Procedure For Filing a Consumer Fraud Complaint (en
Español)
This office enforces the CONSUMER FRAUD ACT (A.R.S.§ 44-1521 et seq.). We investigate complaints involving misrepresentations and deceptive practices which occur in connection with the sale or advertisement of goods or services. If you feel you have been the victim of or have information of such misrepresentations or deceptive practices, please complete the on-line complaint form and submit it to our office for review.
- First, make a separate list of the things you want to say. Try to separate your feelings from the facts. Present the events in the order in which they happened using dates whenever possible.
- Complete all indicated required fields.
- Remember that your complaint should describe the event or practice which was misleading to you. If possible, you should state why the practice was misleading.
- If you have suffered or may suffer significant monetary loss, or if immediate action is required to prevent a significant loss, you should contact a private attorney to discuss your legal rights and remedies. If you do not know an attorney, you can locate one by referring to the Yellow Pages of your telephone directory or by contacting the Maricopa County Bar Lawyer Referral Service online or by calling (602) 257-4434. You may also contact the Pima County Bar Lawyer Referral Service at pimacountybar.org or by calling (520) 623-4625. If you live outside of Maricopa and Pima County, you may contact your local County Bar Association.
Upon receipt of your complaint, a member of our staff will review your complaint. We may contact the company for a response. This process can be lengthy. It may take from two to eight weeks to get a response, depending on the circumstances and the information you are able to provide with your complaint. If another State or Federal agency regulates the business or licenses the person you are complaining about, we may send your complaint to that agency. Although you may feel that you have been "ripped off," this does not necessarily mean that the business has engaged in unlawful activity which is within our jurisdiction. Our office restricts our legal action to those cases which involve the greatest harm to the public and which will have the greatest deterrent effect on fraud in the marketplace.
We are prohibited by law from giving you legal advice, legal opinions, or acting as your private attorney. If your claim is less than $10,000, you may be able to file a suit in Justice Court. Justice Court has a Small Claims division for claims which do not exceed $2,500. We can send you, upon request, a manual which explains how to prepare and file such a suit.
If you wish to file a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General's Office, please click the button below:
