Instructions

The following information is being provided to assist you in filing a complaint with the Department of Consumer Affairs. Help us help you by providing the additional documents requested such as a copy of your contract, warranty, canceled checks, receipts, bill of sale or Buyer's Guide as appropriate.

1.	Your complaint will be given a number and assigned to a complaint analyst who will evaluate it to determine if the Department can assist you. Note: If your complaint falls within the jurisdiction of another agency, South Carolina law requires that we forward your complaint to that agency and you will be notified. If you are represented by an attorney or if legal action has been taken, the Department cannot intercede or interfere in that process. The Department does not have jurisdiction in business to business complaints or complaints between two individuals.

2.	Once an analyst determines that you have a complaint that can be handled by the Department, the business you are complaining against will be contacted in writing for a response or suggested resolution. Due to limited staff and budgetary constraints, we are unable to handle complaints by telephoning the business.

3.	Several letters will be sent to the business in an effort to obtain a reply. We will send a card to you in approximately 30 days if we have not heard from the business. Often the business will contact you immediately with an offer of a goodwill resolution to the complaint. Please contact the Department if your complaint is resolved before you hear from us.

4.	After a reply is received from the business, the analyst will compare the facts presented in your complaint and the facts given by the business. We encourage your participation in negotiating an amicable solution.

5.	We will contact you if we do not receive a response from the business. If the business does not respond to our letters, the analyst will evaluate the complaint to determine if additional efforts are needed, such as Department enforcement, referral to another source or close the file.

6.	The Department cannot always resolve complaints to the satisfaction of the consumer; however, we will try to determine the obligation of the business based on these facts and advise you. Our complaint analysts are knowledgeable about consumer rights and have access to attorneys who provide legal guidance to them. The Department resolves a large number of complaints which require varying lengths of time to resolve. Your patience is appreciated and we will contact you as soon as possible.

South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs P.O. Box 5757 3600 Forest Drive, 3rd Floor Columbia, South Carolina 29250 Phone: 803-734-4200 1-800-922-1594 Toll free in S.C. Fax: 803-734-4286

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS