Thinking of filing a complaint against a business? Consider also sending a demand letter.
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One way to resolve your dispute with a business is by filing a complaint with the Florida Attorney General.
In this article, we go over:
Common complaints submitted to the Florida Attorney General.
How to file a complaint with the Florida Attorney General.
What to expect after you file a complaint.
Explore further options like sending a demand letter, suing in small claims court, or submitting a BBB complaint.
In addition to filing a complaint with the Florida Attorney General or if they cannot assist you, consider sending the business a demand letter. We have a free tool that helps you write a demand letter. Check out our demand letter tool.
Who is the Florida Attorney General?
The Office of the Florida Attorney General is in charge of protecting consumers and handling consumer complaints against businesses operating in Florida.
Common Reasons to File a Complaint with the Florida Attorney General
Below are some common reasons consumers file complaints with the Florida Attorney General:
Unfair market prices.
False advertising.
Identity theft.
Refunds.
How to File a Complaint with the Florida Attorney General
There are two ways the Florida AG accepts consumer complaints:
Online. Go to the consumer complaint form. Fill in your contact information, and the information of who you are filing against. Mark whether you are a senior citizen or a member of the military, as fines can be higher if you are.
By mail. Print the consumer complaint form, then fill out the information about yourself and who you’re filing against. If you are disabled, a military member, or a senior citizen, as fines can be higher if you are. Include information about your transaction with the business, and a description of what happened. If you can, include copies of documents of your interactions with the business, such as invoices, contracts, and receipts. Sign and fill in the date, then mail the consumer complaint form to the mailing address below.
Office of Attorney General
State of Florida
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-1050.
Specific Types of Complaint Forms on the Florida Attorney General's Website:
Some types of complaints require that consumers use a specific type of form instead of the regular consumer complaint form:
If your complaint is specifically for price gouging (excessive increases in the price of essential store items) use the Price Gouging complaints/reporting form.
For Military and Veterans Assistance Program complaints fill out the Military Veterans Assistance Program Form.
To report a bank’s handling of your National Foreclosure Settlement Form, submit this form.
What to Expect After Filing a Complaint
After you file a complaint with the Florida Attorney General, here is what you can expect:
They will review your complaint against the business.
If there are enough consumer complaints, the Attorney General will decide whether to investigate further.
They will then determine if a civil case should be started. If that happens, the business could be fined or punished.
Keep in mind when you file a consumer complaint with the Florida Attorney General, they will not be representing you in court or necessarily helping you get your money back right away. If you’re looking for a refund, a better option may be to go to small claims court.
Alternatives to Filing a Complaint with the Florida Attorney General
Remember, the Office of the Florida Attorney General does not represent private citizens seeking the return of their money or other personal remedies. When you file a complaint with the Florida Attorney General you are reporting a business’ activities so the Attorney General may determine if law enforcement or legal action is warranted against that business.
If you filed a complaint with the Florida Attorney General’s Office and you were unable to resolve your specific dispute, or you’re looking to get your money back, then you may want to consider three other options:
Send a demand letter to the business.
Sue the business in a Florida small claims court.
Submitting a complaint with the BBB.
Here is a video on how our demand letter tool works:
Camila Lopez, Esq.
Legal Educator at JusticeDirect. Camila holds a law degree and is a certified mediator. Her passion is breaking down complicated legal processes so that people without an attorney can get justice.