[thwayunion]

They ignore the letter and spring to action when the AG comes knocking.

The engagement with the AG's office does fire off internal processes that scale linearly, involve expensive labor, and are treated as urgent. If even 10% of customers did this it would result in some exec's attention.

[BigRedDog1669]

Can you give an example of something that was resolved for you by this?

I can send a letter if it will do something but I can't convince 10% of the population to send a letter.

I've sent messages to government offices and never got anything but a canned response and no action.

[thwayunion]

A fee for parking in a private lot during a period when they weren't supposed to be charging fees (free holiday parking sponsored by the local shops).

Verizon bill for unreturned equipment (didn't ask for it, told them I was leaving it on my doorstep and not taking delivery, it disappeared, heard back a year later with a fee).

TMobile bill.

An incorrect water bill.

A car dealership lying to me.

Issues with one of those "order for ipad" airport places mentioned in the article (same issue: never received my food).

Medical bill from an urgent care for some trivial thing that they told me they wouldn't charge me for.

Some interest on a student loan that accrued because their billing system messed up.

A bunch of other stuff I'm not remembering.

I always just send a written letter and if I don't get a check in 30 days go to the AG. Works every time. Fixing their petty crime is not my problem.

[throwanem]

Is there some kind of state-by-state explainer that describes the process, what the letter has to include, etc?

[thwayunion]

Here's my form letter:

Dear _,

I am writing regarding [describe problem].

The appropriate resolution to this issue is [describe solution].

[Usually the solution is cash; if it is cash:] You may credit this to the form of payment you have on file, or by sending me a check at [address].

If you have any questions, you may call me at [phone number] at [time when I'm always free on a weekday during working hours in all us timezones].

I will contact my AG's office if I do not hear back from you in 30 days.

Thanks, [Name]

Mail it.

All state AG offices have a form for consumer complaints on their website. Usually it's very easy to find. Don't overthink it. Mention the letter in your AG complaint, include a copy and the date that you sent it. They will contact the business and start a resolution process. Usually you'll hear back in a week or so.

[dredmorbius]

Excellent and useful, thanks.

[dredmorbius]

AFAIK, every state's attorney general's office will have an online site and/or form for filing complaint(s), as well as a postal address you can use.

You can free-form your own letter, though that might delay things somewhat from the AG's office, though the business / countereparty will typically get on their game quickly.

DDG "consumer complaint" + <YOUR_STATE_HERE> should work.

E.g., top ten states by population, covering over half the US population, first result is the corresponding state's AG consumer affairs office:

CA: <https://duckduckgo.com/?q=consumert+complain+california> gives <https://www.dca.ca.gov/consumers/complaints/index.shtml>

TX: <https://duckduckgo.com/?q=consumer+complaint+texas> <https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection>

FL: <https://duckduckgo.com/?q=consumer+complaint+florida> <https://www.stateofflorida.com/consumer-complaints/>

NY: <https://duckduckgo.com/?q=consumer+complaint+new+york> <https://dos.ny.gov/file-consumer-complaint>

PA: <https://duckduckgo.com/?q=consumer+complaint+pennsylvania> <https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/consumer-...>

IL: <https://duckduckgo.com/?q=consumer+complaint+illinois> <http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/filecomplai...>

OH: <https://duckduckgo.com/?q=consumer+complaint+ohio> <https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Individuals-and-Families...>

GA: <https://duckduckgo.com/?q=consumer+complaint+georgia> <https://consumer.georgia.gov/>

NC: <https://duckduckgo.com/?q=consumer+complaint+north+carolina> <https://ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint/consumer-complaint/>

MI: <https://duckduckgo.com/?q=consumer+complaint+michigan> <https://www.michigan.gov/ag/complaints>

[BigRedDog1669]

Cool, thanks for detailing that. I didn't know you could do that.