Many consumers turn to the New York State Department of State Division of Consumer Protection as their first line of defense and initial point of contact with New York State government to resolve a marketplace problem or to receive guidance and information. The Division protects New Yorkers through direct assistance and mediation of their marketplace complaints. The Division provides information and guidance to New Yorkers regarding numerous issues, including credit cards, Do Not Call, identity theft, home improvement, utility services and, more.
The Division takes pride in its quality and timeliness of service and customer satisfaction.
Consumer Complaint Form and Hotline
Do you have a marketplace problem? File a formal complaint against the business. The Division responds to individual consumer complaints by working to settle disputes between a consumer and a business through voluntary mediation. Through this intervention, the Division achieves significant savings in the form of refunds, rebates, credits, and avoided costs, which in 2009 reached more than $1.5 million for consumers. Please be aware that the Division has no legal authority to require a business to pursue any specific action on your behalf; our mediation efforts and the resolutions we achieve are voluntary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Read through some of the most common consumer questions received by the Division, which may answer your inquiry.
Consumer Law Help Manual
Read the chapters of the Consumer Law Help Manual to learn about the marketplace laws and regulations that have been enacted and promulgated providing rights and remedies for consumers. Each section of the Manual provides an overview of key relevant statutes and marketplace strategies. Please note that statements of the law in these chapters should not be taken as legal advice but are provided for guidance purposes.
Consumer Academy
Go back to school with the Division and become an empowered consumer. The Division's Consumer Academy provides consumers with the opportunity to learn about various topics in a self-teaching environment. Knowledge is power!