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While pundits and economists worry about Wall Street’s well-being, Americans worry about losing their jobs, paying their bills and the health of the planet. The capitalist marketplace promotes the exploitation of people and natural resources as cheap fixes. But you don’t have to abandon your values to save a buck. Welcome to the People’s Marketplace.

Has your cable company extended your service contract without telling you and asked for hundreds of dollars to cancel it? Or maybe you agreed to pay a one-time fee of $12.99 for an online credit check only to find that the company was charging $12.99 a month to your credit card – and they wont refund your money. Don’t lose your hard earned dollars to deceptive business practices. Get wise to the many consumer advocacy organizations created to help you.

If you are engaged in a current battle with a company, use the Better Business Bureau, online at bbb.org/us. The Better Business Bureau is a neutral entity that, among other things, resolves disputes between consumers and businesses. Speaking from personal experience a company is much more likely to play nice when the BBB is involved than when you are begging for mercy from a customer service agent. This is because companies want to maintain a positive reputation with the Bureau for acting in good-faith with consumers. You can file a complaint online through the Bureau’s website – the quickest option, or contact the Bureau in your area. Once you file, the Bureau sends your complaint to the business with a deadline for a response. Each side has a couple chances to agree or refute, and in the end, hopefully, you, the consumer, will see your demands met. The whole process only takes a few weeks. Filing complaints also helps all consumers. Companies feel the pressure when complaints for the same shady practice pile up. Also visit the Better Business Bureau’s website to research the past complaints against companies and charities before give them your cash.

There are many more great consumer advocacy organizations that exist to protect you and your wallet. Check out the National Consumer Law Center, at www.nclc.org. In their legal resource section you’ll find lots of helpful links, referrals, and items, including printable brochures on topics including “eight things to think about before you take a new credit card”, and “choosing a money wire-transfer company”. If you need a consumer lawyer, go to the National Association of Consumer Advocates at www.naca.net or to lawhelp.org. If you or a loved one is in a nursing home in California check out California Advocates for Nursing Home Care at : www.canhr.org. This is only a small sampling of the help that you’ll find once you start looking. And finally, get involved with consumer advocate campaigns whenever you can. The easiest way is to complain – consumer groups need to collect sob stories that they use when they appear before Congress or in court to advocate for better protections. Go to Consumer Watchdog’s complaint form at Consumer Watchdog.org/Complaints and turn your rant into a reason for consumer justice.