Iowa AG and CFPB Consumer Complaint Pack

IOWA AG AND CFPB CONSUMER COMPLAINT PACK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Filing Roadmap
2. Complaint A — Iowa Attorney General Consumer Protection Division
3. Complaint B — CFPB Online Complaint Narrative
4. Document Inventory
5. Follow-Up and Escalation Log
6. Iowa Practice Notes
7. Sources and References

1. FILING ROADMAP

2. COMPLAINT A — IOWA ATTORNEY GENERAL CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION

2.1 Submission Block

Office of the Attorney General of Iowa

Consumer Protection Division

Hoover State Office Building

1305 E. Walnut Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0106

Phone: (515) 281-5926

Online complaint form: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint

Printable form (PDF): https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint/printable-consumer-complaint-form

Date: [DATE]

Submitted by: ☐ Online form ☐ Mail (certified) ☐ In person

2.2 Complainant Information

2.3 Subject of Complaint (Business or Individual)

2.4 Transaction Summary

2.5 Nature of Complaint (check all that apply)

☐ Deceptive advertising or sales practices (Iowa Code § 714.16)

☐ False or misleading representations (Iowa Code § 714H.3)

☐ Unfair debt collection (Iowa Code § 537.7103)

☐ Identity theft (Iowa Code § 715A.8 / § 714.16B)

☐ Data breach / security incident (Iowa Code Ch. 715C)

☐ Auto sales or repair (Iowa Code § 322 / § 537)

☐ Home improvement / contractor fraud

☐ Telemarketing / robocall / Do-Not-Call

☐ Charitable solicitation fraud

☐ Online scam / e-commerce / counterfeit goods

☐ Tenant-landlord (deposit / habitability)

☐ Utility billing

☐ Funeral / preneed contract

☐ Health spa / membership / gym

☐ Other: [________________________________]

2.6 Statement of Facts

On or about [DATE], I [describe initial transaction or contact].

On [DATE], [describe next event].

The conduct I am complaining about is: [describe deceptive, unfair, or unlawful conduct, including specific statements, omissions, or actions].

I have suffered the following harm as a result: [describe out-of-pocket losses, emotional distress, time spent, credit damage, etc.].

I attempted to resolve this directly with the business by [describe contacts and outcomes].

2.7 Resolution Sought

☐ Refund of $[AMOUNT]

☐ Cancellation of contract

☐ Removal of credit reporting

☐ Cease and desist order

☐ Restitution and civil penalties under Iowa Code § 714.16(7) (up to $40,000 per violation)

☐ Injunction against further conduct

☐ Other: [________________________________]

2.8 Authorization and Signature

I authorize the Iowa Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division to share this complaint with the business named above and with any other federal, state, or local agency with regulatory authority over the subject matter. I acknowledge that the Division does not represent me as my private attorney and that filing this complaint does not toll any statute of limitations.

The information above is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

[________________________________]

[YOUR PRINTED NAME] — Date: [DATE]

2.9 Documents Enclosed

☐ Copy of contract or receipt

☐ Copy of advertising or website screenshots

☐ Copy of all letters and emails to/from business

☐ Copy of cancelled checks or credit card statements

☐ Copy of any prior complaint responses

☐ Copy of police report (if applicable)

☐ Copy of FTC IdentityTheft.gov report (if applicable)

☐ Other: [________________________________]

3. COMPLAINT B — CFPB ONLINE COMPLAINT NARRATIVE

3.1 Submission Channel

Online: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/

Phone: (855) 411-CFPB (2372) — toll free, M–F 8am–8pm ET

Mail: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, P.O. Box 27170, Washington, DC 20038

CFPB jurisdiction includes: ☐ Mortgages ☐ Credit cards ☐ Bank accounts/services ☐ Credit reporting ☐ Debt collection ☐ Vehicle loans/leases ☐ Student loans ☐ Payday loans ☐ Money transfers ☐ Prepaid cards ☐ Virtual currency wallets

3.2 What Happened (Narrative — paste into the CFPB online form)

I am submitting this complaint regarding [COMPANY NAME], headquartered at [ADDRESS], in connection with [product type — debt collection / credit reporting / mortgage / etc.].

Timeline:

• [DATE]: [describe first relevant event]
• [DATE]: [describe next event]
• [DATE]: [describe most recent event]

The problem: [clearly state the problem in 1–3 sentences].

Federal law implicated: ☐ FDCPA, 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq. ☐ FCRA, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq. ☐ TILA, 15 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq. ☐ RESPA, 12 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq. ☐ EFTA, 15 U.S.C. § 1693 et seq. ☐ ECOA, 15 U.S.C. § 1691 et seq. ☐ CFPA UDAAP, 12 U.S.C. § 5536.

State law implicated: Iowa Code § 537.7103, Iowa Code Chapter 714H, Iowa Code § 714.16B (where applicable).

What I have already tried: [describe demand letters, calls, written disputes].

What I want to happen: [refund / removal / correction of credit report / cease collection / written explanation / etc.].

I consent to the publication of my complaint narrative in the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database (PII scrubbed): ☐ Yes ☐ No.

3.3 Documents to Upload (CFPB allows up to ~50 pages)

☐ The validation letter or dispute you sent

☐ The company's response (or proof of non-response)

☐ Account statements

☐ Collection letters and envelopes (front and back)

☐ Call logs and voicemail recordings (transcribed if audio)

☐ Credit report excerpts showing tradeline

☐ Identity theft affidavit (if applicable)

☐ Any prior CFPB complaint number(s) on this matter: [________________________________]

3.4 Tracking

4. DOCUMENT INVENTORY

5. FOLLOW-UP AND ESCALATION LOG

6. IOWA PRACTICE NOTES

• Iowa AG remedies. Iowa Code § 714.16 authorizes the Attorney General to obtain restitution, civil penalties of up to $40,000 per violation, and injunctive relief. The AG does not represent individual consumers as private counsel and cannot recover individual damages outside a § 714.16 enforcement action.
• Public-record status. Iowa AG complaints are public records subject to Iowa Code Chapter 22 (Open Records), with limited exceptions. Do not include sensitive material (full SSN, full account numbers, medical records) unless requested; mark sensitive enclosures "Confidential."
• CFPB publication. The narrative portion of CFPB complaints is published in the public Consumer Complaint Database after PII scrubbing, IF the consumer opts in. Companies may post a public response.
• Concurrent private action. Filing an AG or CFPB complaint does not toll the statute of limitations on private claims (FDCPA: 1 year; IPRACFA: 2 years; FCRA: 2/5 years). Calendar private suit deadlines independently.
• Iowa Code § 537.6201 powers. The Iowa Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division administers the Iowa Consumer Credit Code and accepts complaints under Iowa Code § 537.6201. Cite the Iowa Code provisions on the AG complaint form to direct the matter to the right unit.
• Federal financial regulators. Where the target is a national bank, federal credit union, or federally chartered institution, also consider the OCC (occ.gov), NCUA (ncua.gov), or FDIC (fdic.gov) as appropriate.
• Iowa Insurance Division. Insurance-related complaints should be directed to the Iowa Insurance Division (iid.iowa.gov) rather than the AG.
• Iowa Utilities Commission. Public utility billing complaints go to the Iowa Utilities Commission (iuc.iowa.gov).
• Better Business Bureau. Optional. BBB complaints are mediated and posted publicly but carry no enforcement power.
• AARP and elder fraud. Iowans aged 60+ may receive priority handling. Reference age in the complaint where applicable.
• Tribal jurisdiction. Where the target operates on tribal lands, federal CFPB jurisdiction may apply where state law is preempted; consult counsel.

7. SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Iowa Attorney General — Consumer Protection Division — https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/about-us/divisions/consumer-protection
• Iowa AG — File a Consumer Complaint — https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint
• Iowa AG — Online Complaint Form — https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint/complaint-form
• Iowa AG — Printable PDF Complaint Form — https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint/printable-consumer-complaint-form
• Iowa AG — Security Breach Notifications — https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/security-breach-notifications
• Iowa Code § 714.16 (Consumer Frauds Act) — https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/714.16.pdf
• Iowa Code Chapter 714H (Private Right of Action) — https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/714H.pdf
• Iowa Code § 537.7103 (Debt collection) — https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/537.7103.pdf
• Iowa Code Chapter 715C (Data Breach) — https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/715c.pdf
• CFPB — Submit a Complaint — https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
• CFPB — Debt Collection — https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/debt-collection/
• CFPB — Consumer Complaint Database — https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints/
• FTC IdentityTheft.gov — https://www.identitytheft.gov/
• Iowa People's Law Library — https://www.peopleslawiowa.org/

Disclaimer: This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. An attorney licensed in Iowa must review and customize this document before use. Laws, citations, and court rules change frequently; verify all authorities before use.