Consumer Resources
MeasuredUp prides itself on being your first resource for consumer information and advocacy. We've compiled the following directory of resources to help you take advantage of all that is available to you as a valued consumer in today's market.So start with MeasuredUp, write a review, share with other consumers and see if the company you reviewed answers your question. If not, consider trying one of these resources.
Contact your State Attorney General
How to write an effective letter of complaint
United States Federal Government Agencies
Commerce-Related Federal Agencies
Communications-Related Federal Agencies
Health or Safety-Related Federal Agencies
Contact the Better Business Bureau
Contact the National Fraud Information Center and Internet Fraud Watch
Transportation-Related Federal Agencies
Contact your State Attorney General
Alaska
Alaska Office of the Attorney General1031 W. 4th Ave., Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99501-5903
1031 W. 4th Ave., Suite 200, Anchorage, AK
Arkansas
Arkansas Office of the Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Division
323 Center Street, Suite 200
Little Rock, AR 72201
323 Center Street, Suite 200, Little Rock, AR
California
California Department Of JusticeOffice of the Attorney General
P.O. Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
1300 I St, Sacramento, CA
Colorado
Colorado Attorney General OfficeConsumer Protection Office
1525 Sherman St., 5th Floor
Denver, Colorado 80203
1525 Sherman St., Denver, Colorado 80203
Connecticut
Connecticut Attorney General OfficeU.S. Mail: P.O. Box 120
Hartford, Connecticut 06141-0120
55 Elm St, Hartford, CT
Delaware
Delaware Attorney General OfficeCarvel State Office Building
820 N. French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
820 N. French Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
Florida
Consumer Complaints Dept.Office of Attorney General - State of Florida
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
Georgia
Georgia Attorney General OfficeAttorney General Office
40 Capitol Square, SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30334-1300
40 Capitol Square, SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30334-1300
Hawaii
Hawaii Department of the Attorney General425 Queen Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
425 Queen Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Idaho
Idaho Attorney GeneralP.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0010
Indiana
Indiana Attorney GeneralIndiana Government Center South, 5th Floor
402 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, In 46204
402 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, In 46204
Kansas
Kansas Office of the Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection/Antitrust Division
120 SW 10th Street, 2nd Floor
Topeka, Kansas 66612-1597
120 SW 10th Street, Topeka, Kansas 66612-1597
Kentucky
Kentucky Office of Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Division
1024 Capital Center Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601
1024 Capital Center Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601
Louisiana
Louisiana Attorney GeneralState Capitol, 22nd Floor
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-9005
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Office of the Attorney GeneralOne Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108-1698
Maryland
Maryland Attorney General OfficeConsumer Protection Division
200 Saint Paul Place, 16th floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
200 Saint Paul Place, Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Michigan
Michigan Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
Minnesota
Minnesota Attorney General OfficeConsumer Protection
1400 NCL Tower, 445 Minnesota Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
445 Minnesota Street, St. Paul, MN 55101
Missouri
Missouri Attorney General OfficeConsumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 899
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Mississippi
Mississippi Attorney General OfficeConsumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 22947
Jackson, Mississippi 39225-2947
Montana
Montana Attorney GeneralP.O. Box 201401
Helena, MT 59620-1401
North Carolina
North Carolina Attorney General OfficeConsumer Protection
Post Office Box 629
Raleigh, North Carolina 27602
North Dakota
North Dakota Attorney General OfficeConsumer Protection Division
600 E Boulevard Ave Dept 125
Bismarck ND 58505-0040
600 E Boulevard Ave Dept 125, Bismarck ND 58505-0040
Nebraska
Nebraska Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Division
2115 State Capitol
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-4906
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Office of the Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau
33 Capitol Street
Concord, NH 03301
33 Capitol Street, Concord, NH 03301
New Jersey
New Jersey Office of the Attorney General25 Market Street - PO Box 080
Trenton, NJ 08625-0080
25 Market Street, Trenton, NJ 08625-0080
New Mexico
New Mexico Office of the Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Division
P.O. Drawer 1508
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1508
Nevada
Nevada Office of the Attorney GeneralBureau of Consumer Protection
555 E. Washington Avenue, Suite 3900
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
555 E. Washington Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
New York
New York State Office of the Attorney General120 Broadway
New York, New York 10271
120 Broadway, New York, New York 10271
Ohio
Ohio Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Section
30 E. Broad St., 25th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
30 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Office of the Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Division
4545 N. Lincoln Blvd., Suite 260
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
4545 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Oregon
Oregon Department of JusticeFinancial Fraud/Consumer Protection Section
1162 Court Street N.E.
Salem, OR 97310
1162 Court Street N.E., Salem, OR 97310
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Attorney GeneralBureau of Consumer Protection
14th Floor Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17120
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Unit
150 South Main Street
Providence, RI 02903
150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903
South Carolina
South Carolina Attorney GeneralOffice of the Attorney General
P.O. Box 11549
Columbia, SC 29211
South Dakota
South Dakota Attorney GeneralDivision of Consumer Protection
500 East Capitol
Pierre, SD 57501-5070
500 East Capitol, Pierre, SD 57501-5070
Tennessee
Tennessee Attorney General425 5th Ave. North
Nashville, TN 37243-0485
425 5th Ave. North, Nashville, TN 37243-0485
Texas
Texas Office of the Attorney GeneralConsumer Protection Division
PO Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548
Utah
Utah State Attorney GeneralRoom 236,
State Capitol Building,
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
Virginia
Virginia Department of Consumer ServicesOffice of Consumer Affairs
1100 Bank Street, Suite 100
Richmond, VA 23219
1100 Bank Street, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23219
Vermont
Vermont Attorney GeneralConsumer Assistance Program
104 Morrill Hall, UVM
Burlington, VT 05405
104 Morrill Hall, Burlington, VT 05405
Washington
Washington Attorney General1220 Main St., Suite #549
Vancouver, WA 98660-2964
1220 Main St., Vancouver, WA 98660-2964
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Attorney GeneralP.O. Box 7857
Madison, WI 53707-7857
West Virginia
West Virginia Attorney General1900 Kanawha Blvd, Room 26E
Charleston, WV 25305-9924
1900 Kanawha Blvd, Charleston, WV 25305-9924
Wyoming
Wyoming Attorney General123 Capitol Building
200 W. 24th Street, Cheyenne, WY 82002
200 W. 24th Street, Cheyenne, WY 82002
How to write an effective letter of complaint
It may be a 'buyer's market' but it's still tough to play the role of consumer in an environment that breeds poor customer service, hostility toward the consumer, and a general feeling of discontent. When you've had a bad experience with a company and have added your review to the MeasuredUp website but want to take your complaint one step further writing a complaint letter directly to the company can be very effective. If done correctly, you may see the offending company take action in your favor - especially when you direct them to the URL of your review on MeasuredUp!We've compiled a list of suggestions to help you draft a truly effective complaint letter:
Address your letter to someone specific within the company who you would expect to have the ability to actually do something in response to your letter. Find out who the head of customer service or President of the company is and open the letter directly to this person.
Include plenty of tangible information in your letter; the date of purchase, price, store location, make and model, and any other event-specific details. Include a COPY of your purchase receipt and copies of any other documentation relative to your purchase.
Try to keep your letter brief and non-personal, non-emotional. State your facts, dissatisfaction as it is, and requested action on the part of the company. Resist the urge to be insulting or rude - it will get you nowhere.
Be very clear about the action you expect in response from the company. Whether you want a discount, refund, apology state this in your letter without hesitation and without embellishment.
Respectfully request a reply from the company either by phone, email or postal mail. Don't forget to provide all possible means of contacting you including your phone number, email address and postal address.
United States Federal Government Agencies
In some instances you'll need to take your most serious consumer complaints and grievances to the United States government.The following resources are provided to help guide you to the right agency to assist you and is not intended as legal advise or counsel.
Commerce-Related Federal Agencies
Consumer Response Center
Federal Trade Commission6th Street & Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20580
Telephone: 202 -FTC-HELP (382-4357)
Web site: http://www.ftc.gov
6th Street & Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20580
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Office of Investor Education and Assistance450 Fifth Street, NW, Mail Stop 11-2
Washington, DC 20549
Telephone: 202-942-7040 (information and complaints)
Toll free: 1-800-SEC-0330 (for information and to order publications)
Fax: 202-942-9634 (information and complaints)
E-mail: help@sec.gov (information and complaints)
Web site: http://www.sec.gov
450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
Lafayette Center, 1155 21st Street, NWWashington, DC 20581
Telephone: 202-418-5506 (complaints)
Telephone: 202-418-5080 (information)
Telephone: 202-418-5000 (general)
Fax: 202-418-5521 (general)
Web site: http://www.cftc.gov
1155 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20581
Small Business Administration (SBA)
Consumer Affairs409 Third Street, SW
Washington, DC 20416
Telephone: 202-205-6600
Toll free: 1-800-U-ASK-SBA (827-5722) (information)
Fax: 202-205-7064
Web site: http://www.sba.gov
409 Third Street, SW, Washington, DC 20416
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
(For state-chartered banks and trust companies)Division of Consumer and Community Affairs
20th & C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20551
Telephone: 202-452-3693 (complaints only)
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Compliance and Consumer Affairs DivisionFederal Deposit Insurance Corporation
550 17th St., NW
Washington, DC 20429
Toll free: 1-800-934-3342
E-mail: consumer@fdic.gov Web site: http://www.fdic.gov
550 17th St., NW, Washington, DC 20429
National Credit Union Administration
1775 Duke StreetAlexandria, VA 22314-3428
Telephone: 703-518-6330
Web site: http://www.ncua.gov
1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-3428
Office of Thrift Supervision
(For S&L or Thrift Institutions)Division of Consumer and Civil Rights
1700 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20552
Telephone: 202-906-5900
Telephone: 202-906-6000
Toll free: 1-800-842-6929
Web site: http://www.ots.treas.gov
1700 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20552
Communications-Related Federal Agencies
Public Service Division
Federal Communications Commission1919 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20554
Telephone: 202-418-0200
Toll free: 1-888-CALL-FCC
Fax: 202-418-2841
E-mail: fccinfo@fcc.gov Web site: http://www.fcc.gov
1919 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20554
Common Carrier Bureau (Telephone service complaints)
Consumer Protection DivisionFederal Communications Commission
2025 M Street, NW, Room 6202
Washington, DC 20554
Telephone: 202-632-7553
2025 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20554
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
Federal Communications Commission1270 Fairfield Road
Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245
Toll free: 1-888-CALL-FCC (225-5322)
1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245
Federal Communications Commission (Cable service issues)
2033 M Street, NWWashington, DC 20036
Telephone: 202-418-7096
2033 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
Mass Media Bureau (Television and radio)
Enforcement DivisionFederal Communications Commission
2025 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20554
Telephone: 202-418-1430
2025 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20554
Health or Safety-Related Federal Agencies
Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Food and Drug AdministrationCenter for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Hotline
Telephone: 202-205-4314 (noon to 4:00 p.m. ET)
Toll free: 1-800-332-4010 (10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET)
Web site: http://www.fda.gov
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Washington, DC 20207Toll free: 1-800-638-CPSC (2772)
Fax on demand: 301-504-0051
E-mail: info@cpsc.gov Web site: http://www.cpsc.gov
Inspector General's Hotline
Office of the Inspector GeneralDepartment of Agriculture
P.O. Box 23399
Washington, DC 20026
Telephone: 202-690-1622
Toll free: 1-800-424-9121
Contact the Better Business Bureau
http://welcome.bbb.org/The Better Business Bureau can help make you aware of complaints against companies in your area or companies you are considering doing business with. The BBB is also an excellent place to file a formal complaint against a company that has treated you poorly or acted in an illegal manner during your business dealings.
Contact the National Fraud Information Center and Internet Fraud Watch
http://www.fraud.orgHave you been the victim of an internet scam or other online fraud? These 'virtual thieves' can be elusive and hard to pin down - not to mention knowing who to contact for complaints and potential retribution. The National Fraud Information Center and Internet Fraud Watch not only lists information about current internet scams but provides a place for those who have been targeted to file a formal complaint.
Transportation-Related Federal Agencies
Federal Aviation Administration
Department of Transportation800 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20591
Telephone: 202-366-4000
Toll free: 1-800-FAA-SURE (322-7873)-consumer hotline
Toll free: 1-800-255-1111 -safety hotline
Fax: 202-267-3505
Web site: http://www.faa.gov
800 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20591
Airline Service Complaints
Federal Aviation AdministrationAviation Consumer Protection Division
Washington, DC 20590
Telephone: 202-366-2220
Federal Railroad Administration
Office of Safety (RRS)400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
Telephone: 202-632-3324
Fax: 202-632-3700
Web site: http://www.dot.gov/dotinfo/fra/welcome.html
400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590
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