How to File a Consumer Complaint About a Bank

Filing a consumer complaint alerts the federal government of a situation or company that may be breaking the law. The appropriate government agency investigates the claim after it has been received and tries to keep the consumer up to date on its progress. You can file a consumer complaint about a bank if you believe it is not following proper regulations.

Things You'll Need

• Photocopies of appropriate documents
• Bank-account number
• Security envelope

Instructions

File a Consumer Complaint About a Bank

1. Write your complaint about the bank. You'll need to write things like the date the problems began, how you acted in the situation and how the bank is at fault. Try to be as specific as possible with your description of the chain of events.

2. Photocopy any supporting documents you have, and file the originals away for your own records. You should try to put these documents in chronological order and reference them in your written complaint.

3. Research consumer protection laws that apply to banks and banking transactions. You can reference them in your letter to help build your case against the bank.

4. Call the Federal Reserve Bank's Board of Governors in the Division of Consumer and Community Affairs at [phone], and ask for the current address for filing complaints. The division may help you locate an appropriate division of state banks, recommending that you mail the complaint there instead.

5. Sign and date your complaint, package it with your supporting documents and mail it to the appropriate location. Be sure to include your permanent address if you wish to receive updates on the status of your complaint. You may want to send your letter by certified mail.

6. Wait to hear from the Federal Reserve Bank or the State Division of Banks. You should get a status report within 2 months of filing a complaint about a bank. Some credit complaints take longer because more information needs to be gathered before the investigation can begin.

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to try and resolve your banking issue with your local branch before complaining.

• Never send original documents with your complaint.

• Consumer complaints are only investigated if there is actual evidence of illegal activity. If the government reviews your complaint and determines that nothing illegal was done, you may have to resume negotiations with your bank.

• The government asks you to include your bank-account numbers with any complaint you send, so be sure to use a security envelope to protect yourself.