Publications and Brochures

Auto Buying, Financing and Repair

Effective July 1, 2017, Illinois law now requires that some used vehicles be sold with a 15-day/500-mile powertrain warranty to protect consumers who buy used vehicles. For more information, please review our Used Car Buying Guide and our Consumer Checklist to help you purchase a used car.

• Consumer Guide to Buying a Used Vehicle (PDF)  (En Español)
• Buying a Used Vehicle: Consumer Checklist (PDF)  (En Español)
• FAQ for Car Dealers on Used Car Powertrain Warranty Requirement (PDF)
• Buying A New Vehicle (PDF)
• Illinois Administrative Rules On Motor Vehicle Advertising
  
• Illinois Automotive Repair Act (HTML) (PDF)
• Automotive Collision Repair Act (Public Act 093-0565)
• As Is Cars: Know the Warning Signs Poster (English)  
  (En Español)  (Chinese)  (Korean)
• Things You Should Know About...Illinois Lemon Law (HTML) (PDF)
• Protección para Compradores de Vehículos Nuevos (HTML) (PDF)
  

Charitable Giving

• Investigate Before You Donate (PDF)
• Be an Informed Donor (HTML) (PDF)
• The Savvy Consumer’s Checklist Donating Wisely (PDF)

Children and Youth Issues

• Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention (Engish) (Español)
• Safe Kids: Protecting Children from Unintentional Injury (PDF)
• Preventing Furniture Tip-Over Deaths, English (8.5” x 11”) (11” x 17”)
• Preventing Furniture Tip-Over Deaths, Spanish (8.5” x 11” ) (11” x 17”)
• Protecting Children from Unsafe Children's Products (PDF)

Credit and Lending Issues

• Advance Fee Loans (PDF)
• Credit Cards (HTML) (PDF)
• Credit Reporting (HTML English) (PDF English) (PDF Polish) (PDF Spanish)
  (HTML Spanish)
• Debt Collection (HTML) (PDF)
• FACT Act (Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act) (PDF)
• How to Obtain a Free Credit Report (HTML) (PDF English) (PDF Español)
• Looking for a Mortgage (PDF English) (PDF Español)
• Home Owner Rights (PDF English) (PDF Español)
• Mortgage Lending Guide (PDF English) (PDF Español)
• Mortgage Loan Tips (PDF) (PDF Español)
• Mortgage Loan Product Worksheet (PDF) (PDF Español)
• Mortgage Rescue Fraud (PDF)
• Mortgage Rescue Fraud Brochure (PDF) (PDF Español)
• The Truth About Payday Loans (HTML) (PDF) (PDF Español)
• The Payday Loan Reform Act (PDF)
• Predatory Lending (PDF)
• Refund Anticipation Loans (Instant Tax Refund Loans) (HTML) (PDF) (PDF Español)
• Reverse Mortgages (PDF)

General Consumer Issues and Information on Common Scams

• Fraud Alerts (PDF) (PDF Español)
• Beware of Government Impostors (PDF) (PDF Español)
• Social Security Benefits Scam (PDF)
• The Grandparent Scam (PDF)
• Just Hang Up! Avoid Telephone Scams (PDF) (PDF Español)
• Check 21 Facts (PDF)
• Consumer Tips Brochure (PDF)
• Electronic Checks, Substitue Checks, and Demand Drafts (PDF)
• Employment Services (HTML) (PDF)
• Electronic Check Conversion (PDF)
• Immigration Fraud (HTML)
• Immigration Fraud (PDF English)
• Immigration Fraud (PDF Español)
• Immigration Right Poster (PDF English)
• Immigration Fraud Poster (PDF Español)
• International Lottery Scams (PDF)
• Internet Employment Scams (PDF)
• Magazine Sales (HTML) (PDF)
• Multilevel Marketing (HTML) (PDF)
• Pyramid Schemes (HTML) (PDF)
• Protecting Your Small Business (HTML) (PDF)
• Natural Gas Price Spiral Report (PDF)
• Scholarship Services (HTML) (PDF)
• Small Claims Court (HTML)
• Sweepstakes and Contests (HTML) (PDF)
• Three Day Right to Cancel (HTML) (PDF)
• Derecho de Cancelar (HTML) (PDF)
• Travel (HTML) (PDF)
• Work-At-Home Schemes (HTML) (PDF)

Health Care Issues

• Health Care Discount Plan English     Español
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) (PDF)
• Illinois Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act - Continuity of Care (PDF)
• Illinois Managed Care Reform and Patient Rights Act - Appeals and Independent Reviews (PDF)
• Social Security Number Removal Initiative (PDF) (PDF Español)
• Your Patient Rights - The Fair Patient Billing Act (PDF)

Home Repair and Housing Issues

• Choosing a Natural Gas or Electricity Supplier (PDF)
• Contract for Deed/Installment Sales Contract Buyer’s Notice (PDF)
• Financing Home Repairs (PDF)
• Home Heating, Gas and Electric Consumer Rights (PDF)
• Home Equity (HTML) (PDF) (PDF Español)
• Home Repair and Construction (HTML) (PDF)
• Home Repair and Construction: How to Choose a Contractor (PDF)
• Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights (Color) (PDF) (PDF Español)
  (PDF Polish)
• Home Repair and Remodeling Act (HTML)
  
• Household Moves (HTML) (PDF)
  
• Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws (PDF)  (PDF Español) (HTML Español)
  
• LIHEAP Alert (PDF)
  
• The Natural Gas Price Spiral Report (PDF)
  
• The Savvy Consumer’s Checklist - Home Repair (PDF)
  
• Three Day Right to Cancel Home Repair (HTML) (PDF)
  
• Tips To Avoid Home Repair Fraud (HTML)

Identity Theft

• Consumer’s Checklist Protecting Your Identity (PDF)
• Identity Theft Hotline (HTML)
• Information Security and Security Breach Notification Guide (PDF)
• Illinois Identity Theft Hotline brochure (PDF)
• Placing A Security Freeze On Your Credit Report (PDF in English)
• Identity Theft Resource Guide for Illinois Consumers (PDF)
• ID Theft Affidavit (PDF)
• Reporting Identity Theft as a Victim (PDF)
• Carta de Robo de identidad (HTML)
• Robo de identidad (HTML)

Immigrant Assistance Program

• Know Your Rights (PDF)
(en Español) (mobile version) (printable pocket-sized guide)
• Immigration Services Providers: Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
(en Español)
• Avoiding Dishonest Immigration Services Providers (PDF)

Internet Issues

• Online Auctions (HTML) (PDF)
  
• Online Scams (HTML) (PDF)
  
• Shopping on the Internet (PDF)
  
• Holiday Shopping Online (PDF)
• Holiday Shopping Online (PDF) Polish

Student Issues

• Student Loan Assistance: Helping Student Borrowers Manage Debt (PDF)
• Student Loan Debt Relief: Do Your Homework (PDF)
• College Prep: How to Make the Right Choice for Your Future (PDF)

Telecommunications

• Just Hang Up Fact Sheet (PDF) (PDF Espanol)
• Unwanted Junk Mail and Telemarketing Calls (HTML) (PDF)

CONSUMER FRAUD HOTLINES

Spanish Language Hotline: 1-866-310-8398