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Step 1
Remember that reporting to the Better Business Bureau might make you feel better, but they can't really help you resolve your problem. Their purpose is to report the number of complaints they've had about a business, and nothing more. Of course, that is helpful to people who contact the BBB before ever doing business, but that is the limitation. On the other hand, no one wants to hear from the Attorney General's office. They (the Attorney General's office) actually send letters and ask the business in question to explain themselves.
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Step 2
Write the letter to the Oregon Attorney General's Consumer Complaint Division. Send a copy to: 1) the head office of the business in question, if there is a head office 2) the Better Business Bureau. You can even include other organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce (especially good for local businesses, like hotels and restaurants). Again, although the BBB and Chamber can't really do anything about it, they do keep track of complaints and report on them when questioned by a consumer.
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Step 3
When you write your letter to the Attorney General, include the facts of the complaint. Be sure that you list:- The name of the Company- The date of the incident or occurrence- The exact details. For instance, don't say "it was the worst customer service I ever had" and leave it at that. It won't help the Attorney General's office at all. Write down exactly what happened that made it the worst customer service you ever had.- The name or names of the person or person's with whom you dealt and their department or division at the time of the incident.- What you did to try to resolve the complaint on your own. Again, identify channels you went through in your resolution attempt.- If it cost you money, identify whether it was cash or sales. Did it cost you goods or services instead? Identify the cost to you, and how much. Be realistic and show how you calculated that.Do not use emotion or make false claims. These things will not help you.
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Step 4
It may take 3 to 6 months before you hear back from the Attorney General, but you will hear back. While waiting for your response from that office, be sure to write down any additional contact you have with the company and the facts and outcome of that correspondence. If they are trying to resolve the matter, let them know that you did already contact the Attorney General's office, but if they resolve it now, you'll write a subsequent letter to the Attorney General letting them know that it has been resolved, and that you will send a "cc" to the company.
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Step 5
Generally, you hear from the business in question within days of receiving your response letter from the Office of the Attorney General. The business will offer an apology, a reversal, or action, as a rule. The Attorney General will send you a copy of the correspondence they had with the business, and ask you to contact them again and advise them if your problem is or is not resolved.
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Step 6
Follow-up correspondence with the company, whether it is further dissatisfaction or resolution, can be shared with the Attorney General's office. However, this additional correspondence will likely not generate further investigation by their office unless it bears some new evidence or a new complaint.
