Filing a consumer complaint the "wise" way | News

(WMC-TV) - I'm the court of last resort.

If you have a consumer complaint, you should be coming to me last. So many viewers with consumer issues hit me up first without nary a phone call to the business or service provider.

Sometimes, a phone call is all it takes.

Other times, it takes a checklist.

The Federal Citizen Information Center of the General Services Administration offers a nice 'step-by-step' in complaining the "wise" way at this link:  http://www.usa.gov/topics/consumer/complaint.shtml.

Click there for details, but the main steps include:

* START A FILE. KEEP A LOG OF EVERY CONTACT'S NAME & NUMBER.

* CONTACT THE SELLER, RETAILER OR MERCHANT.

* CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER (PARTICULARLY IF THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE INCLUDES A MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY).

* CONTACT THE INDUSTRY'S TRADE ASSOCIATIONS (Example: local restaurants are typically members of a local restaurant association. They must conform to the association's rules and expectations of service).

* CONTACT YOUR LOCAL & STATE CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY OR THE AGENCY WHICH REGULATES THAT SPECIFIC INDUSTRY.

* CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE OR REGIONAL BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU (www.bbb.org).

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