How to file a complaint about a company’s products or services

If you have an issue with a product or service, learn the steps to file a complaint with the company. Or get consumer or legal help if you cannot resolve your complaint.

Collect documents related to your purchase

Before you make a complaint, gather any documentation about the sale of the product or service first. These documents can include:

• Sales receipts
• Warranties
• Contracts
• Work orders
• Email messages or records of any contact you have had with the seller

Contact the company about your complaint

If you have a complaint about a company’s products or services, contact them first before you seek help elsewhere. Explain your problem to the company by calling, web chatting, or sending them a formal complaint letter.

Use this sample complaint letter as a guide to help you explain the problem and what you want done to resolve it. Then send it to:

• A salesperson or customer service representative. Search for a company’s customer service contact information on their website. Look for links that say "contact us," "customer service," "about us," or "privacy statement."
• Take your complaint to a company's management if a salesperson or customer service representative did not help.

Find help if the company does not solve your complaint

If the seller does not resolve the issue, a government office, a consumer organization, or the legal system may be able to help.

File a complaint with government or consumer programs

• File a complaint with your local consumer protection office.
• Notify the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in your area about your problem. The BBB tries to resolve complaints against companies.
• If you think you may have experienced a scam, report it to the FTC. They may not resolve your problem, but they use complaints to help them investigate fraud.
• Contact econsumer.gov if you are complaining about items you bought online from a seller outside the U.S.

Seek legal help for your complaint about a company

If contacting the company, a government agency, or a consumer organization does not work:

• You may be able to resolve your problem through the legal system. Find free or low-cost legal help.
• Consider an alternative dispute resolution process, such as arbitration, conciliation, or mediation.