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Consumer Protection
Consumer Protection
Attorney General Dana Nessel is committed to protecting and serving the people and interests of Michigan through a broad range of initiatives which include protecting against Elder Abuse, Human Trafficking, Robocalls, Hate Crimes, Identity Theft, Payroll Fraud, and more.
The Consumer Protection team helps protect Michigan residents from bad actors who have one primary goal: to trick us out of our hard-earned money. As technology advances, they get more creative with their approach. They prey on anyone vulnerable - especially seniors.
Consumer Protection handles 10,000 consumer complaints each year, provides numerous educational resources online, and issues consumer alerts on scams, data breaches and any other consumer-related issue our residents should be aware of.
Consumer Alerts
AG Nessel Reissues Consumer Alert Following New T-Mobile Data Breach
T-Mobile reports that the breach happened between November 25, 2022 and January 5, 2023 and may have exposed information including names, billing addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, T-Mobile account number, number of lines on the account and service plan features. T-Mobile believes that no passwords, payment card information, social security numbers or other financial account information was accessed. The impact of this breach is currently undetermined.
Consumers should remain vigilant for suspicious emails, texts, or phone calls in the wake of this data breach.
What is cryptocurrency and is it safe?
Cryptocurrency is a form of digital cash or currency, which allows users to transact directly with each other without needing banks or governmental regulations.
- They are risky and unpredictable assets;
- Prices have fallen by 72% from their peak a year ago; and
- The collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX trapped over a billion dollars of customer money.
To learn more about cryptocurrencies and the additional risks of using a cryptocurrency exchange for your investments, read the following Michigan Attorney General consumer alerts:
Data Breach: Hope College Data
On December 15, 2022, Hope College reported a massive data breach to the Michigan Attorney General’s office, after they discovered an unauthorized party has gained access to their confidential files. In addition to full names, dates of birth, Social Security Numbers, driver's license and student identification numbers may have been compromised.
For more information on what to do following a data breach, review the Attorney General alert Data Breaches: What to do Next.
Consumer Alerts Most Frequently Viewed
Drop-Shipping
It’s a fast-growing trend of online middlemen who keep the difference between the wholesale and retail price and cost you extra money. And while drop-shipping is not illegal, there is a lot of room for problems and abuse for buyers and sellers.
Scanner Law
The Shopping Reform and Modernization Act ("Scanner Law"), became effective September 1, 2011. This legislation replaces the former Pricing and Advertising of Consumer Items Act ("Item Pricing Act").
Lemon Law
The Lemon Law applies to passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and vans that are purchased or leased in Michigan or purchased or leased by a Michigan resident (regardless of whether the vehicle was purchased or leased in Michigan) and covered by a manufacturer’s express warranty at the time of purchase or lease.
The Lemon Law does not apply to motor homes, buses, trucks other than pickups and vans, motorcycles, or off-road vehicles.
Towing
If you believe that your vehicle has been unlawfully towed or that you were charged unreasonable towing or storage fees, Michigan law limits where and when you may challenge such actions. This Consumer Alert explains the process you must follow to get your vehicle back and to complain about unlawful towing and unreasonable fees.
Multi-Level Marketing
"Multi-level" or "network" marketing is a form of business that uses independent representatives to sell products or services to family, friends, and acquaintances. A representative earns commissions from retail sales he or she makes, and also from retail sales made by other people that he or she recruits.
Text Message Scams: Smishing
Smishing is when scammers send text messages pretending to be from trusted sources. The goal is to get targets to respond with personal information like passwords and credit card details or to click on links that install malware. It is just like phishing that uses emails; instead smishing uses texts.
Gas Prices
Consumers are asking questions about gas prices. The following alert addresses commonly asked questions and discusses the role of the Michigan Department of Attorney General in investigating gas pricing issues.
Contract Cancellation
Perhaps because so many large retailers voluntarily allow consumers to return merchandise with no questions asked, many consumers assume that they have a right to cancel a contract or to ask a retailer to take back an item and refund the consumer's money. As a general matter of contract law, consumers do not have a right to cancel a sale of goods or services.
Consumer Protection Act
The Consumer Protection Act applies to goods and services leased or purchased for personal, family and household purposes; prohibits price gouging, failing to reveal facts material to a sale, misrepresenting the source or geographic origin of goods or services, and many other unfair and deceptive business practices; and gives the Attorney General the power to investigate and the authority to sue.
File a Complaint
To report a scam, file a complaint or get additional information, contact the Michigan Department of Attorney General:
Consumer Protection
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form
File a Complaint
The Attorney General’s office helps consumers by informally mediating complaints. In many cases, this assistance will help you resolve your problem. However, if our mediation is not successful, the Attorney General cannot act as a private attorney on your behalf.
Our mediation process includes a letter from our Consumer Protection Division to the business or individual identified in your complaint. A copy of your complaint and submitted materials will be included with a request for a response.
We will contact you in writing after we have received a reply. If we do not hear back from the business or individual identified in your complaint within 30 days, we will recontact them regarding your complaint.
In some cases, we may be unable to get any cooperation from the business or individual. If they refuse to respond, we will confirm this to you in writing. You may then want to consider filing suit in Small Claims Court or consulting with a private attorney to review your legal options.
Attorney General Complaint Forms
Educate & Protect Yourself
Scammers have one goal: to get your personal -- especially financial -- information. Scams will always include one or more of the following tactics:
- Urgent or secret requests
- Believable stories or connections
- Emotional appeal
- Financial requests
- Unusual payment type (wire transfer, cash reload card, gift card)
Remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Where Do I Report a Suspicious or Fraudulent Telemarketer?
If your phone number has been registered on the Do Not Call Registry for 31 days or more, you are encouraged to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Report a Do Not Call Registry violation online or call 888-382-1222.
For more information on how to protect yourself from telemarketing fraud, please see the Attorney General's Consumer Alert entitled "Robocall and Telemarketing Fraud."
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I have a complaint about a consumer product I recently bought from a business. Who should I contact about my problem?You may contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection division by filing an online complaint or by calling 877-765-8388.
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Is there a lemon law on used cars?
No, but because Michigan law defines a “new car” to include a car still “covered by a manufacturer’s express warranty at the time of purchase or lease,” it could apply to a used car that meets that criteria.
Otherwise, if you purchased your vehicle from a used car dealer, contact the Bureau of Information Security, Regulatory Monitoring Division at 888-767-6424 regarding a used vehicle complaint.
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Where do I complain about auto repairs?In most cases, if you have a complaint about auto repairs, you should contact the Secretary of State, Bureau of Regulatory Services at 888-767-6424. For more information on what you should do if you have a complaint regarding auto repair, please visit the Secretary of State’s website.
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Where can I obtain information or complaint record about a specific business?
Call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection division toll-free at 877-765-8388. When you call, you will speak to one of our Complaint Specialists. If you give them the name of the business, and any other identifying information you have (such as an address or phone number), our Complaint Specialists can provide the number of complaints.
Specific information about the complaints, including what the complaints are about and how they were resolved, will have to be submitted to our FOIA section.
You can also check online to see if the Better Business Bureau has any complaints on file regarding a company.
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I keep getting unwanted telephone solicitors calling my home, what can I do about it?
To minimize telemarketing calls to your home, join the Federal Do Not Call Registry. If you have an active e-mail account, you may register online. To register by phone, dial 888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to place on the Do Not Call Registry.
Registrations should stop most (but not all) telemarketing calls within 30 days of registration and need not be renewed.