Best of the Web: Government & Law » New York Consumer Law Resources

Access brochures regarding animal rights, including "Providing For Your Pet in the Event of Your Death or Hospitalization," "Bringing Rex Home: A Veterinarian/Boarding Kennel's Right to Hold Your Pet Because of an Unpaid Bill in New York," and "Keeping Spot and Fluffy Home: Companion Animals in New York City Apartments."

The Better Business Bureau offers online publications on a variety of consumer topics in English and in Spanish.

Access Fact Sheets explaining what tenants should know about the court process, eviction, and other matters. Learn about the Task Forces telephone hotline and Information Tables which answer questions concerning landlord/tenant issues.

This Manual from the NYS Consumer Protection Board addresses the most common consumer questions regularly presented to New York's consumer advocates. It also contains consumer contact source lists.

Contains basic contact information, as well as answers to frequently asked questions and a glossary of terms.

The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse provides sample letters: a short letter and a version that you can customize for your particular needs after you download it to your computer.

Convenient question and answer format covers many useful subjects about debt collection, including how to report unfair practices or violation of law by debt collectors.

Information about identity theft from the Federal Trade Commission. Includes what to do if you suspect you have been a victim of identity theft.

Learning center for philanthropy issues, database with information on more than 650,000 nonprofits, collection of articles and web links for nonprofit subjects.

This is the Federal Trade Commissions Website for information about identity theft. It includes steps to take, ways to place fraud alerts, and more. Additional useful links include access to federal and state laws [New York is NOT included], cases and scams.

Contains general information on the provisions of the laws governing the employment of minors in New York State.

This site will give you an opportunity to see if the school you are attending or plan to attend has any actions against it by the State Department of Education. It also provides you with a live link to The Directory of Schools which lists the most current and comprehensive roster of institutions licensed and registered by the Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision and their approved location(s) to conduct instruction.

Search over 17,000 decisions decided by New York City agencies.

The Website of the New York State Legislature provides links to the online versions of the New York City Charter and Administrative Code. Click on the link "Laws of New York," and then scroll down to the bottom of the list to the "Miscellaneous Section." There you will find links to both the New York City Charter and Administrative Code.

Detailed answers to questions about arraignments in New York City. Includes an alphabetical list of crimes that gives an idea of their seriousness by providing the offense level. Also helps find the penal law section number by the name of the crime.

NYC agency for consumer and business assistance, consumer protection, complaint filing, business license applications and informative publications.

TenantNet provides the important factual and legal issues of selected NYC Housing Court cases. Includes a keyword search form to access decisions going back to February 1996.

Search for local laws and other legislation passed by the New York City Council since 1990. Searches are also available for Introductions and Resolutions.

The Department of City Planning provides access to the Web version of the Zoning Resolution of the City of New York.

Includes archived decisions of the New York Court of Appeals, the highest court of New York State, from 1990 forward.

Provides information on specific charities and wise giving practices and also advises charities on how to meet and maintain high ethical standards of operation. Search their database for free charity reports.

Search through current New York State bills by bill number or by keyword on the Website of the NYS Assembly.

Consumer protection and education on lemon laws, credit reporting and ticket brokers, as well as information on scams involving home improvement, construction, telemarketing, mail, and senior citizens in New York State.

Browse the Consolidated Laws, Unconsolidated Laws, Court Acts, Assembly Rules, Senate Rules, and the New York State Constitution.

Access useful guides to courts throughout New York State, juror information, court rules, and the future court appearance system to find all pending cases.

Telephone numbers to call about noise in New York City, whether caused by garbage pickups, bars or other sources of noise.

Lists useful numbers for seniors to call for help with housing or legal issues.

A pamphlet of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York covering child care and public assistance.

The laws governing the operation of non-public schools are available at this Website. Information provided covers licensing standards, disciplinary actions, tuition reimbursement and disclosure to students.

This site, created by the American Bar Association, provides tips for safely shopping online.

Provides laws, how to organize tenant associations and links to existing associations, as well as New York City's Zoning Handbook.

From this sites home page select the Your Action Center tab at the top of the page. This will lead you to many useful articles and resources concerning your rights with regard to medicaid, health insurance plans, hospital emergency treatment under federal law advocacy issues such as when to seek legal advice and how to prepare for a meeting with legal counsel.