Learn how to complain about a problem with a bank or a lending company, such as a mortgage provider.
If you have a problem with your bank, financial institution, lender, broker, or any other financial service provider, you should report it. To guide you through the process of filing these types of complaints, the Federal Reserve offers consumer help and the following tips:
If you don't get your problem resolved using these tips, you have the right to get help from the correct regulatory agency.
Financial institutions are regulated by different government agencies, depending on how the institution was chartered.
Use the Federal Reserve System's financial institution search tool to find out which agency accepts complaints about the financial institution you need to file a complaint against. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation offers the contact information for the primary federal agencies that regulate financial institutions.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints involving loan products, such as mortgage companies, car loans and leases, student loans, payday loans, and any other consumer loans. This agency also accepts complaints about other financial services, such as credit cards, prepaid cards, money transfers, and debt collection.
File a complaint about investments with the Securities and Exchange Commission or your state's securities regulator. These agencies accept complaints about investment fraud, pyramid schemes, or other violations of federal and state securities laws.
If you have a complaint against a mortgage company, try to resolve it with the company first. Several government agencies accept complaints about mortgage lenders. In some cases, you should file your complaint with more than one agency, especially at the federal and state level.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) enforces the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. This law prohibits lenders from denying credit because of certain characteristics. File a complaint with the CFPB if a lender has denied a mortgage application because of your:
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) enforces the Fair Housing Act. This law prohibits discrimination when you rent, buy, or secure financing for a home. Your state may also have a similar law. File a complaint with (HUD) and the fair housing office in your state if a mortgage company discriminated against you because of your:
The CFPB enforces several laws, such as the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. These laws require lenders to disclose information to homebuyers before buying and over the life of the mortgage. File a complaint with the CFPB if you have a problem with a new or existing mortgage. Examples of common mortgage complaints include:
The Federal Trade Commission Act states that unfair and deceptive practices affecting commerce are unlawful. Report a mortgage company to the Federal Trade Commission if it makes deceptive statements, omits important facts, or takes misleading actions. Examples include:
Also, file a complaint with your state consumer protection office about
If you have a complaint about your car, file it directly with the dealer, lender, or manufacturer. If you don't get results, you can contact a state or federal government agency. If your complaint is about:
Some agencies will investigate your complaint, but others may collect the information and file a case against the company in the future.
A car is called a "lemon" when it's determined that the vehicle is defective beyond repair. Most states have some form of a lemon law to protect car buyers. These laws tend to only apply to new cars, but you should check with your state's consumer protection office to see if they also cover used cars. Each state has its own requirements, but overall the ability for a car to qualify as a lemon depends on a few things:
To get your problem resolved, first contact the car manufacturer. Send the manufacturer a complaint letter by certified mail detailing the problems, copies of work orders and invoices, and your request for a refund or other solution. If the manufacturer doesn’t help, you still may be able to resolve the problem. Many car contracts have mandatory arbitration clauses to settle disputes, so that may be your next step. Check with your state attorney general or consumer protection officeto get the rules specific to where you live.
You can also contact the Better Business Bureau (BBB) AUTO LINE, a lemon law complaint program that covers car warranty issues against participating manufacturers.
Do you have a complaint about your cable or satellite company's programs or services? To help resolve these issues, find out how to file a complaint:
While customers can face various cable and satellite service issues, these are some of the most common:
You should always contact your cable or satellite company first if you have a complaint. The telephone number for your service provider should be on your bill.
If you are not satisfied with your cable or satellite company's response, you should contact a third party. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and local franchising authorities are responsible for enforcing a variety of cable and satellite television regulations.
A written letter is a good strategy as you will have a record of your communication with the cable or satellite company. You can also copy and paste your complaint into the company's "Contact Us" form
You can direct most complaints related to travel to:
Consult a licensed attorney or file a case in a local small claims court if the complaint is severe.
The kind of complaint you have determines the agency you should contact.
Check out Got Flights? Know Your Rights to learn about your rights and responsibilities as an air traveler and how to avoid problems.
Private home, property, and room rentals can be excellent housing choices for a vacation. It’s easier than ever to find a great vacation rental through an online listing or vacation rental platform. It’s also easier than ever to be scammed. Learn how to report and avoid vacation property rental scams.
Report a rental scam to the state consumer protection or attorney general's office or local law enforcement where the property is located as well as the Federal Trade Commission.
If you found the scam rental ad online or were scammed using the internet, also report the scam to the website where it was posted and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Learn how to avoid a vacation rental scam and how to spot common rental scams.
Do
Don’t
To complain about service or accommodations at a hotel or motel, attempt to resolve the matter through the company first:
File your complaint about a travel agent or agency with the accredited membership organization the agent/agency belongs to:
Learn about your legal rights and how to file a complaint.
To complain about waste, fraud, abuse, or misconduct at a U.S. Embassy or consulate, first try to resolve the issue with that Embassy or consulate.
If you are unable to do so for any reason, learn how to file a complaint with the Office of Inspector General (OIG) in the U.S. Department of State (DOS).
Mandatory arbitration clauses are phrases written into contracts that state that if you have a dispute with a company, you must resolve it through arbitration. These clauses can prevent you from filing a lawsuit against a company. Arbitration clauses are fairly common in automotive, credit card, and cell phone contracts. But now, they are appearing in website terms and conditions statements, coupons, or corporate social media profiles. While arbitration can be less expensive, it is sometimes seen as unfair to make arbitration a requirement before a negative incident has happened or knowing how serious the problem is. Also, the decisions are binding, so you can’t appeal the decision, even if the company was severely negligent.
Before you sign a contract or even use a website, read the contract or terms of service for mentions of “arbitration”, “binding arbitration” or “resolution programs”; this language is often in the fine print of the contract and can be easily missed. Also, note that some companies may let you opt-out of these clauses, if you do so within 30 days.
