Resources for Consumer Protection

If you have been a victim of consumer fraud, there are state and local agencies which may be able to help you. In Florida, there is the Florida Attorney General's Senior's vs. Crime Project. You can request help from them by filling out an online form here. You may also seek help from the Division of Consumer Services, which is a part of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This department  is the state’s clearinghouse for consumer complaints, information and protection. You can find their consumer complaint forms here. For more information, you can call: 
1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352),
 1-(850) 410-3800  - if you are calling from outside of Florida, or 
1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832) en Español.

Our closest regional consumer help offices are:

Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Agency   1-(813)-903-3430 

Pinellas County Office of Consumer Services   1-(727)-464-6200

Another great consumer resource is the 2014 Consumer Action Handbook, published by the federal government. This guide includes a sample complaint letter and useful advice about how to resolve a complaint with a seller. You can pick up a print copy of this handbook at your local Pasco County Library branch.

Here is a video describing the Consumer Action Handbook:

 

If you live in another state, you can find an index of state consumer agencies here.