Other Consumer/Finance
Financial Protection Assistance
Offers information on various financial topics, empowering consumers with knowledge on banking, loans, credit, fraud prevention, and more.
Financial Protection Assistance
Offers information on various financial topics, empowering consumers with knowledge on banking, loans, credit, fraud prevention, and more.
Medical Debt Information for Consumers - Los Angeles County
Provides information and resources about medical debt, including tips for managing and preventing it, understanding consumer rights, and accessing financial assistance programs for those impacted by medical bills.
Financial Abuse and Financial Safety Planning Tips for Survivors of Domestic Violence
Six tips for domestic violence victims and survivors that are seeking to secure their financial future.
Financial Protection Assistance
Offers information on various financial topics, empowering consumers with knowledge on banking, loans, credit, fraud prevention, and more.
Disaster Recovery: A Resource for Homeowners
Provides information for homeowners, renters, and lenders on financial relief options and recovery steps after a natural disaster.
Financial Protection Assistance
Offers information on various financial topics, empowering consumers with knowledge on banking, loans, credit, fraud prevention, and more.
Guide to Major Changes to Mortgage Servicing Bankruptcy Rule
Guide to bankruptcy rule changes going into effect 12/01/2025
Auto Loans
Offers information on how auto loans work, what to consider when comparing financing options, and how to avoid costly loan terms.
Auto Repossession
Covers how vehicle repossessions work, what happens after a car is repossessed, and options to avoid repossession such as negotiating payments or voluntary surrender.
Maintenance and Repairs
A guide from the California Bureau of Automotive Repair with resources for dealing with auto repair disputes, including how to file complaints, understand your rights, and find licensed repair shops.
Maintenance and Repairs
Explains consumer rights and responsibilities for auto maintenance and repairs in California, including how to choose a licensed shop, understand warranties and recalls, keep proper repair records, and file a complaint.
Service Contracts and Extended Warranties - Los Angeles County
Gives consumer advice on service contracts (often sold as extended warranties for cars), explaining what to check (coverage, exclusions, deductibles, who backs the contract) and when cancellation or refund rights apply.
The Lemon Law
Outlines how California’s Lemon Law protects consumers when a new (or still-warrantied used) vehicle cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, and describes remedies such as replacement, refund, or arbitration.
Vehicle Repossessions
This page explains your rights and responsibilities if your car is repossessed (voluntarily or involuntarily), including how to get your vehicle back, what notices you must receive, and how to retrieve personal items from the car.
Auto Loans
Offers information on how auto loans work, what to consider when comparing financing options, and how to avoid costly loan terms.
Auto Repossession
Covers how vehicle repossessions work, what happens after a car is repossessed, and options to avoid repossession such as negotiating payments or voluntary surrender.
Maintenance and Repairs
A guide from the California Bureau of Automotive Repair with resources for dealing with auto repair disputes, including how to file complaints, understand your rights, and find licensed repair shops.
Maintenance and Repairs
Explains consumer rights and responsibilities for auto maintenance and repairs in California, including how to choose a licensed shop, understand warranties and recalls, keep proper repair records, and file a complaint.
Service Contracts and Extended Warranties - Los Angeles County
Gives consumer advice on service contracts (often sold as extended warranties for cars), explaining what to check (coverage, exclusions, deductibles, who backs the contract) and when cancellation or refund rights apply.
The Lemon Law
Outlines how California’s Lemon Law protects consumers when a new (or still-warrantied used) vehicle cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, and describes remedies such as replacement, refund, or arbitration.
Vehicle Repossessions
This page explains your rights and responsibilities if your car is repossessed (voluntarily or involuntarily), including how to get your vehicle back, what notices you must receive, and how to retrieve personal items from the car.
Auto Repossession
Covers how vehicle repossessions work, what happens after a car is repossessed, and options to avoid repossession such as negotiating payments or voluntary surrender.
Vehicle Repossessions
This page explains your rights and responsibilities if your car is repossessed (voluntarily or involuntarily), including how to get your vehicle back, what notices you must receive, and how to retrieve personal items from the car.
Auto Loans
Offers information on how auto loans work, what to consider when comparing financing options, and how to avoid costly loan terms.
Auto Repossession
Covers how vehicle repossessions work, what happens after a car is repossessed, and options to avoid repossession such as negotiating payments or voluntary surrender.
Maintenance and Repairs
Explains consumer rights and responsibilities for auto maintenance and repairs in California, including how to choose a licensed shop, understand warranties and recalls, keep proper repair records, and file a complaint.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
ADR Types and Benefits. The Judicial Council of California has created a video series with descriptions of different kinds of dispute resolution and where each might be helpful.
Ask for a Fee Waiver if you can't afford filing fees
In most cases, you have to pay a fee to file papers with the court. If you can’t afford the filing fee, you can ask the court for a “fee waiver” in order to file for free. With a fee waiver, you also may not have to pay for certified copies, sheriff's service of process fees, or other costs related to starting a case, such as the cost for a court reporter to be at your trial.
Avoiding and Addressing Problems with Attorneys and Fraudsters
Avoiding and resolving problems in relation to: hiring an attorney, client security fund, avoiding notary fraud, and avoiding legal fraud.
Avoiding and Addressing Problems with Attorneys and Fraudsters
Avoiding and resolving problems in relation to: hiring an attorney, client security fund, avoiding notary fraud, and avoiding legal fraud.
Debt Settlement Traps!
This .pdf resource shares what to know before you hire a debt settlement company.
Employer-Sponsored Healthcare Coverage
This article will help you understand: (1) If employer-sponsored coverage is right for you, (2) What services your plan will cover, (3) How to choose a plan, (4), How much you will have to pay for health care, and (5) How to sign up.
Financial Abuse and Financial Safety Planning Tips for Survivors of Domestic Violence
Six tips for domestic violence victims and survivors that are seeking to secure their financial future.
Financial Abuse is Domestic Abuse
Defines financial abuse as a form of domestic violence, outlines common warning signs, and offers guidance on protecting victims and finding help.
Financial Protection Assistance
Offers information on various financial topics, empowering consumers with knowledge on banking, loans, credit, fraud prevention, and more.
Medical Debt and Your Rights
The Health Consumer Alliance is here to help you understand your medical bills and whether you can reduce your debt.
Overview of California's Health Studio Services Contract Law: Legal Guide W-10
Explains consumer rights and business obligations under California law for gym and health club contracts, including limits on fees and contract duration, mandatory cancellation rights, refund requirements, and remedies for violations.
Protect Yourself From Fraud Resources to Help You Achieve Financial Security
A consumer-education booklet produced by the DFPI that explains how to spot and avoid financial fraud and scams, safeguard personal data, understand your rights, and where to turn for help — essentially a fraud-prevention starter kit for Californians.
California Department of Consumer Affairs: General Complaint Form
A standardized complaint form for California consumers to report issues with businesses or professionals regulated by the department, or to submit comments about DCA services.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission - Fraud Center
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s consumer education hub that explains market risks, identifies common frauds in financial trading, and shows how to check registered professionals and submit complaints.
Complaint Referral Table
Directory that lists types of businesses and industries in California along with the correct regulatory or oversight agency and contact information for filing complaints.
Consumer Complaint Against A Business/Company
Enables Californians to file complaints about businesses or companies that may have violated consumer-protection laws.
Consumer Complaint Process
Describes how to file a complaint against banks or financial institutions regulated by the FDIC, what information to include, and how the complaint is handled.
Consumer Fraud Complaint Form - Sacramento County
Provides local residents of Sacramento County a structured form to report alleged consumer-fraud, with instructions for submission and guidance on documenting the issue.
Consumer Protection Complaint Form: Los Angeles County
A form for consumers in Los Angeles County to document and submit complaints about businesses or individuals, including details of the transaction, contact with the business, and whether others are affected.
FDIC Information and Support Center
Offers a central portal for consumers to submit complaints or inquiries about FDIC-insured institutions, obtain deposit insurance information and access financial-consumer resources.
How To File a Complaint with the Medical Board
There are three ways that you can file a complaint: 1. Call to have a Complaint Form mailed to you either through the toll-free line (1-800-633-2322) or by calling (916) 263-2424, OR 2. Use the On-line Complaint Form, OR 3. Download and Print a Complaint Form
Maintenance and Repairs
A guide from the California Bureau of Automotive Repair with resources for dealing with auto repair disputes, including how to file complaints, understand your rights, and find licensed repair shops.
Pig butchering – how to spot and report the scam
explains the "pig butchering" scam, a type of investment fraud, and provides advice on how to identify and report it.
Reporting Cyber-Enabled Crime with the FBI
Official portal run by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for reporting cyber-enabled fraud, scams, and internet crimes, helping law enforcement collect trends and investigations.
Self Help Guide: Filing Complaints with the California Contractor State License Board
This guide helps consumers file a complaint with the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) against a licensed (or unlicensed) contractor by walking them through the form, identifying what to fill out and how to support the complaint.
Self-Help “Pro Per” Guide for Completing: California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation PACE Complaint
A downloadable guide that walks Californians through how to file a complaint with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) about a PACE (“Property Assessed Clean Energy”) assessment, showing section-by-section how to complete the form and what information to include.
Credit Cards - Disputing a Charge
Guidance from the California DOJ on how to dispute unauthorized or incorrect credit-card charges, including timelines and what kinds of claims (billing errors, seller-failures) you can raise.
Sample Letter for Disputing Credit or Debit Card Charges
A resource from the FTC providing a template letter and instructions you can use to formally dispute mistaken or unauthorized card charges.
Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
Overview of credit-card rights and responsibilities: how to use a credit card wisely, what issuers must do, and how you can dispute billing errors under federal law.
What To Do if You're Billed for Things You Never Got, or You Get Unordered Products
Describes how to handle situations where you’re charged for items you didn’t ask for or didn’t receive: check your rights, contact the seller/biller, and understand dispute options.
Avoiding Predatory Lending
Offers advice for home buyers and owners about recognizing predatory mortgage and lending practices, how to choose reputable lenders, and how to protect home equity from abusive loans.
Bankruptcy
The United States Courts’ introductory guide explaining how bankruptcy works, the different chapters, what to expect, and how to prepare if you can’t pay your debts.
Bankruptcy Basics
Provides general information about federal bankruptcy laws and the bankruptcy process. It is not a guide for filing a bankruptcy case.
Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule May Help
Explains the federal rule that allows consumers to cancel certain door-to-door sales of $25 or more within three business days, obliging the seller to provide a full refund and specific disclosures
California Department of Consumer Affairs: General Complaint Form
A standardized complaint form for California consumers to report issues with businesses or professionals regulated by the department, or to submit comments about DCA services.
Can an Undocumented Immigrant File for Bankruptcy?
An article explaining that undocumented immigrants in the U.S. are generally eligible to file for bankruptcy under U.S. law (though specific identity and tax-ID requirements apply) and advising that they should consult an immigration attorney because bankruptcy filings can have immigration implications.
Center for Financial Empowerment Services - Los Angeles
Offers Los Angeles County residents free financial-empowerment services including one-on-one counseling, safe bank-account access, debt and credit help, tax filing assistance and more to build financial stability for low- and moderate-income households.
Checking A Company's Background
A guide from the California Department of Justice advising you to research a business—via multiple websites, reviews, complaints—before entering a contract or making a large purchase
Commodity Futures Trading Commission - Fraud Center
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s consumer education hub that explains market risks, identifies common frauds in financial trading, and shows how to check registered professionals and submit complaints.
Common Scams
Outlines a variety of common scams targeting consumers, with tips on how to recognize and protect against them.
Complaint Referral Table
Directory that lists types of businesses and industries in California along with the correct regulatory or oversight agency and contact information for filing complaints.
Consumer Complaint Against A Business/Company
Enables Californians to file complaints about businesses or companies that may have violated consumer-protection laws.
Consumer Fraud Complaint Form - Sacramento County
Provides local residents of Sacramento County a structured form to report alleged consumer-fraud, with instructions for submission and guidance on documenting the issue.
Consumer Protection Complaint Form: Los Angeles County
A form for consumers in Los Angeles County to document and submit complaints about businesses or individuals, including details of the transaction, contact with the business, and whether others are affected.
Credit Cards - Disputing a Charge
Guidance from the California DOJ on how to dispute unauthorized or incorrect credit-card charges, including timelines and what kinds of claims (billing errors, seller-failures) you can raise.
Debt Settlement Traps!
This .pdf resource shares what to know before you hire a debt settlement company.
Department of Financial Protection & Innovation: Consumer Alerts Page
The DFPI's consumer alerts page lists the latest scams and financial risks, offering updates and guidance to help protect consumers from fraud and deceptive practices.
Disaster Recovery: A Resource for Homeowners
Provides information for homeowners, renters, and lenders on financial relief options and recovery steps after a natural disaster.
Don't Fall for NFT Scams
Resource for artists on how NFT-related scams work and steps to protect yourself when approached with crypto or digital art offers.
Elder Fraud
Overview of common scams targeting older adults/seniors and how the FBI helps victims report and recover from financial fraud.
Equifax Consumer Services Center
The Equifax portal for personal credit-report services, where consumers can access their credit reports, place freezes or alerts, and dispute inaccuracies through the bureau directly.
Experian Credit Report
The Experian help center that provides tools and educational content on credit reports, scores, identity protection and steps to improve or protect your credit.
FDIC Information and Support Center
Offers a central portal for consumers to submit complaints or inquiries about FDIC-insured institutions, obtain deposit insurance information and access financial-consumer resources.
Financial Abuse is Domestic Abuse
Defines financial abuse as a form of domestic violence, outlines common warning signs, and offers guidance on protecting victims and finding help.
Grandparent Scams
Educational video highlighting real examples of scams and practical tips to protect yourself online and offline.
Guide to Major Changes to Mortgage Servicing Bankruptcy Rule
Guide to bankruptcy rule changes going into effect 12/01/2025
How to Avoid a Government Impersonation Scam
FTC advice on identifying fake government calls, emails, and texts that demand payment or personal information.
How To File a Complaint with the Medical Board
There are three ways that you can file a complaint: 1. Call to have a Complaint Form mailed to you either through the toll-free line (1-800-633-2322) or by calling (916) 263-2424, OR 2. Use the On-line Complaint Form, OR 3. Download and Print a Complaint Form
How to Protect Yourself from ‘Muse’ Scams on Social Media
Explains how scammers target artists and creators with fake “muse” offers on social media and how to recognize and avoid them.
Impersonator Scams
FTC resource explaining how impersonation scams work and offering shareable tips to help others recognize and stop them.
Job Schemes and Business Opportunity Schemes
Offers insight into fraudulent job and business schemes, detailing how to spot and avoid scams related to employment and business opportunities.
Medical Debt Information for Consumers - Los Angeles County
Provides information and resources about medical debt, including tips for managing and preventing it, understanding consumer rights, and accessing financial assistance programs for those impacted by medical bills.
New U.S. Immigrants with No Credit Can Establish Good Credit and Obtain a Loan
A resource article aimed at immigrants who lack U.S. credit history, explaining strategies to build credit (such as secured credit cards, credit-builder loans, reporting rent/utilities) and the importance of establishing a credit record for financial inclusion.
Protect Yourself From Fraud Resources to Help You Achieve Financial Security
A consumer-education booklet produced by the DFPI that explains how to spot and avoid financial fraud and scams, safeguard personal data, understand your rights, and where to turn for help — essentially a fraud-prevention starter kit for Californians.
Reporting Cyber-Enabled Crime with the FBI
Official portal run by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for reporting cyber-enabled fraud, scams, and internet crimes, helping law enforcement collect trends and investigations.
Request Free Credit Reports
This is the only site authorized by federal law for U.S. consumers to request their free annual credit reports from the three major credit bureaus.
Scams and Financial Hardships: Resources for Victims of Financial Crimes
portal listing brochures, alerts and support for victims of online financial crimes, including steps on reporting losses, credit issues, and protecting yourself from future cyber-fraud.
Self-Help “Pro Per” Guide for Completing: California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation PACE Complaint
A downloadable guide that walks Californians through how to file a complaint with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) about a PACE (“Property Assessed Clean Energy”) assessment, showing section-by-section how to complete the form and what information to include.
Service Contracts and Extended Warranties - Los Angeles County
Gives consumer advice on service contracts (often sold as extended warranties for cars), explaining what to check (coverage, exclusions, deductibles, who backs the contract) and when cancellation or refund rights apply.
Solar Energy Scams are Against the Law
A federal-government consumer-advisory about how unscrupulous solar companies may mislead homeowners about costs, tax credits and savings; it outlines how to audit offers, what red flags to watch for (e.g., “free” solar panels) and how to report suspected scams.
This Medicare Open Enrollment season, learn how to protect yourself from scams
Warns about common scams targeting older adults during Medicare’s open enrollment season and offers tips to recognize and avoid fraudulent offers.
Transunion Credit Score Help
The TransUnion credit-help site offering consumers resources to freeze or dispute their credit, understand credit score changes, and protect themselves against identity theft or data leaks
Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
Overview of credit-card rights and responsibilities: how to use a credit card wisely, what issuers must do, and how you can dispute billing errors under federal law.
Vehicle Repossessions
This page explains your rights and responsibilities if your car is repossessed (voluntarily or involuntarily), including how to get your vehicle back, what notices you must receive, and how to retrieve personal items from the car.
What To Do if You're Billed for Things You Never Got, or You Get Unordered Products
Describes how to handle situations where you’re charged for items you didn’t ask for or didn’t receive: check your rights, contact the seller/biller, and understand dispute options.
What To Do if You Were Scammed
Explains the steps to take if you paid a scammer, shared personal info, or had your computer/phone compromised, including contacting your financial institution and reporting the incident.
What You Should Know about Unemployment Scammers
California Employment Development Department fact sheet outlining common unemployment and job-related scams and how to report them.
Avoiding Predatory Lending
Offers advice for home buyers and owners about recognizing predatory mortgage and lending practices, how to choose reputable lenders, and how to protect home equity from abusive loans.
Bankruptcy
The United States Courts’ introductory guide explaining how bankruptcy works, the different chapters, what to expect, and how to prepare if you can’t pay your debts.
Bankruptcy Basics
Provides general information about federal bankruptcy laws and the bankruptcy process. It is not a guide for filing a bankruptcy case.
California Department of Consumer Affairs: General Complaint Form
A standardized complaint form for California consumers to report issues with businesses or professionals regulated by the department, or to submit comments about DCA services.
Center for Financial Empowerment Services - Los Angeles
Offers Los Angeles County residents free financial-empowerment services including one-on-one counseling, safe bank-account access, debt and credit help, tax filing assistance and more to build financial stability for low- and moderate-income households.
Checking A Company's Background
A guide from the California Department of Justice advising you to research a business—via multiple websites, reviews, complaints—before entering a contract or making a large purchase
Commodity Futures Trading Commission - Fraud Center
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s consumer education hub that explains market risks, identifies common frauds in financial trading, and shows how to check registered professionals and submit complaints.
Common Scams
Outlines a variety of common scams targeting consumers, with tips on how to recognize and protect against them.
Complaint Referral Table
Directory that lists types of businesses and industries in California along with the correct regulatory or oversight agency and contact information for filing complaints.
Consumer Complaint Against A Business/Company
Enables Californians to file complaints about businesses or companies that may have violated consumer-protection laws.
Consumer Fraud Complaint Form - Sacramento County
Provides local residents of Sacramento County a structured form to report alleged consumer-fraud, with instructions for submission and guidance on documenting the issue.
Credit Cards - Disputing a Charge
Guidance from the California DOJ on how to dispute unauthorized or incorrect credit-card charges, including timelines and what kinds of claims (billing errors, seller-failures) you can raise.
Department of Financial Protection & Innovation: Consumer Alerts Page
The DFPI's consumer alerts page lists the latest scams and financial risks, offering updates and guidance to help protect consumers from fraud and deceptive practices.
Don't Fall for NFT Scams
Resource for artists on how NFT-related scams work and steps to protect yourself when approached with crypto or digital art offers.
Elder Fraud
Overview of common scams targeting older adults/seniors and how the FBI helps victims report and recover from financial fraud.
Equifax Consumer Services Center
The Equifax portal for personal credit-report services, where consumers can access their credit reports, place freezes or alerts, and dispute inaccuracies through the bureau directly.
Experian Credit Report
The Experian help center that provides tools and educational content on credit reports, scores, identity protection and steps to improve or protect your credit.
FDIC Information and Support Center
Offers a central portal for consumers to submit complaints or inquiries about FDIC-insured institutions, obtain deposit insurance information and access financial-consumer resources.
Federal Trade Commission Do Not Call Registry
Allows consumers to register phone numbers to reduce unwanted telemarketing calls and provides guidance for reporting illegal or unwanted calls.
Grandparent Scams
Educational video highlighting real examples of scams and practical tips to protect yourself online and offline.
How to Avoid a Government Impersonation Scam
FTC advice on identifying fake government calls, emails, and texts that demand payment or personal information.
How to Protect Yourself from ‘Muse’ Scams on Social Media
Explains how scammers target artists and creators with fake “muse” offers on social media and how to recognize and avoid them.
How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Tech Support Scams
Explains how fake tech support schemes operate, provides tips for spotting and avoiding scams, and outlines what to do if personal information or money has been stolen.
Impersonator Scams
FTC resource explaining how impersonation scams work and offering shareable tips to help others recognize and stop them.
Job Schemes and Business Opportunity Schemes
Offers insight into fraudulent job and business schemes, detailing how to spot and avoid scams related to employment and business opportunities.
Pig butchering – how to spot and report the scam
explains the "pig butchering" scam, a type of investment fraud, and provides advice on how to identify and report it.
Protect Yourself From Fraud Resources to Help You Achieve Financial Security
A consumer-education booklet produced by the DFPI that explains how to spot and avoid financial fraud and scams, safeguard personal data, understand your rights, and where to turn for help — essentially a fraud-prevention starter kit for Californians.
Reporting Cyber-Enabled Crime with the FBI
Official portal run by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for reporting cyber-enabled fraud, scams, and internet crimes, helping law enforcement collect trends and investigations.
Request Free Credit Reports
This is the only site authorized by federal law for U.S. consumers to request their free annual credit reports from the three major credit bureaus.
Resolve to Protect Yourself From Scams This Year
A blog post by the Social Security Administration encouraging you to strengthen passwords/passkeys, limit what you share on social media, scrutinize QR codes and stay updated on scam trends in 2025.
Sample Letter for Disputing Credit or Debit Card Charges
A resource from the FTC providing a template letter and instructions you can use to formally dispute mistaken or unauthorized card charges.
Scams and Financial Hardships: Resources for Victims of Financial Crimes
portal listing brochures, alerts and support for victims of online financial crimes, including steps on reporting losses, credit issues, and protecting yourself from future cyber-fraud.
Self Help Guide: Filing Complaints with the California Contractor State License Board
This guide helps consumers file a complaint with the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) against a licensed (or unlicensed) contractor by walking them through the form, identifying what to fill out and how to support the complaint.
Self-Help “Pro Per” Guide for Completing: California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation PACE Complaint
A downloadable guide that walks Californians through how to file a complaint with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) about a PACE (“Property Assessed Clean Energy”) assessment, showing section-by-section how to complete the form and what information to include.
Solar Energy Scams are Against the Law
A federal-government consumer-advisory about how unscrupulous solar companies may mislead homeowners about costs, tax credits and savings; it outlines how to audit offers, what red flags to watch for (e.g., “free” solar panels) and how to report suspected scams.
This Medicare Open Enrollment season, learn how to protect yourself from scams
Warns about common scams targeting older adults during Medicare’s open enrollment season and offers tips to recognize and avoid fraudulent offers.
Transunion Credit Score Help
The TransUnion credit-help site offering consumers resources to freeze or dispute their credit, understand credit score changes, and protect themselves against identity theft or data leaks
Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
Overview of credit-card rights and responsibilities: how to use a credit card wisely, what issuers must do, and how you can dispute billing errors under federal law.
What To Do if You're Billed for Things You Never Got, or You Get Unordered Products
Describes how to handle situations where you’re charged for items you didn’t ask for or didn’t receive: check your rights, contact the seller/biller, and understand dispute options.
What To Do if You Were Scammed
Explains the steps to take if you paid a scammer, shared personal info, or had your computer/phone compromised, including contacting your financial institution and reporting the incident.
What You Should Know about Unemployment Scammers
California Employment Development Department fact sheet outlining common unemployment and job-related scams and how to report them.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
ADR Types and Benefits. The Judicial Council of California has created a video series with descriptions of different kinds of dispute resolution and where each might be helpful.
Ask for a Fee Waiver if you can't afford filing fees
In most cases, you have to pay a fee to file papers with the court. If you can’t afford the filing fee, you can ask the court for a “fee waiver” in order to file for free. With a fee waiver, you also may not have to pay for certified copies, sheriff's service of process fees, or other costs related to starting a case, such as the cost for a court reporter to be at your trial.
Auto Loans
Offers information on how auto loans work, what to consider when comparing financing options, and how to avoid costly loan terms.
Auto Repossession
Covers how vehicle repossessions work, what happens after a car is repossessed, and options to avoid repossession such as negotiating payments or voluntary surrender.
Avoiding and Addressing Problems with Attorneys and Fraudsters
Avoiding and resolving problems in relation to: hiring an attorney, client security fund, avoiding notary fraud, and avoiding legal fraud.
Avoiding Predatory Lending
Offers advice for home buyers and owners about recognizing predatory mortgage and lending practices, how to choose reputable lenders, and how to protect home equity from abusive loans.
Bankruptcy
The United States Courts’ introductory guide explaining how bankruptcy works, the different chapters, what to expect, and how to prepare if you can’t pay your debts.
Bankruptcy Basics
Provides general information about federal bankruptcy laws and the bankruptcy process. It is not a guide for filing a bankruptcy case.
Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule May Help
Explains the federal rule that allows consumers to cancel certain door-to-door sales of $25 or more within three business days, obliging the seller to provide a full refund and specific disclosures
California Attorney General: Charity Care and Medical Bills
If you cannot afford to pay your hospital medical bills, you may be eligible to have part or all of the bill forgiven as Charity Care under California’s Hospital Fair Pricing Policies law.
California Department of Consumer Affairs: General Complaint Form
A standardized complaint form for California consumers to report issues with businesses or professionals regulated by the department, or to submit comments about DCA services.
California Tenants: A Guide to Residential Tenants' and Landlords' Rights and Responsibilities
What should a tenant do if his or her apartment needs repairs? Can a landlord force a tenant to move? How many days' notice does a tenant have to give a landlord before moving out? Can a landlord raise a tenant’s rent? California Tenants – A Guide to Residential Tenants’ and Landlords’ Rights and Responsibilities answers these questions and many others.
Can an Undocumented Immigrant File for Bankruptcy?
An article explaining that undocumented immigrants in the U.S. are generally eligible to file for bankruptcy under U.S. law (though specific identity and tax-ID requirements apply) and advising that they should consult an immigration attorney because bankruptcy filings can have immigration implications.
Checking A Company's Background
A guide from the California Department of Justice advising you to research a business—via multiple websites, reviews, complaints—before entering a contract or making a large purchase
Commodity Futures Trading Commission - Fraud Center
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s consumer education hub that explains market risks, identifies common frauds in financial trading, and shows how to check registered professionals and submit complaints.
Common Scams
Outlines a variety of common scams targeting consumers, with tips on how to recognize and protect against them.
Complaint Referral Table
Directory that lists types of businesses and industries in California along with the correct regulatory or oversight agency and contact information for filing complaints.
Consumer Complaint Against A Business/Company
Enables Californians to file complaints about businesses or companies that may have violated consumer-protection laws.
Consumer Complaint Process
Describes how to file a complaint against banks or financial institutions regulated by the FDIC, what information to include, and how the complaint is handled.
Consumer Fraud Complaint Form - Sacramento County
Provides local residents of Sacramento County a structured form to report alleged consumer-fraud, with instructions for submission and guidance on documenting the issue.
Consumer Protection Complaint Form: Los Angeles County
A form for consumers in Los Angeles County to document and submit complaints about businesses or individuals, including details of the transaction, contact with the business, and whether others are affected.
Credit Cards - Disputing a Charge
Guidance from the California DOJ on how to dispute unauthorized or incorrect credit-card charges, including timelines and what kinds of claims (billing errors, seller-failures) you can raise.
Debt Settlement Traps!
This .pdf resource shares what to know before you hire a debt settlement company.
Department of Financial Protection & Innovation: Consumer Alerts Page
The DFPI's consumer alerts page lists the latest scams and financial risks, offering updates and guidance to help protect consumers from fraud and deceptive practices.
Disaster Recovery: A Resource for Homeowners
Provides information for homeowners, renters, and lenders on financial relief options and recovery steps after a natural disaster.
Don't Fall for NFT Scams
Resource for artists on how NFT-related scams work and steps to protect yourself when approached with crypto or digital art offers.
Elder Fraud
Overview of common scams targeting older adults/seniors and how the FBI helps victims report and recover from financial fraud.
Employer-Sponsored Healthcare Coverage
This article will help you understand: (1) If employer-sponsored coverage is right for you, (2) What services your plan will cover, (3) How to choose a plan, (4), How much you will have to pay for health care, and (5) How to sign up.
Equifax Consumer Services Center
The Equifax portal for personal credit-report services, where consumers can access their credit reports, place freezes or alerts, and dispute inaccuracies through the bureau directly.
Experian Credit Report
The Experian help center that provides tools and educational content on credit reports, scores, identity protection and steps to improve or protect your credit.
FDIC Information and Support Center
Offers a central portal for consumers to submit complaints or inquiries about FDIC-insured institutions, obtain deposit insurance information and access financial-consumer resources.
Federal Trade Commission Do Not Call Registry
Allows consumers to register phone numbers to reduce unwanted telemarketing calls and provides guidance for reporting illegal or unwanted calls.
Financial Abuse and Financial Safety Planning Tips for Survivors of Domestic Violence
Six tips for domestic violence victims and survivors that are seeking to secure their financial future.
Financial Abuse is Domestic Abuse
Defines financial abuse as a form of domestic violence, outlines common warning signs, and offers guidance on protecting victims and finding help.
Financial Protection Assistance
Offers information on various financial topics, empowering consumers with knowledge on banking, loans, credit, fraud prevention, and more.
Grandparent Scams
Educational video highlighting real examples of scams and practical tips to protect yourself online and offline.
Guide to Major Changes to Mortgage Servicing Bankruptcy Rule
Guide to bankruptcy rule changes going into effect 12/01/2025
Hospital Fair Pricing Policy Search Tool
Look up a hospital's fair pricing policies in California.
How to Avoid a Government Impersonation Scam
FTC advice on identifying fake government calls, emails, and texts that demand payment or personal information.
How To File a Complaint with the Medical Board
There are three ways that you can file a complaint: 1. Call to have a Complaint Form mailed to you either through the toll-free line (1-800-633-2322) or by calling (916) 263-2424, OR 2. Use the On-line Complaint Form, OR 3. Download and Print a Complaint Form
How to File a Complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) is responsible for administering and enforcing some of the nation’s most important worker protection laws. WHD is committed to ensuring that workers in this country are paid properly and for all the hours they work, regardless of immigration status.
How to Protect Yourself from ‘Muse’ Scams on Social Media
Explains how scammers target artists and creators with fake “muse” offers on social media and how to recognize and avoid them.
How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Tech Support Scams
Explains how fake tech support schemes operate, provides tips for spotting and avoiding scams, and outlines what to do if personal information or money has been stolen.
Impersonator Scams
FTC resource explaining how impersonation scams work and offering shareable tips to help others recognize and stop them.
Job Schemes and Business Opportunity Schemes
Offers insight into fraudulent job and business schemes, detailing how to spot and avoid scams related to employment and business opportunities.
Maintenance and Repairs
A guide from the California Bureau of Automotive Repair with resources for dealing with auto repair disputes, including how to file complaints, understand your rights, and find licensed repair shops.
Maintenance and Repairs
Explains consumer rights and responsibilities for auto maintenance and repairs in California, including how to choose a licensed shop, understand warranties and recalls, keep proper repair records, and file a complaint.
Medical Debt and Hospital Bills Dispute Program
File a complaint if you were denied financial assistance for your hospital bill. Find hospital policies and applications for charity care and discount payment, and hospital debt collection policies.
Medical Debt and Your Rights
The Health Consumer Alliance is here to help you understand your medical bills and whether you can reduce your debt.
Medical Debt Information for Consumers - Los Angeles County
Provides information and resources about medical debt, including tips for managing and preventing it, understanding consumer rights, and accessing financial assistance programs for those impacted by medical bills.
New U.S. Immigrants with No Credit Can Establish Good Credit and Obtain a Loan
A resource article aimed at immigrants who lack U.S. credit history, explaining strategies to build credit (such as secured credit cards, credit-builder loans, reporting rent/utilities) and the importance of establishing a credit record for financial inclusion.
Overview of California's Health Studio Services Contract Law: Legal Guide W-10
Explains consumer rights and business obligations under California law for gym and health club contracts, including limits on fees and contract duration, mandatory cancellation rights, refund requirements, and remedies for violations.
Pig butchering – how to spot and report the scam
explains the "pig butchering" scam, a type of investment fraud, and provides advice on how to identify and report it.
Protect Yourself From Fraud Resources to Help You Achieve Financial Security
A consumer-education booklet produced by the DFPI that explains how to spot and avoid financial fraud and scams, safeguard personal data, understand your rights, and where to turn for help — essentially a fraud-prevention starter kit for Californians.
Reporting Cyber-Enabled Crime with the FBI
Official portal run by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for reporting cyber-enabled fraud, scams, and internet crimes, helping law enforcement collect trends and investigations.
Request Free Credit Reports
This is the only site authorized by federal law for U.S. consumers to request their free annual credit reports from the three major credit bureaus.
Resolve to Protect Yourself From Scams This Year
A blog post by the Social Security Administration encouraging you to strengthen passwords/passkeys, limit what you share on social media, scrutinize QR codes and stay updated on scam trends in 2025.
Sample Letter for Disputing Credit or Debit Card Charges
A resource from the FTC providing a template letter and instructions you can use to formally dispute mistaken or unauthorized card charges.
Scams and Financial Hardships: Resources for Victims of Financial Crimes
portal listing brochures, alerts and support for victims of online financial crimes, including steps on reporting losses, credit issues, and protecting yourself from future cyber-fraud.
Self Help Guide: Filing Complaints with the California Contractor State License Board
This guide helps consumers file a complaint with the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) against a licensed (or unlicensed) contractor by walking them through the form, identifying what to fill out and how to support the complaint.
Self-Help “Pro Per” Guide for Completing: California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation PACE Complaint
A downloadable guide that walks Californians through how to file a complaint with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) about a PACE (“Property Assessed Clean Energy”) assessment, showing section-by-section how to complete the form and what information to include.
Service Contracts and Extended Warranties - Los Angeles County
Gives consumer advice on service contracts (often sold as extended warranties for cars), explaining what to check (coverage, exclusions, deductibles, who backs the contract) and when cancellation or refund rights apply.
Solar Energy Scams are Against the Law
A federal-government consumer-advisory about how unscrupulous solar companies may mislead homeowners about costs, tax credits and savings; it outlines how to audit offers, what red flags to watch for (e.g., “free” solar panels) and how to report suspected scams.
This Medicare Open Enrollment season, learn how to protect yourself from scams
Warns about common scams targeting older adults during Medicare’s open enrollment season and offers tips to recognize and avoid fraudulent offers.
Transunion Credit Score Help
The TransUnion credit-help site offering consumers resources to freeze or dispute their credit, understand credit score changes, and protect themselves against identity theft or data leaks
Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
Overview of credit-card rights and responsibilities: how to use a credit card wisely, what issuers must do, and how you can dispute billing errors under federal law.
Vehicle Repossessions
This page explains your rights and responsibilities if your car is repossessed (voluntarily or involuntarily), including how to get your vehicle back, what notices you must receive, and how to retrieve personal items from the car.
What To Do if You're Billed for Things You Never Got, or You Get Unordered Products
Describes how to handle situations where you’re charged for items you didn’t ask for or didn’t receive: check your rights, contact the seller/biller, and understand dispute options.
What To Do if You Were Scammed
Explains the steps to take if you paid a scammer, shared personal info, or had your computer/phone compromised, including contacting your financial institution and reporting the incident.
What You Should Know about Unemployment Scammers
California Employment Development Department fact sheet outlining common unemployment and job-related scams and how to report them.
Maintenance and Repairs
Explains consumer rights and responsibilities for auto maintenance and repairs in California, including how to choose a licensed shop, understand warranties and recalls, keep proper repair records, and file a complaint.