigeration services, or property tax consultants, send the following information to the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation:

· Pertinent documentation explaining the allegation
· Names and addresses of persons/witnesses involved
· Dates when the event(s) occurred

Send to:

Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation


Return to Top of Page

Landlord/Tenant Resources

For information about renting and tenant’s rights, contact the following organizations:

Lubbock Apartment Association
Phone: 806.794.2037

Texas Apartment Association (TAA)
Phone: 512.479.6252

Lubbock Tenant Tracker
Phone: 806.744.0611

Texas Tenants Union
Phone: 214.823.2733

Renters Association
Phone: 214.828.4244


Return to Top of Page

Landlord/Tenant Mediation

To obtain mediation services on a sliding scale fee, contact the Lubbock County Dispute Resolution Center:

http://www.co.lubbock.tx.us/drc/drc.htm


Return to Top of Page

INFORMATION HOTLINE PHONE NUMBERS

Organization

Phone Number

AIDS Hotline (National)

800.342.2437

Alcohol Helpline

800.821.4357

Auto & Highway Safety Complaints

800.424.9393

Texas Library for the Blind

800.735.2989

Cancer Information

800.422.6237

Child Abuse (Dept. of Human Services)

800.252.5400

Child Find/Missing Children

800.426.5678

Child Support Hotline

800.252.3515

Consumer Advocate Hotline

800.647.1756

Consumer Product Safety Complaints

800.638.2772

Consumer Protection Hotline

800.621.0508

Crises Pregnancy Center

800.572.4031

Elderly and Disabled Abuse Hotline

800.252.5400

Energy Conservation Information

800.428.2525

Fair Housing

800.669.9777

Family Violence Outreach and Sexual Abuse

800.525.1978

Flood Insurance Information

800.638.6620

Fraud in Government Complaints

800.424-5454

Fraud Information Center (NFIC)

800.876.7060

Handicap Children (Special Ed complaints)

800.252.9668

Hazardous Waste Information

800.424.9346

Immigration Reform

800.777.7700

Income Tax Forms/Publications

800.424.3676

Income Tax Questions

800.424.1040

Lawyer Referral

800.252.9690

Long-Term Care Ombudsman

800.252.2412

USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline

800.535.4555

Medicaid – QMB and SLMB Info

800.638.6833

Medicare Catastrophic Coverage

800.888.1770

Medicare Part B claims

800.442.2620

Mental Health/Retardation Abuse

800.252.8154

Missing Children Hotline

800.843.5678

Nursing Facility Residents Advocate

800.252.8016

Nursing Home Complaints

800.458.9858

Nutrition

800.523.6633

Runaway Hotline

800.392.3352

Social Security Administration

800.772.1213

Social Security Earnings

800.937.2000


Return to Top of Page

INSURANCE

Insurance Complaints

For insurance complaints (auto, homeowner, etc.), contact the following divisions of the Texas Department of Insurance:

Texas Department of Insurance
Consumer Services 111-1A
P.O. Box 149091
Austin, TX 78714-9091
Phone: 800.578.4677
Fax: 512.475.1771
www.tdi.state.tx.us

Texas Department of Insurance
Open Records Department
P.O. Box 149091
Austin, TX 78714


Return to Top of Page

Insurance Mediation

To obtain mediation services on a sliding scale fee, contact the Lubbock County Dispute Resolution Center:

http://www.co.lubbock.tx.us/drc/drc.htm


Return to Top of Page

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Free Publications

To view a full list of IRS publications visit www.irs.gov/forms_pubs/pubs.html


Return to Top of Page

MEDICAL

Medical Complaints

Contact the following organizations to file a medical, dental, or chiropractic complaint:

Texas State Board of Medical Examiners
P. O. Box 2018
Austin, TX 78714-9134
Phone: 512.305.7010 (outside Texas) or 800.248.4062 (Texas only)
www.tsbme.state.tx.us/

Dental Complaints (send complaints in writing)

Dr. Clifton Hawk, DDS
1300 Fulton, Suite 101
Denton, TX 76201

Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners
Enforcement Committee
333 Guadalupe Avenue
Tower III, Suite 825
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: 512.305.6700
Fax: 512.305.6705
www.tbce.state.tx.us/


Return to Top of Page

Medical Records Insurance Verification

An error in a Medical Information Bureau (MIB) file could cause insurance companies to rate a consumer less favorably. An insurance company that receives an MIB report will compare the report with the consumer’s information and errors will cause the insurance company to further investigate the consumer.

Because the report could reflect an error in medical records or reporting, you may want to request your MIB report by writing or phoning the following location:

Medical Information Bureau (MIB)
P. O. Box 105
Essex Station
Boston, MA 02112
Phone: 617.426.3660


Return to Top of Page

OTHER COMPLAINTS

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Complaints

For complaints about CPA services, contact the following organization:

Texas State Board of Public Accountancy
333 Guadalupe Avenue
Tower III, Suite 900
Austin, TX 78701-3900
Phone: 512.505.5500
www.tsbpa.state.tx.us/


Return to Top of Page

Travel-Agent Complaints

If the agent is a member of the American Society of Travel Agents or the United States Tour Operators Association, call the following numbers for mediation services. Otherwise, contact your state's consumer protection agency.

American Society of Travel Agents
1101 King Street, Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703.739.2782
Fax: 703.684.8319
www.astanet.com

United States Tour Operators Association
275 Madison Avenue, Suite 2014
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212.599.6599
Fax: 212.599.6744
www.ustoa.com


Return to Top of Page

Talent Agency Complaints

To file a complaint against a talent agency, send the following information to the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation:

· Pertinent documentation explaining the allegation
· Names and addresses of persons/witnesses involved
· Dates when the event(s) occurred

Send to:

Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation


Return to Top of Page

TELEPHONE

Direct Marketing & Charity Lists

To have your name removed from the lists given to direct marketers and charities, send your name, address, prior address and social security number to the following three major credit reporting agencies:

Equifax Credit Services

Trans Union National Service Division

Line Blocking - Southwestern Bell Customers

Southwestern Bell customers can have their line blocked by writing to the Texas Public Utility Commission. You must include your name, address, phone number and signature. Although company literature says that you must state a "compelling need" to have your line blocked, all requests are automatically filled.

Texas Public Utility Commission
1701 N. Congress Avenue
P. O. Box 13326
Austin, TX 78711-3326
Customer Hotline: 1.888.782.8477
www.puc.state.tx.us/

Mail Order Catalogs

If you are receiving too many catalogs, contact the Direct Marketing Association’s mail preference service:

The Direct Marketing Association
1120 Avenue of the Americans
New York, NY 10036-6700
Phone: 212.768.7277
Fax: 212.302.6714
www.the-dma.org

Mail Order Complaints

For problems with mail order companies, contact the Direct Marketing Association. If you are asking to have your name removed from a telephone or mail-order list, you must include your complete name, address, and phone number, plus any previous address or phone number changes within the past year. You should allow up to 12 weeks for your name to be removed from a list.

Direct Marketing Association

National Advertising Mail & Phone Calls

To reduce the amount of national advertising mail or phone calls that you receive, write to the following divisions of the Direct Marketing Association:

Direct Marketing Association


Return to Top of Page

Telemarketing Fraud Information

For a free pamphlet titled "Tips on Avoiding Telemarketing Fraud," send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the following address:

Better Business Bureau of South Plains

Telephone Service Complaints

Contact the following organizations for problems with local and interstate telephone service:

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
Phone: 888.CALL.FCC (225.5322)
Fax: 202.718.0232
TYY: 888.TELL.FCC (835.5322)
www.fcc.gov

Public Utilities Commission

Texas "No Call" Lists

Public Utilities Commission - Customer Protection Division
P.O. Box 13326
Austin, TX 78711-3326
Phone: 888.309.0600
E-Mail: customerservice@texasnocall.com
www.texasnocall.com