For Citizens
For Citizens Federal Citizen Information Center

The Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) has been a trusted one-stop source for answers to questions about consumer problems and government services for over 30 years. Consumers have contacted FCIC’s Pueblo, Colorado 81009 address for timely, practical information in print, over the phone, via e-mail, or on the web.

FCIC hosts the:

  • National Contact Center;
  • Consumer Information Catalog;
  • Consumer Action Handbook; and
  • FCIC Assistance on the Web (FirstGov.gov, Kids.gov, the Consumer Information Catalog, and the Consumer Action Website).

National Contact Center

FCIC manages a toll-free national contact center with specially trained staff to answer questions in English and Spanish about all aspects of the federal government. The public can get help by calling toll-free 1 (800) FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time to speak to a live agent. Recorded information on popular topics is also available around the clock.

Consumer Information Catalog

The Consumer Information Catalog is published four times a year and contains descriptive listings of about 200 free or low-cost federal publications. The publications are also available online at Pueblo.gsa.gov. Topics include health, federal benefits, money management, housing, employment, small business, education, food and nutrition, cars, travel, consumer protection and more. The Catalog is available through schools, libraries, consumer groups, federal offices with large numbers of visitors, congressional offices and in response to individual requests.

Consumer Action Handbook

Published continuously since 1979, the Consumer Action Handbook is one of the most helpful and popular consumer resources. This 168-page guide is designed to help citizens find the best and most direct source for assistance with their consumer problems and questions. The Handbook offers tips on topics such as buying and leasing cars, protecting against fraud, and shopping from home. It also includes a sample complaint form that consumers can use as a guide for their own letter, fax or e-mail. The Handbook also has thousands of names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses for Better Business Bureaus, corporate consumer contacts and state, county and city government consumer protection offices.

FCIC Assistance on the Web:

  • FirstGov.gov is the "Front Door" to government information, services, and transactions. This site pulls together more than 180 million federal, state and local government web pages. Here, citizens can get easy-to-understand information and services from the government 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They can also use an e-mail form to send questions and comments about any government program for an answer within two business days.
  • At Pueblo.gsa.gov, consumers can read, print out, or save the current Consumer Information Catalog and the full text of all the publications listed in it. Consumers can access additional information on a wide range of subjects by clicking on different topic headings. Hundreds of publications, the latest product recalls and scams, updates of consumer news from various federal agencies, and a calendar of consumer-related events are also available.
  • Kids.gov is the official interagency children's portal to the U.S. government. The site features more than 400 kid-friendly links in one easy-to-find place. Links are organized by topic area and by whether they are a government agency, school, private or commercial organization. The links are safe and age-appropriate.
  • The Consumer Action Website is the Web version of the Consumer Action Handbook. The website has easy-to-follow links to the most useful federal websites; state, local and county consumer agencies; consumer organizations; and corporations and trade associations with ongoing consumer programs.
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Last Modified 7/27/2004