Filing a complaint with the right agency is the difference between getting results and shouting into the void. Here's the directory.
Consumer complaints:
- Texas Attorney General: texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection — scams, deceptive business practices, landlord issues, auto dealer fraud. THE most powerful consumer protection agency in Texas.
- FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov — national scams, identity theft, telemarketing fraud
- CFPB: consumerfinance.gov/complaint — banks, credit cards, loans, debt collectors, credit reporting
Professional licensing:
- TDLR: tdlr.texas.gov — contractors, HVAC, electricians, plumbers, tow companies, movers, barbers
- Texas Medical Board: tmb.state.tx.us — doctors, physician assistants
- Texas Board of Nursing: bon.texas.gov — nurses
- State Bar of Texas: texasbar.com — attorneys
- Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC): trec.texas.gov — realtors, home inspectors
Insurance:
- Texas Department of Insurance (TDI): tdi.texas.gov — insurance company complaints, claim denials
Employment:
- Texas Workforce Commission (TWC): twc.texas.gov — wage theft, unemployment disputes
- EEOC: eeoc.gov — workplace discrimination
- OSHA: osha.gov — workplace safety violations
- NLRB: nlrb.gov — unfair labor practices, retaliation for union activity or salary discussion
Vehicles:
- TxDMV: txdmv.gov — dealer complaints, lemon law, title issues
- OCCC: occc.texas.gov — auto financing complaints
Housing:
- HUD: hud.gov — fair housing complaints (discrimination)
- City code compliance: Your city's 311 service — habitability, code violations
Tips for effective complaints:
- Be specific: dates, names, amounts, what happened
- Attach documentation
- State what resolution you want
- File with MULTIPLE agencies if applicable
- Follow up every 30 days
Sources:
- All agencies listed above — official .gov and .state.tx.us websites
- Texas AG — "How to File a Consumer Complaint" guide
The right complaint to the right agency gets results. The wrong one gets filed and forgotten.