50 Years of Protecting Consumers

Celebrating 50 Years of Consumers' Checkbook

It all started with a 1968 Opel Kadett. Our founder, Robert Krughoff, became fed up after driving away from an auto repair shop for the third time and realizing he'd have to go back for the same engine repair. From that frustration and bad experience, Checkbook began as an unbiased resource to help consumers make more informed choices, and we've been paving the way ever since.

Listen to a conversation with Robert on our Consumerpedia podcast from June 2022.

How We're Helping Consumers

"We were very nervous about finding a quality firm to renovate our bathroom at reasonable cost. After seeking bids from three top-rated firms on Checkbook, we selected the one that best met our needs and budget. They did a terrific job. For nearly 20 years, we've relied on Checkbook's advice and reviews, which take most of the risk out of hiring contractors."

David & Barbara Ucko

How We're Helping Consumers

"I had difficulty finding a psychiatrist for my mother until I subscribed to Checkbook and reviewed the Top Doctors issue. I called one of the psychiatrists in our area, made an appointment, and never looked back. I believe her life was extended for many years due to the expertise of the psychiatrist and my subscription to Checkbook."

Frances C.

How we're helping consumers

"A few years ago, the drying cycle on my dishwasher failed, so I used Checkbook to find a reliable and dependable repairperson. His fee was surprisingly low, and his competence and investigative skills uncovered hidden problems that, without action, could have had far greater consequences. Thank you, Checkbook, for helping me make the right decision at the right time."

Sandra Filippi

How We're Helping Consumers

"We live in an older home. As is common, we've had to undertake several significant home maintenance and repair projects, and we don't start any work without checking the ratings of contractors in Consumers' Checkbook. We've been subscribers for many years, and we've never been disappointed in the results.

Bill & Kathi Brodhead

How We're Helping Consumers

"We're currently working on a project to install a new range and range hood. Through Checkbook, I found a wonderful appliance dealer I had never heard of. They and their recommended installer gave us a good price plus some tips that will help make this project a success."

Andrea Kenner

How We're Helping Consumers

"If Checkbook tells me I can depend upon an electrician, a plumber, a window washer, a computer repair person, or any other service, even if that person charges much less than any other specialist, I have not been disappointed."

Alan Rubin

1976

First issue of Consumers' Checkbook is published.

Robert Krughoff launched the Center for the Study of Services, Checkbook's parent organization, two years earlier. It was the first organization of its kind dedicated to providing consumer-driven ratings of local businesses.

Our first issue, published for the Washington, D.C., area, broke new ground: surveying clergy about nursing homes, speaking with EMTs about emergency rooms, and providing the first-ever quality and cost comparisons of hospitals, doctors, pharmacies, dentists, and more.

1979

Produced the first Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees.

Since its inception, this resource has helped more than one million federal employees and annuitants choose the Federal Employee Health Benefits plans that best fit their needs. It provides personalized out-of-pocket estimates, plus critical info on premiums, Medicare coordination, quality ratings, dental and vision costs, and more.

1999

Guide to Top Doctors is released.

To help patients identify the best physician specialists, we surveyed every practicing doctor in 50 metro areas and asked them which other medical pros they "would consider most desirable for care of a loved one." Checkbook's database and book revealed the names of physicians who were mentioned most often by their peers.

2003

Consumers' Checkbook expanded to five new metro areas.

Checkbook began providing ratings of local services in the Boston, Chicago, Delaware Valley, Puget Sound, and Twin Cities metro areas.

2014

Checkbook created health plan comparison tools for state exchanges.

Checkbook began building tools for healthcare insurance exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act. These sites help consumers calculate estimated annual out-of-pocket costs when shopping for health insurance.

We've provided decision-support services in Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

2015

Launched SurgeonRatings.org & won the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Plan Choice Challenge.

Using Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data obtained after fighting in and out of court for years, we analyzed more than 5 million surgeries done by more than 50,000 surgeons to create SurgeonRatings.org. This first-of-its-kind website helped consumers identify surgeons with the best patient outcomes for 12 high-risk surgeries.

That same year, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation named Checkbook the winner of its first "Plan Choice Challenge," a nationwide competition to design technology that helps patients choose the best health plans.

2019

Checkbook received recognition for our investigation into the problems with medical alert devices.

Checkbook received an honorable mention for the The National Press Club's Joseph D. Ryle Award for Excellence in Writing on the Problems of Geriatrics for our 2018 investigation.

By teaming up with a 911 call center, we tested 11 popular models and found most had deficiencies that would delay access to prompt care for the person pressing the button.

2019

Checkbook President Robert Krughoff won the AcademyHealth Health Data Liberator Award.

This award recognized his work to liberate and publicly report data to help consumers make smarter choices.

2021

Aired the first episode of the Consumerpedia podcast.

Hosted by Emmy award-winning consumer reporter Herb "The ConsumerMan" Weisbaum, the bi-weekly Consumerpedia podcast features interviews with experts and Checkbook staff to help consumers save money and make smarter choices.

Topics range from how to find a top doctor or home contractor to travel tips and avoiding scams.

2025

Checkbook continued investigating marketplace abuses, attracting widespread media coverage.

Our researchers tracked prices at 25 major retailers for six months and found that the markdowns advertised by most stores aren't special prices or savings; instead, nearly all of them now use fake sales to mislead their customers.

Our investigation into vacation rental booking websites uncovered widespread problems, including fake listings and stolen deposits, and found that many victims get little or no help from Booking.com or Vrbo. And we reported on terrible home improvement financing schemes, which cost many homeowners thousands of dollars.

Checkbook staff are interviewed about our investigations and as expert sources for hundreds of news stories each year.

Today

Still nonprofit. Still independent. Still in your corner.

Our mission remains the same: Give consumers information they can trust to help them make smart decisions.

We believe that access to unbiased information creates a better marketplace by rewarding companies that treat their customers fairly and exposing firms that use manipulative marketing, charge high prices, or offer subpar or unnecessary work.

In a world where it's increasingly difficult to know whom to trust, Checkbook is more valuable than ever.

Celebrating 50 Years of Consumers' Checkbook

Our History: 50 Years of Fighting for Consumers

Empower us to keep fighting for consumers