KATHLEEN G. KANE
A
TTORNEY GENERAL
consumers@attorneygeneral.gov
www.attorneygeneral.gov
Consumer Complaint Form
Bureau of Consumer Protection
15
th
Floor, Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17120
1-800-441-2555 – PA ONLY
1-717-787-9707
WHEN SHOULD YOU FILE A COMPLAINT
If you are unable to resolve a problem with a business (see, “Problem-Solving Tips”, below), you may
wish to file a complaint with the Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection (“Bureau”).
You can download a complaint form from our website at www.attorneygeneral.gov or you can call our toll-
free number, 1.800.441.2555, to have a form mailed to you.
The Bureau provides a mediation service to consumers where an attempt may be made to mediate
individual complaints which fall within the Bureau’s jurisdiction. The information you provide will be used
in an attempt to resolve your complaint and will be shared with the party(ies) against which the complaint
is filed. Additionally, your complaint may be shared with or referred to other governmental law
enforcement or regulatory agencies.
NOTE: (1) Participation in the mediation process is voluntary and we cannot compel a business
to cooperate; and (2) We cannot mediate a matter that is already or has been the subject of legal
action.
When we receive your completed complaint form, it will be reviewed by our staff and, depending on the
nature of the complaint, one of the following courses of action may be taken.
• We may refer your complaint to a local, state or federal agency, which has primary jurisdiction over
the subject matter. If your complaint is referred to such an agency or organization, you will be
notified by mail of its name and address, so you may follow up on your complaint.
• If your complaint falls with the Bureau’s jurisdiction, we may attempt to initiate our voluntary
mediation process with the business, in which case you will receive a letter with your file number and
the name of the agent who will handle the mediation. Please keep your file number for future
reference when contacting this office.
NOTE: Because of the volume of complaints the Bureau receives, it may take some time before
we review and process your complaint. We ask for and appreciate your patience during this time.
NOTE: In order to document your complaint file and keep it up-to-date, we request
communications from you and the business to be in writing.
• You will be notified by mail when we receive information regarding your case.
TO HELP US HELP YOU, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CALLING FOR “STATUS REPORTS.”
If mediation efforts are not successful, you may be advised to seek relief either through a private attorney
or through Magisterial District Court. The Bureau cannot provide you with private legal counsel or offer
legal advice. The Bureau represents the public at large in its enforcement of the
Unfair Trade Practices
and Consumer Protection Law (“Consumer Protection Law”). The Consumer Protection Law does
provide individual consumers with the ability to bring a private action, citing unfair and deceptive business
practices.
PROBLEM-SOLVING TIPS
It is helpful for you to try to resolve your own complaint before contacting the Bureau. However, if you
have exhausted your efforts to resolve the problem without success, contact the Office of Attorney
General promptly for assistance.
NOTE: If your claim involves a dispute of charges placed on your credit card, or billing statement or if a
merchant has promised to reverse or credit your charge card but has failed to do so, you must act quickly
to preserve your right to challenge a charge. Under the Federal Fair Credit Billing Act, your credit card
company must receive a written dispute notice from you within 60 days after the first bill containing the
disputed charge was mailed to you. The Bureau cannot dispute this charge for you. Look at the back
of your credit card statement for specific information regarding the procedure for filing your dispute. You
must file your dispute with your credit card company, a complaint to the merchant or company that made