How do you file a complaint against a business?

Start with a written complaint to the company itself, addressed to a supervisor or its formal complaints channel, stating the facts, the dates, what you want, and a deadline. Written matters, because it creates a record and because companies escalate documented complaints differently than phone calls. If you paid by credit card and the goods or services were not delivered as promised, disputing the charge is frequently the fastest and most effective remedy available, and federal law gives you specific billing dispute rights, with a limited window from the statement date, so act quickly.

When the company will not resolve it, escalate to regulators, which is free and often effective because agencies track patterns. Your state attorney general's consumer protection division handles a broad range of complaints and has enforcement power. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau handles banks, credit cards, loans, debt collection, and credit reporting, and requires companies to respond. The Federal Trade Commission collects fraud and deceptive practice reports. Industry-specific agencies cover their sectors: the FCC for phone and cable, the Department of Transportation for airlines, state insurance and licensing boards for insurers and contractors. Better Business Bureau complaints carry no legal force but sometimes prompt resolution. Small claims court remains the backstop for money disputes, and for widespread harm, consumer class actions exist, which is worth knowing before you accept a settlement that waives your rights.