Provides informal complaint resolution services for consumer complaints about businesses in Washington state. Offers information on topics such as identity theft, debt management, refund rights, scams, foreclosures, and student loans.
Provides consumer information, referrals and informal complaint resolution services for consumer complaints involving unfair and deceptive business practices.
Assistance includes informal complaint resolution and help directing inquiries and contacts to the appropriate agencies for assistance.
Also provides consumer education through online and written materials and speakers who are able to address a variety of consumer protection issues.
Topics include:
- Identity theft a private lawsuit may be necessary
- Debt management
- Refund rights
- Scams
- Foreclosure
- Student loans
Offers options if the business disagrees with the complaint. Cannot compel a firm to resolve a complaint. Options:
- Bring a legal action, such as in Small Claims Court.
- A private lawsuit may be necessary if the amount claimed is over the limit handled by Small Claims Court. The state Consumer Protection Act allows the plantiff to recover the costs of bringing suit, including attorney’s fees if the suit is successful.
Describes many of the functions of the Executive Branch and offers several ways to contact the governor's office.
Describes many of the functions of the Executive Branch, including the Executive Cabinet, Boards and Commissions, Judicial Commissions and Internships.
Constituent services are listed, including requesting help from the governor's staff in dealing with state agencies and signing up for the governor's update on the latest initiatives and announcements.
Assists callers in understanding how the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to their situation. Answers technical questions and provides general ADA information.
Provides technical assistance and dissemination of information regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act to interested individuals and professionals.
Provides information and referrals to a wide range of city of Seattle and community-sponsored programs, activities, initiatives and services.
Provides information and referrals to a wide range of city of Seattle and community-sponsored programs, activities, initiatives and services:
- Neighborhood Events and Services
- Community and Neighborhood Organization Contacts
- Weatherization Services
- Food Bank Locations
- Heating Bill Assistance (Seasonal)
- City and other Job Opportunities
- Metro Bus Schedules
- Land Use and Zoning Information
- Crime Prevention and Block Watch Materials
- Environmental Cleanup
- P-Patch (community gardens)
- Older Adult Outreach
- Health Services
- Emergency Preparedness.
Independent regulatory agency enforces federal consumer protection and anti-trust laws. Investigates complaints regarding unfair, deceptive or anti-competitive business practices. Publishes informational brochures on consumer rights and detecting scams.
Independent regulatory agency enforces federal consumer protection and antitrust laws on behalf of the general public.
Investigates complaints regarding unfair, deceptive or anti-competitive business practices. These practices may include:
- False advertising
- Unfair credit practices
- Misleading packaging
- Mail-order problems
- Price fixing
Cannot act on behalf of individual consumers, but collects information from individuals about problems with businesses.
Develops resource guides to help consumers find the appropriate agencies to contact about consumer-related matters.
These guides contain lists of nonprofit, state and local agencies for the states in each federal region.
Brochures are available on a wide variety of topics of interest to consumers. Brochures are available in Spanish and English.
Operates a phone line for voters to register comments for their legislators. Message can be forwarded to one or all legislators that represent a district. Provides information on status of bills and copies on request.
Statewide toll-free number where district constituents can submit opinions about specific bills or issues to their district legislators. Callers should be ready to give their name, address, opinion, and phone number or email if they would like to request a response. The hotline provides information on the status of bills and will mail copies of bills upon request (daily page limits apply to on-demand printing). Sessions are 60 days in even numbered years and 105 days in odd numbered years.
Provides information and referrals to a wide range of city of Seattle and community-sponsored programs, activities, initiatives and services.
Provides information and referrals to a wide range of city of Seattle and community-sponsored programs, activities, initiatives and services:
- Neighborhood Events and Services
- Community and Neighborhood Organization Contacts
- Weatherization Services
- Food Bank Locations
- Heating Bill Assistance (Seasonal)
- City and other Job Opportunities
- Metro Bus Schedules
- Land Use and Zoning Information
- Crime Prevention and Block Watch Materials
- Environmental Cleanup
- P-Patch (community gardens)
- Older Adult Outreach
- Health Services
- Emergency Preparedness.
Provides information and referrals to a wide range of city of Seattle and community-sponsored programs, activities, initiatives and services.
Provides information and referrals to a wide range of city of Seattle and community-sponsored programs, activities, initiatives and services:
- Neighborhood Events and Services
- Community and Neighborhood Organization Contacts
- Weatherization Services
- Food Bank Locations
- Heating Bill Assistance (Seasonal)
- City and other Job Opportunities
- Metro Bus Schedules
- Land Use and Zoning Information
- Crime Prevention and Block Watch Materials
- Environmental Cleanup
- P-Patch (community gardens)
- Older Adult Outreach
- Health Services
- Emergency Preparedness.
Provides information and referrals to a wide range of city of Seattle and community-sponsored programs, activities, initiatives and services.
Provides information and referrals to a wide range of city of Seattle and community-sponsored programs, activities, initiatives and services:
- Neighborhood Events and Services
- Community and Neighborhood Organization Contacts
- Weatherization Services
- Food Bank Locations
- Heating Bill Assistance (Seasonal)
- City and other Job Opportunities
- Metro Bus Schedules
- Land Use and Zoning Information
- Crime Prevention and Block Watch Materials
- Environmental Cleanup
- P-Patch (community gardens)
- Older Adult Outreach
- Health Services
- Emergency Preparedness.
Provides information and referrals to a wide range of city of Seattle and community-sponsored programs, activities, initiatives and services.
Provides information and referrals to a wide range of city of Seattle and community-sponsored programs, activities, initiatives and services:
- Neighborhood Events and Services
- Community and Neighborhood Organization Contacts
- Weatherization Services
- Food Bank Locations
- Heating Bill Assistance (Seasonal)
- City and other Job Opportunities
- Metro Bus Schedules
- Land Use and Zoning Information
- Crime Prevention and Block Watch Materials
- Environmental Cleanup
- P-Patch (community gardens)
- Older Adult Outreach
- Health Services
- Emergency Preparedness.
Provides information about city government services; investigates complaints about city government operations. Takes reports about citizen concerns regarding police conduct.
Provides information and referrals for City of Seattle government services, such as whom to call and general operational issues. Provides information on city government department policies, procedures and codes. Investigates complaints lodged against city of Seattle offices. (NOTE: Does not handle complaints regarding elected officials). Provides a neutral forum to file a complaint, suggestion or an opinion about a city department or service. Publishes Customer Information Guide yearly. Conducts an impartial investigation of customer's allegations of unfairness by a city department. Recommends appropriate action and/or changes in policy and procedures to city departments or the Mayor. Provides an alternate forum for citizens to report concerns about police conduct. The Customer Service Bureau will receive and document concerns about police and file them with the Seattle Police Department Office of Police Accountability Investigation section.
Disseminates information on composting through a telephone hotline, printed material and website.
Disseminates information on natural yard care and composting through a telephone hotline, printed material and website.
Flyers explaining recycling are available in a variety of languages.
Provides emergency and non-emergency 24 hour on-call response to problems with city services.
Provides information on city of Shoreline services.
Answers questions, solves problems and follows up on citizen concerns.
Responds to requests for service regarding roadways, traffic, sidewalks, drainage, vegetation, parks, facilities and code violations.
Enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act through ensuring that individuals with disabilities are not excluded from services, programs and activities that are inaccessible.
The phone line is monitored by staff prepared to respond to emergencies 24 hours daily.
Provides the public with free published census data, as well as assistance in interpreting and using demographic, social and economic statistics.
Provides the public with free published census data, as well as assistance in interpreting demographic, social and economic statistics.
Also offers free workshops throughout the Western region regarding how to use census data and statistics on topics such as aging, ethnic origin, gender, neighborhood statistics, agriculture and economic retail data.
Census is conducted every 10 years; the next census will be in 2030.
The Seattle Regional Office closed in late 2012 and transferred all responsibilities to the Los Angeles Regional Office.
Provides information and referrals to a wide range of city of Seattle and community-sponsored programs, activities, initiatives and services.
Provides information and referrals to a wide range of city of Seattle and community-sponsored programs, activities, initiatives and services:
- Neighborhood Events and Services
- Community and Neighborhood Organization Contacts
- Weatherization Services
- Food Bank Locations
- Heating Bill Assistance (Seasonal)
- City and other Job Opportunities
- Metro Bus Schedules
- Land Use and Zoning Information
- Crime Prevention and Block Watch Materials
- Environmental Cleanup
- P-Patch (community gardens)
- Older Adult Outreach
- Health Services
- Emergency Preparedness.
Provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information in print on substance use disorder and mental health issues.
Provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information in print on substance use disorder and mental health issues. Does not provide counseling; trained information specialists answer calls, transfer callers to State services or other appropriate intake centers in their states, and connect them with local assistance and support.