Saturday, January 1, 2005 - Page updated at 12:00 a.m.

Consumer Guide

Medical, dental

Index

Check credentials
For doctors, dentists or other health-care providers in Washington, this Web site provides name, year of birth, and license-status information, including any current restrictions or disciplinary actions. Look up a practitioner by name or credential number.
www.doh.wa.gov/licensing.htm

Submit a complaint
For more information or to request the appropriate forms to complain about the misconduct of a health-care provider, phone or write to the Washington State Department of Health, Health Professions Quality Assurance.
P.O. Box 47865, Olympia, WA 98504-7865
360-236-4700

Check on pharmacists
Anyone in the state of Washington who distributes drugs to citizens has to be licensed, including mail-order and Internet pharmacies. To check out pharmacists, pharmacies, drug manufacturers and drug wholesalers, contact the Washington State Department of Health, Health Professions Quality Assurance. Call for information or to file a complaint.
P.O. Box 47863, Olympia, WA 98504-7863
800-896-0522
www.doh.wa.gov

Internet pharmacies
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy has developed a tool for consumers who wish to order drugs over the Internet: Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS). To be VIPPS certified, pharmacies must comply with the licensing and inspection requirements of their state and each state to which they dispense pharmaceuticals. Pharmacies displaying the VIPPS seal have demonstrated to NABP compliance with VIPPS criteria, including a patient's right to privacy, authentication and security of prescription orders, adherence to a recognized quality-assurance policy, and provision of meaningful consultation between patients and pharmacists. For a list of VIPPS-certified Internet pharmacies, go online:
www.nabp.net/vipps/

Moving companies

Index

You're moving to a new city or state, and need to hire a mover. Don't be one of the 9,403 consumers who filed complaints with the national Council of Better Business Bureaus in 2003. Moving can cost thousands of dollars, so do your homework in advance.

How you make your choice will depend on whether you're moving in-state or out-of-state. There are some universal rules that apply to either situation, however. Moving companies are required to carry appropriate insurance and permits. Ask for added "valuation protection" for your belongings, otherwise you're limited to 60 cents of coverage for every pound of your possessions. (For instance, if you have a lamp that is worth $75, but weighs 10 pounds, you would be reimbursed $6.)

Contact regulatory agencies (listed below) and the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against a company. Ask the mover for references; seek advice from family and friends. Videotape or photograph each room before you pack. Use appropriate packing materials and cartons. Videotape the loading and unloading of your possessions. Damage and unexpected increases in the final bill are still the most common complaints filed against movers.

For moves in-state, check with the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission to see if the moving company is registered with the state and if any complaints have been filed against the company.

Request an estimate in writing (do not accept a verbal estimate). There are two types of estimates, according to the UTC:

• A nonbinding estimate, which is an educated guess of what your move would cost based on the mover's survey of your belongings. Your final cost can be more than the nonbinding estimate — though there is a limit on how much a company can exceed the estimate. Most movers prefer to give nonbinding estimates.

• A binding estimate, which is a written agreement that guarantees the price you pay based on the items to be moved and the services listed on the estimate, inventory or tally sheet.

For more details
WUTC's tip sheet, "Smart Consumer Guide: Household Goods Movers," is available by phone or online.
1300 South Evergreen Park Drive SW, Olympia, WA 98504-7250
800-562-6150
www.wutc.wa.gov

For interstate moves, contact the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Since the demise of the federal Interstate Commerce Commission in 1995, it's tough to get enforcement action by the federal government when you have a beef with a moving company in another state.

For moving tips
The Seattle Times' stories "All the Right Moves" followed three families going through the process of moving. (Registration may be required.)
· Part One: Long-distance moves; advice for all
· Part Two: Short, local moves
· After the moves: An update on the families

Get the brochure "What Your Rights and Responsibilities Are" at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Web site:
www.fmcsa.dot.gov/factsfigs/moving.htm

File a complaint
Call the Household Goods Consumer Complaint line or go online.
888-DOT-SAFT (888-368-7238)
www.1-888-dot-saft.com/CC_main.htm

Check the driving-safety record of a company
www.safersys.org