When someone uses deceptive, unfair, misleading, or false practices to access your personal or financial information or take your money, this may be consumer fraud. Below are non-profits and local, state, and federal agencies that handle consumer complaints. These agencies can investigate your complaint and/or help you with your problem. If you need additional help, check out information on free financial coaching and free consumer rights legal clinics and services offered in San Francisco.
Consumer Action can help you resolve your consumer complaints. For free, non-legal advice, email their Complaint Hotline. Or, call 415-777-9635 and leave a voice mail message with a brief description of your complaint and the state you live in; multilingual hotline counselors will return your email or call as soon as possible on weekdays.
Having a problem with a financial product or service? Submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. They will forward it to the company and work to get you a response, generally within 15 days.
For complaints about identity theft, scams and rip-offs, credit and debt companies, and more, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Complaint Assistant.
For complaints about businesses based in San Francisco, contact the District Attorney’s Consumer Fraud Hotline (available in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog, and Russian): (628) 652-4311. You may also submit a Consumer Complaint Form.
For problems with identity theft, elder financial abuse, check fraud, counterfeit currency, forgery, internet fraud, real estate and notary fraud, and theft by false pretense or deceit, contact the San Francisco Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit, visit their ID Theft reporting.
To find the right state or federal agency for a consumer complaint, visit the California Attorney General’s Complaint Referral Table.