Consumers who cannot resolve their disputes with other persons or businesses may wish to bring their claim in Small Claims Court where the proceedings are informal and the consumer does not need an attorney. The New York State Unified Court System has an excellent reference guide for consumers, entitled A Guide to Small Claims in the NYS City, Town, and Village Courts, available by clicking the above link
The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) also has a Small Claims Court Action Center, which provides free advice to small claims participants. The Center does not provide legal advice. For more information, see the Small Claims Court Action Center website or call one of the Center’s offices at the following phone numbers:
Bronx: 718-289-5409
Brooklyn: 718-859-7178, 718-260-5045 or 718-636-3749
Manhattan: 212-772-4305, 212-234-1628 or 212-349-6460
Queens: 718-997-3937 or 718-225-9121
Staten Island: 718-982-3109
Nassau County: 516-222-0086 or 516-876-8126
Suffolk County: 631-632-6458
Westchester & Rockland: 914-251-6986
Mid-Hudson: 845-257-3085
Capital District: 518-442-5659
Southern Tier: 607-777-4972
Central New York: 315-476-8381 or 607-756-6913
Western New York: 716-882-1549