All Consumer Information A to Z

QUICK INDEX

Banking & Credit

  • New York State Banking Department 618-6642 Credit Cards
  • American Express (800) 528-4800
  • MasterCard (800) 627-8372
  • TRW Credit Info. Consumer Assistance (800) 392-1122
  • Visa (800) 336-8472

Business

  • Assistant Commissioner, Private Sector, of the Sheriff's Off. 240-6700
  • NYC On-Business Resources Guide
  • Department of Buildings 312-8530
  • Department of Labor Division of Hourly Wages 264-8185
  • Federal Trade Commission 264-1207
  • Tax Help (718) 935-6736

Children

  • Bureau of Day Camps & Recreation 643-4311
  • Child Abuse (800) 342-3720
  • Day Care Complaint Hotline (800) 732-5207
  • New York State Child Abuse Crisis Line (800) 342-3720
  • Runaways Hotline 619-6884
  • Teachers, Dial-A 777-3380
  • Treatment/Prevention Head Lice (800) 446-4NPA
  • Youth Hotline (800) 246-4646

Cars

Consumer

  • Better Business Bureau 257 Park Ave.Sth., 10010 533-6200
  • Citizens Committee for New York 989-0909
  • City Council Information Desk 788-7101
  • Department of Agriculture and Markets (718) 722-2876
  • Department of Consumer Affairs     
  • 42 Broadway 487-4379 / 487-4398     
  • Queens Blvd., Kew Gardens, Queens (718) 286-2990     
  • 851 Grand Concourse Boro Hall, Bronx (718) 590-6006     
  • 10 Richmond Ter., Boro Hall, Staten Isl. (718) 816-2280
  • Department of Consumer Affairs, Overcharging 498-4398
  • Department of Consumer Affairs, Secretary of State . (518) 474-6200
  • Mayor's Action Center 788-7585
  • Mayor's Action Line 788-7594
  • Municipality 487-4398
  • New York State Consumer Protection Board 417-4908
  • Private Citizen (800) 288-5865
  • Public Advocate's Consumer Alert Web Page
  • General Information
  • Better Business Bureau
  • Cable Complaints
  • Money Matters
  • Product Safety
  • Auto Safety
  • Food and Drugs
  • Public Advocate's Office (Mark Green) 669-7200

Crime

  • Crime Victims Board of NY State 270 Broadway 577-5160
  • Crime Victims Line 577-7777
  • Crime Stoppers 577-8477
  • Guardian Angels Safety Patrol 302- W. 46th St. 397-7822
  • New York Police Department Crime Prevention Division . (718) 776-6888
  • Rape Hotline / Sex Crimes Crisis Lines 267-7273
  • Transit Police (718) 330-3333

Dry Cleaners

  • Neighborhood Cleaners Association 252 W 29th St., 10001 967-3002

Education

  • Dept. of Education, Professional Discipline (800) 442-8106
  • Teachers, Dial-A 777-3380

Elderly

  • New York State Senior Citizens Hotline (800) 342-9871

Emergency

  • Coast Guard 668-7936
  • Crime Victims Line 577-7777
  • NY Seaport Emergencies (800) 52-5270
  • Rape Hotline / Sex Crimes Crisis Lines 267-7273
  • Runaways Hotline 619-6884
  • Suicide Prevention Line 532-2400

Environmental

  • NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection (718) 699-9811

Noise

  • Department of Environmental Protection (718) DEP-HELP
  • Lenox Hill Hospital Relax. Booth 76th & Lex. 434-2980
  • Lenox Hill Relaxation Tape 434-3200 ext 272
  • Stress Reduction Workshops 100 E. 77th St. 434-3150
  • The Sleep Line 434-3200 ext SLP

Parks

  • Parks Department Complaints (800) 834-3832

Pests

  • Central Complaint Bureau, Dept. of Health 442-1839
  • Commercial Inspections 334-7761
  • Housing Preservation & Development 960-4800
  • Pest Control, Department of Health (718) 956-7103
  • State Environmental Conservation (718) 482-4994

Sanitation

  • Department of Environmental Conserv. (718) 482-4949
  • Department of State, Licenser 517-5740
  • Department of Health, Bureau of Inspections 334-7761
  • Dept. of Health, Sanitary-Related Complaints 442-1999
  • Department of Sanitation, Action Center 219-8090

Streets

  • City Deparment of Transportation 566-2525
  • Mayor's Office of Film and Broadcasting 489-6710
  • Pothole Complaints POT-HOLE / 964-2110
  • Sidewalk Repairs 323-8501
  • Streetlight and Sign Repair 566-2525

Government

  • Agencies, City 788-4636
  • Agencies, Federal (800) 347-1997
  • Agencies, State 488-4141
  • Bills, Status of, State Senate (800) 342-9860
  • Deparment of State 417-5760
  • Elections, City Board of 886-3800
  • FBI 335-2700
  • Mayor's Action Center 788-7585
  • Mayor's Action Line 788-7594
  • Mayor's Office of Film and Broadcasting, 489-6710
  • Meetings, City Council 788-7127
  • NYC Public Advocate's homepage
  • Representatives, NYC On-Line List of

Government Representatives

Borough Presidents

  • Bronx: Fernando Ferrer 851 Grand Concourse, 10451, (718) 590-3500, fax (718) 588-3047
  • Brooklyn: Howard Golden Boro. Hall 209 Joralemon St., 11201, (718) 802-3700, fax (718) 802-3959
  • Manhattan: Ruth Messinger Muni. Building, 1 Centre St., 10007 669-8300, fax 669-2484
  • Queens: Claire Shulman Borough Hall 120-55 Qns. Blvd, Kew Gardens, NY 11424 (718) 286-3000
  • Staten Isl.: Guy V. Molinari Boro. Hall 10 Richmond Ter., 10301 (718) 816-2000

Community Boards

  • 1 (Battery Park City, Civic Center, Tribeca) Ann Compoccia 49-51 Chambers St., 10007, 442-5050
  • 2 (Greenwich Village, Soho, West Village) Carol Feinman 3 Washington Square Village, 10012, 979-2272
  • 3 (E. Village, Lower E. Side, Chinatown) Luis Soler 59 E. 4 St., 10003, 533-5300
  • 4 (Chelsea, Clinton) Ross Graham 300 W. 42 St., 10036, 736-4536
  • 5 (Midtown) Nicholas Fish 118 E. 28 St., Suite 201, 10016, 465-0907
  • 6 (Gram. Park, Murray Hill, Stuyv. Town, Turtle Bay) Lou Sepersky 330 E. 26 St., 10010, 679-0907
  • 7 (Upr. W. Sde.) Elizabeth Starkey 250 W. 87 St., 10024, 362-4008
  • 8 (Upr. E. Sde.) Barbara Chocky 309 E. 94 St., 10128, 427-4840
  • 9 (Manhattanville, Morningside Hght.) Theodore Kovaleff 565 West 125 St., 10027 864-6200
  • 10 (Ctrl. Harlem) Barbara Askins 215 W. 125 St., 10027, 749-3105
  • 11 (E. Harlem, Randall's & Ward's Isl.) Eddie Baca 55 E. 115 St., 10029 831-8929
  • 12 (Inwood, Washington Heights) Marvin Higgins 711 West 168 St., 10032 568-8500

Council Districts

  • 1: Kathryn E. Freed (D) 51 Chambers St., Suite 429, 10007 788-7722, fax 788-7727
  • 2: Antonio Pagan (D-L) 237 1st Ave., Suite 405 477-1203, fax 477-0776
  • 3: Thomas K. Duane (D-L) 275 7th Ave., 12th flr., 10001, 929-5501, fax 929-5562
  • 4: Andrew Eristoff (R-L) 409 E. 14th St., Suite B , 10009, 473-4960, fax 473-6295
  • 5: Charles Millard (R-L) 336 E. 73rd St., Suite C , 10021, 535-5554, fax 535-6098
  • 6: Ronnie M. Eldridge (D-L) 10 Columbus Circle, Suite 1490, 10019, 765-4339, fax 765-4805
  • 7: Stanley E. Michels (D-L) 656 W. 181 St. , 10033 928-1322, fax 740-5839
  • 8: Adam Clayton Powell IV (D-L) 159 E. 116th St. , 10029, 427-0700, fax 427-7540
  • 9: C. Virginia Fields (D-L) 163 W. 125th St., Suite 729, 10027, 662-4440, fax 932-1130
  • 10: Guillermo Linares (D) 656 W. 181 St., 2nd flr., 10033, 781-0856, fax 740-1573

Congressional Districts

  • 62 (Lower E. Side, Battery Park City) Sheldon Silver (D-L) Speaker of the Assembly 270 Broadway, Rm. 1800, 10007 385-6611, fax 385-6619
  • 63 (Lower E. Side, Stuyvesant Town, Peter Cooper Village Tudor City) Steven Sanders (D-L), 201 E. 16th St., 4th Flr., 10003 979-9696, fax 979-0594
  • 64 (Chelsea, Clinton, Murray Hill, Midtown, West Side) Richard N. Gottfried (D-L) 242 West 27th St., 10001 807-7900, fax 243-2035
  • 65 (Upper East Side, Roosevelt Island) Alexander B. "Pete" Grannis (D) 1672 1st Ave., 10128 860-4906, fax 996-3046
  • 66 (Greenwich Village, SoHo, TriBeCa, NoHo, Chelsea, Union Square) Deborah J. Glick (D-L) 853 Brdwy., Room. 2120, 10003 674-5153, fax 674-5530
  • 67 (Upper W. Side, 42nd - 88th St.) Scott M. Stringer (D-L) 230 W. 72nd St., 10023 873-6368, fax 873-6520
  • 68 (East Harlem) Frank Diaz (D-L) 218 E. 106 St. , 10029 369-9002, fax 369-8627
  • 69 (Upper W. Side, 88th - 125th St.) Edward C. Sullivan (D) 245 W. 104 St., 1D, 10025 866-3970, fax 864-1095
  • 70 (Ctrl. Harlem) Keith L.T. Wright (D-L) 163 W. 125 St., Suite 920, 10027 866-5809, fax 864-1368
  • 71 (Washington Height., Harlem) Herman "Denny" Farrell Jr. (D) 2541-55 A. Clayton Powell Blvd., 10039 234-1430, fax 234-1868
  • 72 (Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill) John Brian Murtaugh (D-L) 656 W. 204th St., Apt. 3, 10034 304-2090 fax 942-7164
  • 73 (Upper East Side) John A. Ravitz (R-L) 251 E. 77th St., 10021 861-9061, fax 861-5273

Senatorial Districts

  • 25 (Lower E. Side, E. Village, Financial Dist., Bklyn Hght) Martin Connor (D-L) Minority Leader 270 Brdwy., 18th fl., 10007 E-mail: connor@senate.state.ny.us 417-5531, fax 964-5776
  • 26 (E.Sde., 14th - 96th St) Roy Goodman (R-L) 270 Brdwy. Suite 2400, 10007 e-mail: goodman@senate.state.ny.us 417-5563, fax 417-5566
  • 27 (W. Sde., Clinton, Chelsea, Grnwch. Vill., Battery Park City) Catherine M. Abate (D-L) 270 Brdwy., Room 608A , e-mail: abate@senate.state.ny.us 417-5504, fax 964-4775
  • 28 (E. Harlem, Sth. Brnx., Yorkville, Roosevelt Isl.) Olga Mendez (D-L-R) 2130 3rd Ave., 10035 e-mail:mendez@senate.state.ny.us 860-0893 fax 831-0530
  • 29 (Harlem, Upper W. Side, Wash. Heights) David Paterson (D-L) 163 W. 125 St., Suite 932, 10027 fax 678-0001 e-mail:paterson@senate.state.ny.us 961-8500
  • 30 (W. Side Chelsea - Inwood, NW. Brnx.).Franz S. Leichter (D-L) 10 Columbus Circle, Suite 1470, 10019 e-mail:leichter@senate.state.ny.us 397-5913 fax 397-3201

Statewide Elected Officials

  • Governor: George Pataki (R-C-TCN) 2 WTC.,.57th Floor, 10047 417-2100, fax 417-4709
  • Lt.Gov.: Mary Gonohue (R-C-TCN) 2 WTC., 57th fl., 10047 417-5640
  • Attorney General: Eliot Spitzer (R-C-TCN) 120 Brdwy., 10271 416-8000, fax 416-8942
  • State Comptroller: H. Carl McCall (D-L) 270 Broadway., Room 2309, 10007 417-5003/5009 fax 417-5544

Handicapped

  • Advocate for the Disabled (800) 522-4369
  • Blind/Visually Handicapped Library (800) 342-3688

Health

  • AIDS Discrimination Hotline 807-8624
  • AIDS Hotline 807-6655
  • Cancer Information Service (800) 4-CANCER
  • Health Department 442-1999
  • New York State AIDS Hotline (800) 872-2777
  • NY State Alcohol & Substance Abuse (800) 522-5353
  • New York State Breast Cancer Hotline (800) 877-8077
  • Poison Control Center 340-4494

Immigration

  • Coast Guard 668-7936
  • Green Card Information (718) 899-4000
  • Passport & Visa Information 630 5th Ave 399-5290
  • Secret Service 466-4400
  • US Customs (718) 553-1824

Information

  • New York Public Library Locations 340-0849
  • New York Public Library Phone Reference 340-0849

Jury Duty

  • Citizens Jury Project 233-5520
  • Jury Duty 374-8684
  • Juror Info Line (800) NY-JUROR

Legal Action

  • Citizens Committee for New York 989-0909
  • Civil Court Line 791-6000
  • DHCR Manhattan 240-6010
  • DHRC Dept. of Housing-Comm. Renewal (718) 739-6400
  • Housing Preservation & Development 960-4800
  • Ins. for Media & Conflict Resolution 233-2405/690-5700
  • Metropolitan Council on Housing 198 Broadway 693-0550
  • NY Bar Assoc. Monday Night Law Clinic 36 West 44th St.
  • New York Bar Association Referral Line 626-7373
  • NYS Tenant & Neighborhood Coalition 695-8922
  • US Attorney's Office (718) 330-7000

Small Claims

  • Small Claims Courts     
  • 111 Centre St., Room 323, Manhattan, NY 374-5776     
  • 120-55 Queens Blvd. Kew Gardens, Queens, NY 11424     (718) 520-3633     
  • 141 Livingston St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 643-7913/4     
  • 927 Carleton Ave, Staten Isl., NY 10310 (718) 390-5421     
  • 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx NY 10451 (718) 590-3568
  • Small Claim Support Line 349-6460

Mail

  • Post Offices, Selected List:
  • Cooper 93 4th Ave. 254-1389
  • FDR 909 3rd Ave. 330-5549
  • Main 8th Ave & 33rd St. 330-2908
  • Manhattanville 365 W. 125th St. 662-1901
  • Mail Fraud, Theft, Obscenity 330-3844
  • Post Office Answer Line 330-4000
  • Post Office Consumer Affairs Off. 421 8th Ave. 330-3668
  • Postmaster's Office 330-3601 / 330-3668
  • Zip Code Information 967-8585

Media

Local Papers

  • Downtown Express 242-6162
  • Manhattan Spirit 268-8600
  • NY Press 941-1130
  • Our Town 268-8600
  • The Resident 679-1850

Newspapers

  • Daily News 210-NEWS
  • The New York Times 556-1234
  • Post 815-8500
  • Village Voice 475-3333
  • Wall St. Journal 416-3131

Shows

  • Shame on You, CBS 975-9339
  • Troubleshooter Hotline, CBS 582-0220
  • Consumer Update, New 4 New York 765-4272
  • Steals and Deals, CNBC (201) 585-2622

Television

  • ABC 456-7777
  • NBC 664-4444
  • FOX 452-3800
  • NY1 NY1-NEWS
  • WOR 642-4500
  • WPIX 949-1100

Wire Services

  • Associated Press 621-1500
  • Reuters 603-3401
  • United Press International 560-110

Medical

  • Access-a-ride Transportation Program 240-4119
  • AIDS Hotline 807-6655
  • Dept. of Health, Div. of Professional Misconduct 613-2650
  • Doctors 613-2650
  • Doctors on Call 238-2100
  • Medical Information Bureau (617) 426-3660
  • New York State AIDS Hotline (800) 872-2777

Moving

  • Department of Transportation (718) 482-4816

Parking

  • NYC Parking Rule Suspensions 556-4121
  • Parking Garages, Selected List
  • Gracie Public Parking 401 E 89th St
  • Kinney 201 E. 87th St.
  • Monterey Garage 137 W 89th St.
  • Square West End Ave 1 West End Ave (60th St.)
  • Turban Realities 401 W 42nd St.
  • Parking Information (718) 361-8000
  • Parking Violations Bureau 477-4430
  • Parking Violation Help Centers
  • 770 Broadway 477-4430
  • 1400 Williamsbridge Rd., Bronx (718) 409-1618
  • 210 Joralemon St., Brooklyn (718) 802-3531
  • 89-61 162 St. Jamaica, Queens (718) 523-6010
  • 250 St. Marks Place, Staten Island (718) 390-5452
  • Parking Violations Help Line 477-4430
  • Ticket Fighters 666-6514
  • Traffic Enforcement Agency, Investigations Unit 996-8584

Personal

Disease

  • Herpes Hotline 628-9154

Drugs

  • Alcoholics Anonymous 647-1680 / 683-3900
  • Cocaine Anonymous 496-4266
  • Cocaine Hotline (800) 262-2463
  • Crack Hotline 374-KRAK
  • Narcotics Anonymous (718) 805-9835

Mental Health

  • Gay & Lesbian Switchboard 777-1800
  • Growing Up Healthy Hotline (800) 342-9871
  • Incest Survivors Hotline 227-3000
  • Mental Health Counseling Hotline 734-5876
  • Mood Disorders Support Group 533-MDSG
  • NYS Dept. of Social Services Information (800) 342-3009
  • Sleep Hotline 439-2992

Violence

  • Domestic Violence Crisis Line (800) 942-6906
  • Elderly Abuse Hotline 277-1227

Pets

  • A.S.P.C.A. 441 E. 92nd St. 876-7701 a.m. 876-7711 p.m.
  • Animal Medical Center 510 E. 62nd St 838-8100
  • Animal Poison Control 340-4494
  • Bide A Wee 532-4455
  • Mobile Veterinary Unit (718) 373-0240 Queens (718) 575-5152 Brooklyn
  • Pet Ambulance 491-5300
  • Pet Taxi 227 E. 56th St. 755-1757

Police

  • National Police Complaint Center
  • Civilian Complaint Review Board 323-8750
  • Closest Police Precinct 374-5000
  • Police Headquarters Special Fraud Division 374-6850

Residential

  • Con Edison Gas Emergency 683-8830
  • Department of Buildings 312-8530
  • DHRC Dept. of Housing, Community Renewal 739-6400
  • Department of Housing, Preservation (718) 960-4800
  • Department of State, Division of Licensing 417-5747
  • DHCR Manhattan 240-6010
  • Electric or Steam Emergency 683-0862
  • Heat, hot water, maintenance 960-4800
  • Housing Preservation & Development 960-4800
  • Metropolitan Council on Housing 198 Broadway 693-0550
  • NY State Tenant & Neighborhood Coalition 695-8922
  • Rent, Housing & Maintenance Dept., Complaint 960-4800

Taxes

  • Tax Help (718) 935-6736

Telecommunications

  • Annoyance Call Bureau 890-6200
  • NYC On-Line Guide to Cable Complaints
  • Department of Telecommunications 75 Park Pl. 788-6540
  • New York State Cable Commission (800) 342-3330
  • NY State Public Service Commission (800) 342-3377
  • Nynex Helpline (800) 722-2300

Transportation

Air

  • Air Ride Buses (800) 247-7433
  • Carey's Airport Buses (718) 632-0509
  • JFK Internat'l (718) 244-4444 Lost & Found 656-4520
  • LaGuardia (718) 533-3400 Lost & Found (718) 533-3935
  • Newark (201) 961-2000 Lost & Found (201) 961-6230 Heliports
  • 32th St. Helicopter 889-0986
  • Downtown Manhattan Heliport 248-7240
  • New York Helicopter (800) 645-3494
  • West 30th St Heliport 563-4442

General

  • Metro. Transit Authority Customer Service (718) 330-3322
  • Metro. Transit Authority Inspector General's Office (800) MTA-4448
  • NJ Transit NJ (800) 772-2222 out of state (201) 762-5100
  • NYC Transit Lost & Found (718) 625-6200
  • Port Authority 564-8484 Imperial Ferry (800) 53-FERRY
  • Staten Island Rapid Transit (718) 447-8601
  • Straphangers Campaign 349-6460
  • Subway and Bus Information (718) 330-1234

Maritime

  • Hoboken-Battery Ferry (201) 420-6307
  • Staten Island Ferry 806-6940
  • Statue of Liberty Ferry (718) 390-5253

Rail

  • Amtrak (800) 872-7245
  • Amtrak Metroliner (800) 872-7245
  • Long Island Rail Road (718) 454-5477
  • MetroNorth 532-4900 Lost & Found baggage 340-2555
  • PATH Trains (800) 234-7284 Lost & Found 435-2611

Road

  • Air Ride Buses (800) 247-7433
  • Carey's Airport Buses (718) 632-0509
  • Derelict Autos 924-2946
  • see Cars
  • Express Bus Service (outer boroughs) 994-5500
  • George Washington, Bridge Bus Station 564-1114
  • Greyhound Buses 971-6363
  • New York Road Conditions 566-3406
  • Private Bus Lines 669-4500
  • Shadow Traffic Report 566-4121
  • Taxi & Limousine Commission 221 W 41st St. 302-TAXI

Workplace