Press Room

Contact Information

Jamie Lettis
Public Relations Director
(202) 454-3006
[email protected]

About Consumers' Checkbook/Center for the Study of Services

Consumers' Checkbook is published by the Center for the Study of Services, an independent nonprofit consumer organization founded in 1974. For 50 years we have been an innovator in providing information to help consumers make smarter choices.

Consumers' Checkbook's mission is to provide comprehensive information to help people save time, money, and avoid hassles. We also provide ratings on the quality and prices of local services in seven metro areas: Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Philadelphia, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, and Seattle-Puget Sound regions.

Unlike other ratings organizations, information shared by Checkbook is free of bias—we carry no advertising and accepts no referral fees from the companies and professionals we evaluate. Checkbook is supported entirely by subscription payments and donations from individual consumers who subscribe to its publications and website, and by fees for its survey and information services.

Checkbook has invented many consumer information products and systems and has won various awards, including the National Press Club's First Place Award for Excellence in Consumer Journalism, the Esther Peterson Consumer Service Award, the National Quality Forum's Consumers and Patients Quality Award, and the Robert Wood Johnson's Plan Choice Challenge. Visit HealthPlanRatings.org to read more about Checkbook's work developing health insurance plan comparison tools for state exchange websites.

Consumers' Checkbook's experts are available for interviews. Please contact Jamie Lettis, public relations director, to schedule. She can be reached at 202.454.3006 or [email protected].

Nonprofit, independent ratings of local service providers on quality & price since 1974. We accept no advertising.

Checkbook in the News

A bad mover can cost you thousands. Here’s how to spot one.
October 29, 2025 | The Washington Post

Action News Troubleshooters help woman recover money from home warranty company
October 21, 2025 | 6ABC Philadelphia

Which consumer websites are the best for finding discounts and avoiding scams?
October 20, 2025 | KOMO News Seattle

Why paying out-of-pocket for prescriptions might be cheaper than your insurance copay
October 16, 2025 | WTOP

Delta Air Lines' weird rule is leaving Americans stranded overseas
October 13, 2025 | Yahoo

How to save money and avoid headaches when buying new windows
October 09, 2025 | The Washington Post

CBS Philadelphia helps resolve New Jersey woman's travel insurance issue after months of effort
October 06, 2025 | CBS 3 Philadelphia

When it comes to electrical work, find a Twin Cities pro to do the job
October 04, 2025 | Minnesota Star Tribune

Need electrical work done? You’ll want to go pro
October 03, 2025 | The Philadelphia Inquirer

Looking to save money? Avoid these common expenses not worth the cost
October 02, 2025 | ABC7 Washington

Home renovation projects under $1,000
September 22, 2025 | Redfin.com

Do you need to buy the rental company's car insurance?
September 20, 2025 | ABC Boston

When to use 'Buy Now, Pay Later' and when to avoid it
September 17, 2025 | FOX Chicago

Tips for hiring an affordable landscaper in the Twin Cities
September 06, 2025 | Minnesota Star Tribune

Behind the greens: Tips for hiring a landscaper
September 05, 2025 | The Philadelphia Inquirer

How to save money on prescription drugs — with or without insurance
September 01, 2025 | NBC Chicago

Medical bill errors: Consumer groups say it happens more than you think
May 05, 2025 | ABC Charlotte

What to know about warranties after Delaware woman's dishwasher dilemma
April 28, 2025 | CBS 3 Philadelphia

Consumerman Herb Weisbaum warns of ‘wild west’ marketplace as federal protections weaken
April 24, 2025 | KIRO News Seattle

Why prices for used vehicles are expected to increase in 2025
April 06, 2025 | KOMO News Seattle