In short
Customer service steps, card disputes, and where to report: CFPB, FTC, FCC, DOT, your state attorney general, BBB and small claims.
Wrong charges, broken products, a bank fee you did not agree to, a phone company that will not cancel: it happens to everyone. In the US, a clear written complaint often works. Here is the order to try.
Gather the facts: dates, amounts, order or account numbers, receipts, photos and screenshots.
Contact the company by chat, phone or email. Say what happened and what you want: "Please refund the $35 fee charged on October 3."
Write down the date, the person's name and the reference number.
If they cannot help, ask: "Can I speak to a supervisor?" or "How do I file a formal complaint?"
Put the complaint in writing (email or the company's complaint form) and keep a copy.
Step 2: your card company
If you paid by card and the company will not fix it, you can dispute the charge (ask your card company to reverse it). For billing errors on credit cards, federal law gives you 60 days after the statement that shows the charge. Debit card and payment app rules are weaker, so act fast.
Step 3: report to the right agency
Banks, credit cards, loans, credit reports, money transfers, debt collectors: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. The company is asked to respond. For credit report errors, dispute with the credit bureau first.
Scams, fraud and dishonest business practices: the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC uses reports to find patterns and act against companies; it does not solve single cases.
Phone, internet, TV and robocalls: the FCC at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov.
Airlines (refunds, lost bags): the Department of Transportation at transportation.gov/airconsumer.
Insurance: your state insurance department.
Most other businesses: your state attorney general's consumer protection office. Find it at usa.gov/state-consumer.
Better Business Bureau (BBB): a private nonprofit, not a government agency. Companies often reply to BBB complaints to protect their rating.
Online reviews: honest, factual reviews are your right.
Small claims court: a simple court for small money disputes, where people usually go without a lawyer. The money limit and fees differ by state.
Writing a strong complaint
Short and factual: what happened, when, how much, and what you already tried.
Attach receipts and screenshots.
Say exactly what you want: refund, repair, cancellation, correction.
Stay polite. Angry messages are easier to ignore.
Only complaining by phone, with no written record.
Waiting months to dispute a card charge.
Paying a "recovery service" that promises to get your money back from a scam. These are usually scams too.