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The '''Federal Citizen Information Center''' (FCIC), originally the Federal Consumer Information Center, is a department in the United States government's General Services Administration. FCIC, founded in 1970, began as the Federal government's distribution outlet for free and low cost Federal consumer publications sent out from the Government Printing Office (GPO) facility in Pueblo, CO. Since 1970, FCIC’s mission has broadened significantly to include helping consumers interact with the Federal government via toll-free telephone numbers, print publications, and a family of web sites and other electronic resources. FCIC still distributes publications from Pueblo that cover subjects ranging from credit and investing to avoiding ID theft, getting a mortgage, applying for Federal benefits, and much more. Information from all of the publications (English and Spanish) is online at www.pueblo.gsa.gov, along with consumer news items, recalls, and consumer scam alerts. The most popular publication is the free ''Consumer Action Handbook'', an annual guide to making the best deals and protecting oneself in the marketplace. It also includes an extensive consumer assistance directory of government, private sector, and national organization contacts. The online version of the Handbook is available at ConsumerAction.gov or Consumidor.gov (Spanish). By visiting FirstGov.gov, consumers can get information and services from the government 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And, FCIC's toll-free National Contact Center provides Federal information to consumers who call 1 (800) FED-INFO (that's 1-800-333-4636). The FCIC distribution facility in Pueblo receives so much mail that the United States Postal Service assigned it its own ZIP code, 81009. Because of FCIC public service announcements, it is likely the second-most well-known ZIP code in the country, behind 90210 in Beverly Hills. View an archive of FCIC TV, radio, and print public service announcements. A 2006 FCIC audience survey showed that more than 26% of the respondents recognized Pueblo as a source of helpful Federal information. Services for Consumers FCIC helps consumers interact with the Federal government via toll-free telephone numbers, print publications, and it's family of websites and other electronic resources. Toll-free Telephone Numbers
FCIC manages a toll-free National Contact Center (NCC) with specially trained staff to answer questions in English and Spanish about all aspects of the Federal government. The NCC answers more than 1.5 million calls and e-mails a year-that's more than 4,100 questions a day! The public can get help from an agent by calling toll-free 1 (800) FED-INFO (that's 1-800-333-4636), Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET. Recorded information on the most popular topics and frequently asked questions is available around the clock. Consumers can also search the online database at info.gov.
Through the publication ordering hotline at the National Contact Center, 1 (888) 8 PUEBLO (that's 1-888-878-3256), consumers can request copies of the Consumer Action Handbook or Consumer Information Catalog and any of the other publications FCIC distributes. Consumers who call can speak to an agent Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET to place their order. Print Publications FCIC publishes two print resources, the ''Consumer Action Handbook'' and the ''Consumer Information Catalog''. FCIC also distributes hundreds of additional consumer publications, provided by Federal agencies and private sector partners, through the Pueblo, CO facility. Published continuously since 1979, the Consumer Action Handbook is one of the most popular consumer resources from the Federal government. The Handbook, produced by FCIC in cooperation with eight Federal and 28 corporate partners, is designed to help consumers make better purchasing decisions, avoid problems in the marketplace, and resolve difficulties that may arise. It includes information on buying cars, shopping from home, understanding credit, protecting privacy, avoiding identity theft, choosing cell phone and internet service providers, and much more. Organized into separate sections for pre-purchase information and resolving problems after a purchase, the Handbook also lists thousands of consumer contacts at companies, trade associations, Federal agencies, state and local consumer offices, and national consumer organizations and includes a sample complaint letter to help consumers successfully express problems to companies via regular mail, fax, or e-mail. The Handbook is online in English at ConsumerAction.gov and in Spanish at Consumidor.gov. And, FCIC is currently in the process of publishing a Spanish counterpart to the English print edition. Consumers can obtain a free copy of the Consumer Action Handbook by:
Each quarter FCIC revises and publishes the free Consumer Information Catalog and distributes more than 10 million copies annually. Each issue has descriptive listings of more than 200 free and low cost Federal publications, covering everything from staying healthy and buying Federal surplus property to building careers and obtaining credit. The Catalog is made available through schools, libraries, consumer groups, Federal and Congressional offices, and in response to individual requests. Orders for publications in the Catalog are received and filled by the GPO facility in Pueblo, CO. Consumers can obtain a free copy of the Consumer Information Catalog by submitting an online order through the web order form. Consumers can also sign-up to receive the Catalog each quarter. Electronic Resources
Information in Languages Other Than English
Services for Federal Agencies FCIC's multi-channel approach lets consumers get information through whatever means they desire, and enables agencies to reach their target audience through an array of channels. FCIC can provide a wide range of information services to Federal agencies. Publications and Websites
USA Services One of President Bush's 24 E-Government Initiatives, the '''USA Services''' program was founded on July 30, 2003 to help consumers easily access government information and services and at the same time assists other E-Gov Initiatives and Federal agencies in responding to consumer inquiries. USA Services utilizes the existing FCIC infrastructure to develop customer service solutions that improve the ease with which consumers interact with the government. USA Services also serves as a customer service solution provider for other federal agencies and E-Government initiatives and by establishing partnership agreements with other Federal agencies and E-Gov Initiatives the USA Services program provides a variety of services to help agencies respond to public inquiries.
Cooperative Publishing Although the majority of publications listed in the Consumer Information Catalog are developed by Federal agencies alone, some are produced jointly by government and private industry. Both industry and the government gain from jointly producing and distributing consumer booklets. For instance, when industry tries to get its message out, it reaches a certain portion of the population. The same is true for the government. But when they work together, the impact is greater than each working alone. The costs are lower, the public perception is positive, and a broader variety of information reaches consumers. FCIC has developed an innovative cooperative publishing program that encourages the Federal government and the private sector, including foundations, trade associations, and individual companies, to collaborate and create timely consumer publications. To date, more than 200 publications have been produced cooperatively for nationwide distribution by FCIC. Current partners include AARP, American Council on Education, American Express, America's Health Insurance Plans, MetLife, National Crime Prevention Council, National Pharmaceutical Council, the Soap and Detergent Association, and Visa. FCIC’s criteria for cooperative publications provide that the publication must:
Consumer Action Handbook Partnerships FCIC welcomes partnerships with Federal agencies and private sector organizations for the Consumer Action Handbook. Other organizations help fund the printing and distribution of the Handbook to ensure that as many consumers as possible have access to this information. For information on how your company or organization can become a sponsor of the Handbook, contact FCIC at (202) 501-1794. Services for the Media FCIC is available to help the media get information on the newest developments in areas that affect people's lives--health, children, homes, diets, finances, and more. Someone is available at FCIC's media hotline Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET at (202) 501-1794. If our staff can't answer media questions immediately, someone will research them and call back promptly with answers. FCIC staff will do everything possible to meet the media's needs. FCIC also offers the following free services to members of the media:
Awards Over the past 35 years, FCIC has received hundreds of awards for providing consumers with high quality information they can use to improve their lives. Here are some of the most recent honors. In 2006, the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators (NACAA) honored the Consumer Action Handbook and website with an Achievement in Consumer Education (ACE) Award and Forbes named www.pueblo.gsa.gov one of the Best of the Web sites. In 2005, Communications Concepts, Inc. presented the "You Want Me" print ad with an ''APEX Award for Publication Excellence'' and NACAA awarded ConsumerAction.gov with the ''Best Website'' award. In 2004, MerrCom, Inc. bestowed the Mercury Silver Award for the "Uncle Sams" PSA and the Questar Silver Award for the "In the Pink" PSA. | |||||||
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