Urban Help Orgs I-Z (Texas)

TX Dept. of Insurance (Texas)
Regulates all types of insurance companies and insurance agents.

www.insure.com
Provides well written, authoritative advice on buying home and other insurance as well as dealing with insurers. Buyers can search for firms offering specific coverage in their state and can check a company's strength. You can also link to insurance companies, quote services and agents, but any selling takes place off their website site.

See Consumer-SOS/Insurance

Legal

Free Lawyers For People With Low Incomes (Texas)
Have a legal dispute? Click on the letter's) below that correspond to the first letter(s) of the County you are searching for, then scroll down or use your browser's "Find" feature to jump straight to that County.

Office Of The Consumer Credit Commissioner (Texas)
To protect consumers from abusive and deceptive practices regarding mortgages and home loans. Also polices regulated lenders or registered creditors.

Consumer Problems With Homebuilders (Texas)
For who regulates them see Question #2 of their FAQs

Where To Complain To (Texas)
Toll free numbers to call when you have problems concerning, abuse, children, disabilities, discrimination, insurance, health care, housing, lawyers, Medicaid, nursing homes, public benefits, and more.

Search Opinions Of The Texas Attorney General For Your Consumer Issue

Find The AARP In Your State
The AARP offers legal advocacy for seniors and may also have state specific consumer brochures which are available to everyone.

For More Help, See Lawyers, Courts & Self Help

Media & NonProfits

Call For Action
Staff of volunteers hear consumer complaints and act as mediators between the service provider and aggrieved consumer and seller. These volunteers often have the clout of a major TV or radio station behind them which often makes people much more cooperative.

Your Local Better Business Bureau

Mortgage Issues & Loan Programs

If you want to buy a house but don't think you can afford the down payment, consider this: Many lenders offer programs which allow a buyer to get a home for as little as 3 percent by using mortgage insurance. The premiums vary, depending on the size of the down payment, type of mortgage, and the amount of insurance coverage.

Many of the groups below either regulate the Mortgage industry or offer assistance for lower income first time buyers. The website offer loans for anyone who qualifies.

Department Of Agriculture
For information about rural housing loan programs.

www.quickenmortgage.com/
Provides to be homeowners with information on their credit and obtaining a mortgage.

Bankrate Monitor
Will tell you the best rates for a mortgage or home equity loan.

www.eloan.com
Licensed in at least 40 states, E-LOAN allows consumers to apply for a home loan via e-mail. On this site, consumers can search for the best rates on mortgages and home equity loans. It costs nothing to apply for a loan and your application will get a response within 24 to 48 hours.

www.hsh.com
Current and past mortgage rates and market commentary. Loan terms and conditions explained.

Federal Trade Commission-Division Of Credit Practices Bureau Of Consumer Protection (202) 326-3224
For complaints, and reporting unfair lending practices.

Federal Housing Administration (800) 225-5342
For information about FHA-insured home mortgage loans on one to four family dwellings.

HUD Customer Service Distribution Center (800) 767-7468
Can order lots of government publications on your legal rights.

HUD Counseling Clearing House (888) 466-3487
Provides a variety of contacts and information for first-time home buyers, owners, renters and people at risk of default or foreclosure. |

Fannie Mae (800) 732-6643
Lender with various home ownership programs.

Moving Companies (Complaints)

Where To Complain To (Texas)
Toll free numbers to call when you have problems concerning, abuse, children, disabilities, discrimination, insurance, health care, housing, lawyers, Medicaid, nursing homes, public benefits, and more.

Federal Highway Adminstration (FHWA) (202) 358-7027(to check on licensing)
For complaints, licensing and insurance status on interstate moving companies.

American Moving & Storage Association (703) 683-7410
They can tell you if the mover is licensed. For disputes, you have only 60 days after a move to request for arbitration with an interstate mover. All requests must be in writing.

Find The AARP In Your State
The AARP offers legal advocacy for seniors and may also have state specific consumer brochures which are available to everyone.

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Nuisances

Nuisance Abatement Can Stop Crime (Texas)
Under the Texas nuisance abatement statute, any property can be closed down by court order if it is being use as a crack house, brothel, gang headquarters, or other base of operations for criminals. The statute works by holding the property owners and managers responsible for what happens on their property.

Texas Municipal Codes (85 City Codes Online)
Learn how your city treats zoning, nuisances, elections and more.

Lighting Up for Crime Prevention (HTML)
See right hand side Table of Contents. Outlines the frameworks in which lighting is used to prevent crime, presents key questions to help assess lighting needs, presents evidence of lighting's impact, and suggests numerous resources.

Neighborhood Watch Gets Residents Prepared
See right hand side Table of Contents. Provides residents with the information they need to strengthen their communities and effectively prevent and respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, or any kind of disaster through a Neighborhood Watch Program.

How To Start Your Own Neighborhood Watch (Good For All States)
See Also Basic Tips To Follow For Stopping Crime

Health & Safety

Animals

Neighborhood Organizations
Find out about neighborhood watches and other community groups in your area or anywhere else throughout the country.

Zoning

Parks

Check your city government pages in the phone book for "parks" or "recreation"

Realtors/Brokers

Texas Mortgage Brokers & Loan Officers (Who Regulates Them)
Report bad conduct to the Savings & Loan Dept which regulates over 12,000 mortgage brokers and loan officers throughout Texas.

Real Estate Links For Most States and Big Cities

For more on who regulates them,
See Occupational Licensing Boards

RESPA

RESPA Enforcement (202) 708-4560
Regulates escrow and loan servicing accounts (the taxes and insurance on a mortgage).

FAQs On RESPA From HUD

RESPA Resource Links For Many Of The States
For more information about RESPA and where to for complaints.

Streets/Sidewalks

Texas Municipal Codes (85 City Codes Online)
Learn how your city treats zoning, nuisances, elections and more.

City Code Site (All 50 States, Not DC)
Learn how your city code treats, garbage, nuisance and safety hazards.

Also check your city government pages in the phone book for "public works" or "streets and sidewalks."

Taxes

Tax Assessor Data Base (All 50 States, Not DC)
Find phone numbers and links to tax assessors throughout the US.

See Consumer-SOS-Taxes

Transportation

Department Of Transportation (DOTs)(50 States, Not DC)
For help with car related issues ie, car damaged caused by pavement, unsafe streets, traffic, bridges and roads, etc.

See Carpools

Trees

City Code Site (All 50 States, Not DC)
Learn how your city code treats, garbage, nuisance and safety hazards.

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Truth In Lending Problems

Texas Mortgage Brokers & Loan Officers (Who Regulates Them)
Report bad conduct to the Savings & Loan Dept which regulates over 12,000 mortgage brokers and loan officers throughout Texas.

Search Opinions Of The Texas Attorney General For Your Consumer Issue

Federal Reserve Board
For information on the Truth In Lending Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

Utilities

Assistance With Your Utility Bills (Texas)

For More See Phones & Utilities

Veterans

The Department Of Veteran Affairs (800) 827-1000
For information about the various programs available to veterans.

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Zoning

City Code Site (All 50 States, Not DC)
Learn how your city code treats, garbage, nuisance and safety hazards.

Also check your phone book's city & county government pages for
you local "Zoning Enforcement Divison."