Consumer Rights

This page will point you to resources to learn about your rights as a consumer. It also tells you how to file a consumer complaint and report fraud or scams.

Basic consumer rights information

Privacy and safety

Debt collection

Car purchasing

Junk mail, telemarketing and sweepstakes

File a complaint or report

1. File a complaint with the Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP).

Get help with consumer problems and report scams to CAP.

2. Report fraud, scams and bad business practices with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The FTC Report Fraud website takes complaints and conducts investigations to stop unfair, tricky and illegal business practices. The FTC cannot resolve individual consumer complaints, but they give some tips that may help you get your money back. Submitting a report will generate tailored steps you can take to try to recover your money or help you with other impacts from the problem you experienced. The FTC uses complaints to build cases against scammers. Any information you can give helps investigators. The FTC accepts reports related to many topics, including:

  • Impersonators like fake government or business callers
  • Sweepstakes or prizes
  • Credit and debt scams
  • Internet and TV services
  • Online shopping
  • Unwanted phone calls
  • Jobs, investments, money-making opportunities
  • Car/truck sales and repairs
  • and more!

Visit consumer.ftc.gov to find consumer tips and learn how to avoid scams.

3. File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau supervises banks, credit unions, and other financial companies and enforces federal consumer financial laws. Contact the CFPF with problems about:

Loans

Financial Services

4. File a complaint about an insurance company with Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR). 

The DRF takes complaints about insurance companies. This includes:

  • auto
  • homeowners
  • life
  • annuity
  • major medical
  • dental
  • long-term care
  • Medicare supplement
  • or other types of insurance coverage.
Source URL: https://www.vtlawhelp.org/consumer-rights

List of links present in page
  1. https://www.vtlawhelp.org/consumer-rights
  2. https://consumer.law/
  3. https://www.consumer.gov/
  4. https://ago.vermont.gov/cap/
  5. https://ago.vermont.gov/cap/get-help-consumer-complaint
  6. https://consumer.ftc.gov/
  7. https://ago.vermont.gov/cap/have-consumer-questions-find-answers-here
  8. https://www.nclc.org/our-work/resources-for-consumers/
  9. https://www.vtlawhelp.org/identity-theft
  10. https://www.vtlawhelp.org/data-breaches
  11. https://privacyrights.org/consumer-guides/online-privacy-using-internet-safely
  12. https://privacyrights.org/resources/know-your-rights-financial-privacy
  13. http://www.vtlawhelp.org/debtdebt-collection
  14. https://vtlawhelp.org/sites/default/files/How%20to%20Protect%20Your%20Income%20and%20Property%20-%20updated%205-19-15_0.pdf
  15. https://vtlawhelp.org/student-loans
  16. https://ago.vermont.gov/cap/have-consumer-questions-find-answers-here
  17. https://www.donotcall.gov/
  18. https://dmachoice.org/static/consumer_choice_tools.php
  19. https://dmachoice.org/static/consumer_choice_tools.php
  20. https://dmachoice.org/static/consumer_choice_tools.php
  21. https://www.ana.net/content/show/id/accountability-guidance-sweepstakes
  22. https://www.ana.net/content/show/id/accountability-guidance-sweepstakes
  23. https://ago.vermont.gov/cap/get-help-consumer-complaint
  24. https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/?orgcode=LSV
  25. https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/?orgcode=LSV
  26. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed
  27. https://consumer.ftc.gov/
  28. http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
  29. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/mortgagehelp/
  30. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/category-payday-loans/
  31. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/category-student-loans/
  32. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/auto-loans/
  33. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/getting-an-auto-loan/
  34. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/bank-accounts/
  35. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/category-credit-cards/
  36. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/category-prepaid-cards/
  37. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/credit-reports-and-scores/
  38. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/debt-collection/
  39. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/sending-money/
  40. https://www.vtlawhelp.org/commercial-insurance-complaints