Managing Money

Help Desk

Consumer Action Help Desk

Consumer Action wants to help you resolve your consumer complaints. The tools we offer include our “How to Complain” guide, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about consumer rights and links to outside organizations that handle complaints and provide important consumer information.

For free, non-legal advice, call our Consumer Hotline at (415) 777-9635 or (213) 624-8327 and leave us a voice mail message. Our multilingual hotline counselors will return your call as soon as possible. We speak Chinese, English, and Spanish.

You can also E-mail our Complaint Hotline.

Help Desk Resources

• Alerts: Consumer Action's Alerts highlights trends in consumer complaints, scams, outrageous fees and other notable consumer information.


• Consumer Rights FAQs: Also, see our Consumer Rights FAQs to get answers to our most frequently asked questions about used cars, credit, long distance phone rate surveys, contractors, and more.


• How To Complain: Booklet: How To Complain: Guidelines for Resolving Complaints is a 16-page, illustrated booklet that gives helpful advice for resolving complaints. It offers guidance for remedies through the legal system, government agencies, and local consumer groups, and includes a sample complaint letter. Note: Last revision 1997. Use this information as a general guide only; consult with a local consumer group for laws specific to your state.


• Links to Outside Organizations: To browse other websites for more consumer information, check out our Consumer Resources Links page. Our Links to Outside Organizations have been chosen by Consumer Action staff members.


• Consumer Action Handbook: The 2008 Consumer Action Handbook is an online guide can help with your consumer problems and questions. Find help on such topics as buying and leasing cars, shopping from home, and protecting your privacy and yourself from fraud.

  TIP: The handbook also contains names and contact information for specific individuals at many large companies who handle consumer complaints about their companies' goods and services. Click here to go to Corporate Consumer Contacts or click here to order the printed, Consumer Action Handbook.