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.
TDLR complaint process is straightforward and they actually investigate. Filed against an unlicensed contractor, TDLR referred it to the AG for enforcement.