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CPB Home Press Releases Consumer Links


Consumer Publications
The Consumer Protection Board (CPB) provides information on a wide variety of current consumer issues.  The following list is a sample of our brochures.

Adobe Reader is required to view and print the publications.  If you do not have this software, here's how to download a free copy.

Child Safety

• Childhood Choking Prevention - In furtherance of our "Safe Toys NY" campaign, the NYS Consumer Protection Board (CPB) reminds parents to stay vigilant about which toys, foods and other household items to which they allow their children access. Prevention is your best defense in preventing choking among youngsters. Please keep this list handy and share with your family, friends and any of your child's caregivers.
• Ride Safe NY - Parents and children can visit the Ride Safe NY website to learn tips for safer amusement parks. You can also find regulations/records regarding your favorite NY amusement park and fun kid activities teaching amusement park safety.
• Home Playground Safety Checklist - To help parents and caregivers in providing a safe and fun playground for their children, the NYS Consumer Protection Board (CPB) has joined with the CPSC and Safe Kids USA to provide a safety checklist to all New Yorkers.
• 4 Tips For a Safer Playground - You are encouraged to follow these guidelines for playground safety before your children play on the equipment.
• Top 5 Hidden Hazards in the Home - Important tips to ensure your children are safe within your home.
• Swimming Safety - Important tips to ensure your children are safe in the water.
• Safety in the Water - Nationally, on average, 283 children younger than 5 drown in pools and spas each year (and these tragic incidents mostly involve 1-2 year olds). Additionally, children are injured and killed when they become entrapped by the force of suction at the drain because of a missing cover. The CPB offers tips to consumers to make sure their children and loved ones are safe in the water, including in pools and spas, where there is a noted increase in drownings by the CPSC.
• Raising Baby on a BUDGET - While you are enjoying this special time with your little one, we encourage you to take the time to make and stick to a budget to help accommodate some of the extra financial responsibilities you will incur.
• Childproofing Your Home - This brochure walks parents through 12 easy steps to childproof your home.
• "Keeping Baby Safe" Checklist - The CPB is pleased to provide you with this list of tips to help you keep your child safe through all stages of development by identifying possible hazards in your home.
• Weekly Expense Planning for Baby - By considering the costs associated with your precious new arrival, you will be able to adjust your household budget accordingly.
• When is Hot Water Too Hot? - The Consumer Protection Board (CPB) offers tips to consumers to make sure their children and loved ones are protected from extremely painful and possibly fatal scalding burns.
• Baby Sleeps Safest Alone - This link provides parents information regarding child safety when sleeping, including public service announcements, posters and brochures.
• Be Video Wise - A parent's guide to video games for children.
• Car Seat Safety Tips - Important safety rules to keep your baby safe in the car.
• Toy Safety Tip Card - Help keep your child from harms way by following these toy safety tips.
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Handbook for Public Playground Safety

Financial
• Credit Card Brochure  - This brochure provides consumers with information on how to choose and use credit cards without falling into debt.
• Debt Collection Brochure - Debts you owe & debts you don't: How to spot and fight illegal debt collections tactics.
• Money Maps: Chapter 1 - Budget planning for young adults.
• Money Maps: Chapter 2 - Choosing a credit card and understanding credit
• Money Maps: Chapter 3 - Learning to keep your credit card information safe and stave off identity theft
• Money Maps: Chapter 4 - Choosing the best cellular service and phone fro your lifestyle
• Tax Filing and Privacy Tips: - CPB provides State taxpayers with important tips to remember when preparing and filing tax returns.
• Unraveling The Mystery Behind Credit Reports - This brochure assists consumers in accessing and understanding their credit reports.

Fraud
• 10 Ways to Avoid Scams - Find out how you can avoid scams, courtesy of the CPB.
• Senior Scams - This brochure provides seniors with important tips on how to protect themselves from becoming a victim of a scam artist.
• Scams Targeting the Military - This brochure identifies common scams affecting military personnel and their families and provides tips on how to avoid those scams.

Health, Nutrition, Travel and Safety

• Travel Safety Checklist - The NYS Consumer Protection Board advises consumers to follow these important travel tips for safety, convenience and cost effectiveness
• Travel Scams - The NYS Consumer Protection Board offers the following tips to help you avoid being the victim of travel fraud
• Travel Myths - Separating facts from fiction: A Consumer Guide to Travel
• Food Shopping Tips - A "Recipe" for Smart Shopping. Tips for the Savvy Food Shoppers.
• Health Club Tip Sheet - Looking for a Health Club? Questions to Ask from the NYS Consumer Protection Board.
• Helmet Safety - Play safe. Wear a helmet. There are different helmets for different activities. Each type of helmet is made to protect your head from injuries related to a specific sport.

Home Improvement

• Consumer Tool Kit to Home Improvement - Learn about rip-offs and common tools and lines of persuasion offered by some unethical contractors in this publications brought to you by the New York State Consumer Protection Board.
• It's Easy Being Green - Choosing nontoxic products to clean will make your household safer for your family while helping to preserve the environment. Here is a list of the most common, inexpensive homemade cleaners. Follow all safety guidelines and protect your skin and eyes while cleaning so as not to cause irritation.
• Tips and Tools for Home Improvements - This brochure offers tips, advice and a sample building contract to help consumers find and work with a home improvement contractor.

Home Ownership

• Home Purchasing Roadmap: How Much? - Steps towards buying a home, buying
versus renting, figuring out how much
• Home Ownership Check List - This brochure provides consumers with important tips to follow before purchasing a home.

Identity Theft
• ID Theft - Identity theft is the most common consumer fraud complaint, and the fastest growing financial crime.
• Identity Theft Tip Sheet - Tips on preventing identity theft from the NYS Consumer Protection Board.
• Security Freeze Law Brochure - This brochure explains the New York State Law that provides consumers with a tool to help avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.

Industry Assistance
• Business Compliance Tips for Do Not Call - An easy to follow guide for businesses to comply with the Do Not Call Law.

Information Privacy
• NYS Security Breach Law - What consumers should know about the security breach law and notification.
• Record Retention - Protecting Your Personal Information.
• Security Breach Data Check List - Steps to take and questions to ask when personal information is lost or stolen from a company's computer system.

Internet

• Internet Brochure - This brochure provides consumers with information on how to find the right connection for high-speed Internet access.
• Internet Safety Tips - Internet and Computer Safety Tips for on-line users.

Shopping
• Consumer Tips for Online Shopping - This brochure offers tips and advice to help ensure that transactions you make online are safe and secure.
• Gasoline Prices - CPB is offering New Yorkers some suggestions on how to maximize your money and save at the gas pump.
• Gift Card Tips - Consumers often purchase gift cards that may be subject to fees, imposed by issuers. Consumers need to be aware of the terms and conditions when purchasing and using a gift certificate or card. The NYS Consumer Protection Board provides these tips to inform and empower consumers of their rights.
• Jewelry Buyer's Guide - Whether it is Valentine's Day, Graduation, a Birthday, Wedding Anniversary or time to pop the BIG question, jewelry may be the perfect gift for your loved-one or friend. The NYS Consumer Protection Board (CPB) is pleased to provide you with these important tips to follow before making a jewelry purchase.
• Online Auctions - Internet auctions are becoming the most popular way to shop online - This guide is designed to show you how to get the most out of your internet auction experience.
• Tips for the Wise Consumer - How to be an Informed and Empowered Consumer.

Utilities
• A Consumer Guide to Telephone Services - Rapid change in the telecommunications industry provides opportunity for consumers to benefit from new telephone service.  This guide provides an overview of telephone service options.
• Choosing a Wireless Phone Plan - Questions to ask when choosing a wireless phone plan.
• Consumer tips concerning door-to-door marketing of energy services - Read this brochure if you are considering obtaining electricity and/or natural gas from a supplier other than your utility.
• Digital TV Transition - Learn about the digital television (DTV) transition set to happen on February 17, 2009 and how it affects you.
• Get the Picture: Television Technology - Each television type has benefits and limitations. Learn what they are in this CPB brochure.
• Home Heating - This brochure provides information to assist consumers in shopping for heating oil and in reducing their bills.

Audio

ConsumerCast

• ConsumerCast is a new audio feature of the New York State Consumer Protection Board. ConsumerCast will appear the first Wednesday of each month providing helpful consumer information. Preview versions of the feature, in English and Spanish, are posted in advance of the official launch of the podcast series.

• February 2008: "Beating the Post-Holiday Checkbook Blues" English,  Spanish

• March 2008: "Being Energy-Wise"   English,  Spanish

• April 2008: "Filing, Rebates and Scams"    English,  Spanish

Consumer Awareness Campaign:

• Consumer Awareness Campaign:  In an effort to raise public awareness about what the CPB can offer through mediation, assistance and other resources, the Agency launched a massive advertising campaign this Spring.  30 Second Radio Ad   60 Second Radio Ad   Television Ad


Videos

Foreclosure Intervention
These videos provide information to homeowners on where to reach out for help when facing the risk of foreclosure. For more assistance and possible solutions when having trouble making mortgage payments, please visit www.nw.org which can be found on our website under Consumer Links and Resources.

• Doll House Video

• Phone Call Video
To receive copies of any CPB brochure, please click here to e-mail your request. For your convenience, many of our publications can be downloaded or viewed by clicking on the document name.