Giving Safely During the Holidays
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office is working to help consumers make the most of their money this holiday season. To help you create the best holiday for your family, we have put together this list of consumer resources for the holiday season, including tips to protect yourself from identity thieves, tools to research your charitable donations and information to ensure the gifts you buy are safe for those intended to enjoy them.
Topics:
Gift Giving
Toy Safety
Charitable Contributions
Protecting Holiday Consumers
Gift Giving The following sites offer additional information and tips for the holiday consumer:
On-line Holiday Shopping Tips from Consumers Union
Information on the many ways to pay for your gifts.Better Business Bureau
Check on a business’s reputation before making a big purchase or contracting a serviceCommon Sense Media
Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the media and entertainment lives of kids and families. They offer reviews and ratings of all forms of media, including Video Games, Music, and Web Sites.Digital Television Transition
Tips to help you understand if you are affected, what to do to prepare and how to avoid falling victim to scam artists selling expensive or unnecessary or equipment.Entertainment Software Rating Board
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings are designed to provide concise and impartial information about the content in computer and video games so consumers, especially parents, can make an informed purchase decision.
Thousands of toys are on the market, each promising to educate or entertain children. Unfortunately, as the recalls of millions of toys in 2007 have shown, not every toy is safe. Toy buyers can help protect children from injury by being careful, vigilant shoppers.
Shopping Tips 
- Choose toys with care. Keep in mind the child's age, interests and skill level.
- Look for quality design and construction in all toys for all ages.
- Make sure that all directions or instructions are clear -- to you, and, when appropriate, to the child.
- Be a label reader. Look for and heed age recommendations, such as "Not recommended for children under three". Look for other safety labels including: "Flame retardant/Flame resistant" on fabric products and "Washable/hygienic materials" on stuffed toys and dolls.
- Plastic wrappings on toys should be discarded at once before they become deadly playthings.
- Avoid choking hazards. Do not buy small toys or toys with small parts for children under 3, or any child who still puts things in their mouth.
- Buy children accessories for safety. Toys such as bicycles, scooters, skateboards and inline skates are safer when children wear protective gear. If you plan to give any of these toys as gifts, make them safer by also giving a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards.
- Avoid children's toys that contain lead or toxic chemicals.
- Stay informed of recalls. You can check recall information by contacting the Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CPSC") at www.cpsc.gov or calling their consumer hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Sources: US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Public Interest Research Group
For more tips and information on toy safety, check the following Web sites:
Federal Recall Information
Up-to-date information on all federal recalls, including toys, food and electronics.Public Interest Research Group
Offers information to protect children from the hazardous toys, including Trouble In Toyland: The 23rd Annual Survey of Toy Safety.Toy Industry Association
Offers information on toy safety, tips for selecting toys and recall updates.
Report a Dangerous Toy
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has the authority to recall dangerous toys and products from the market. If you think a toy or product is hazardous, contact the CPSC and submit a report by:
Phone: 800.638.2772
Web: https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx
Email: info@cpsc.gov
Charitable ContributionsThe following sites allow you to check on the financial health and standards of large charities and provides tips on giving efficiently and responsibly:
Charity Navigator
Evaluates the financial health of over 5,300 of America's largest charitiesGuideStar
Gathers and publicizes information about nonprofit organizations.
Top 10 Consumer Scams
Avoid the most common scams against Arizona consumers
Identity Theft Repair Kit
Crucial information for victims of identity theft
If you have questions or are worried you may be a victim of a scam or fraud, contact the Attorney General’s Office at:
| PHOENIX OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Consumer Information and Complaints 1275 West Washington Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2926 602.542.5763 or 800.352.8431 (outside of the Phoenix Metro Area) consumerinfo@azag.gov |
TUCSON OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Consumer Information and Complaints 400 West Congress South Building, Suite 315 Tucson, Arizona 85701-1367 520.628.6504 or 800.352.8431 consumerinfo@azag.gov |
Additional information can be found on the Consumer page of the Attorney General’s Web site.