Maine AG and CFPB Consumer Complaint Pack

MAINE AG AND CFPB CONSUMER COMPLAINT PACK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Complaint Cover Page and Submission Index
2. Filing 1 — Maine Attorney General Consumer Protection Division
3. Filing 2 — Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection
4. Filing 3 — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
5. Common Narrative — Statement of Facts
6. Schedule of Exhibits
7. Maine Practice Notes
8. Sources and References

1. COMPLAINT COVER PAGE AND SUBMISSION INDEX

Consumer: [FULL LEGAL NAME]

Address: [STREET, CITY, ME ZIP]

Telephone: [________________]

Email: [________________]

Date of Submission: [__/__/____]

Subject Business / Respondent: [BUSINESS NAME]

Respondent Address: [________________________________]

Respondent NMLS / Maine License No. (if any): [________________]

Nature of Complaint (check all that apply):

☐ Unfair or deceptive trade practice (5 M.R.S. § 207)

☐ Debt-collection misconduct (FDCPA / Maine FDCPA)

☐ Credit-reporting error (FCRA)

☐ Mortgage servicing / loan modification

☐ Auto sales or financing

☐ Home improvement / contractor

☐ Telemarketing / robocalls (TCPA)

☐ Data breach / identity theft (10 M.R.S. § 1346 et seq.)

☐ Predatory lending / payday loan

☐ Warranty / lemon law

☐ Other: [________________________________]

Submission Index:

2. FILING 1 — MAINE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION

TO:

Office of the Attorney General

Consumer Protection Division — Consumer Information and Mediation Service

6 State House Station

Augusta, ME 04333-0006

Telephone: (207) 626-8800 — Mediation Line: (207) 626-8849 / (800) 436-2131

Online: https://www.maine.gov/ag/consumer/complaints/complaint_form.shtml

Re: Consumer Complaint and Request for Mediation — [BUSINESS NAME]

Dear Consumer Protection Division:

I respectfully submit this complaint and request for mediation regarding [BUSINESS NAME] ("Respondent"). I believe Respondent has engaged in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of trade or commerce in violation of 5 M.R.S. § 207 and request investigation, mediation, and any other action the Office deems appropriate, including injunctive relief under § 209, restoration under § 210(1-A), and civil penalties under § 210(1).

The detailed facts are set forth in Section 5 below and are supported by the exhibits in Section 6. The transaction was for personal, family, or household purposes and is therefore within the scope of the private right of action under 5 M.R.S. § 213.

Resolution Sought:

☐ Refund of $[AMOUNT]

☐ Cancellation of contract / reversal of charges

☐ Repair or replacement

☐ Removal of derogatory credit reporting

☐ Cease-and-desist of unlawful conduct

☐ Other: [________________________________]

Prior Contacts with Respondent:

I attempted to resolve this matter directly with Respondent on [DATE(S)] by [METHOD]. The result was [OUTCOME].

I authorize the Consumer Protection Division to share this complaint and supporting documents with Respondent for purposes of mediation.

Sincerely,

[________________________________]

[CONSUMER NAME]

3. FILING 2 — MAINE BUREAU OF CONSUMER CREDIT PROTECTION

TO:

Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection

Department of Professional and Financial Regulation

35 State House Station

Augusta, ME 04333-0035

Telephone: (207) 624-8527 / (800) 332-8529

Online complaint: https://www.maine.gov/pfr/consumercredit/complaint/

Re: Complaint Against Licensed Entity — [BUSINESS NAME] — License No. [________________]

Dear Administrator:

I am filing this complaint against [BUSINESS NAME] for alleged violations of:

☐ Maine Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (32 M.R.S. § 11001 et seq.)

☐ Maine Consumer Credit Code (9-A M.R.S. § 1-101 et seq.)

☐ Truth-in-Lending disclosures

☐ Maine licensing requirements

☐ Other: [________________________________]

The facts and supporting documentation are set forth in the common narrative (Section 5) and exhibits (Section 6). I request the Bureau:

1. Investigate the conduct;
2. Take such administrative action as is appropriate, including license suspension, revocation, fines, or restitution under 32 M.R.S. § 11051 and 9-A M.R.S. § 6-108;
3. Provide me with a copy of the Bureau's investigative findings and final disposition.

Sincerely,

[________________________________]

[CONSUMER NAME]

4. FILING 3 — CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU

TO:

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

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

Telephone: (855) 411-CFPB (2372) / TTY/TDD: (855) 729-CFPB (2372)

Mail: P.O. Box 27170, Washington, DC 20038

Re: Consumer Complaint — [BUSINESS NAME]

Product Type (CFPB taxonomy):

☐ Debt collection

☐ Credit reporting / credit repair / other personal consumer reports

☐ Mortgage

☐ Credit card or prepaid card

☐ Checking or savings account

☐ Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service

☐ Vehicle loan or lease

☐ Student loan

☐ Payday loan, title loan, or personal loan

☐ Other financial service

Issue: [Select from CFPB taxonomy — e.g., "Attempts to collect debt not owed"; "Incorrect information on your report"; "Trouble during payment process"]

What Happened: See common narrative in Section 5.

Desired Resolution: [Refund / Account closure / Removal of credit reporting / Apology / Other]

Documents Attached: See Schedule of Exhibits in Section 6.

Authorization: I authorize the CFPB to share this complaint with the company for response and to publish a non-personally-identifiable version in the Consumer Complaint Database.

Sincerely,

[________________________________]

[CONSUMER NAME]

5. COMMON NARRATIVE — STATEMENT OF FACTS

5.1. The Parties. I am a Maine resident. Respondent is [NAME, FORM OF ENTITY, PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS].

5.2. The Transaction. On or about [__/__/____], I entered into a transaction with Respondent for [GOODS / SERVICES / FINANCIAL PRODUCT] in the amount of $[AMOUNT]. The transaction was for personal, family, or household purposes. (Exhibit A — Contract or receipt.)

5.3. Representations. Respondent represented to me, in writing or orally, that [REPRESENTATIONS — e.g., "no fees," "0% APR," "lifetime warranty," "Maine-licensed"]. (Exhibit B — Advertisement / written communication.)

5.4. Performance and Payment. I performed my obligations by [PAYMENT / DELIVERY / OTHER] on [__/__/____]. (Exhibit C — Payment record.)

5.5. The Wrongful Conduct. Beginning on or about [__/__/____], Respondent engaged in the following acts and practices:

• [SPECIFIC ACT 1 — e.g., charged undisclosed fees of $______];
• [SPECIFIC ACT 2 — e.g., reported debt to CRA after written dispute];
• [SPECIFIC ACT 3 — e.g., refused to honor warranty];
• [SPECIFIC ACT 4 — e.g., used abusive collection tactics].

(Exhibits D–G — Communications, statements, recordings, screenshots.)

5.6. My Attempts to Resolve. On [__/__/____], I contacted Respondent at [PHONE / ADDRESS / EMAIL] to seek resolution. Respondent [REFUSED / IGNORED / PROMISED BUT FAILED]. (Exhibit H — Letter / email / call log.)

5.7. Harm. As a result, I have suffered:

• Out-of-pocket loss of $[AMOUNT];
• Damage to my credit score (drop from [___] to [___]);
• [Lost wages / time off work / interest charges] of $[AMOUNT];
• Emotional distress, anxiety, and frustration.

5.8. Statutory Violations. Respondent's conduct violates, at minimum:

• 5 M.R.S. § 207 (unfair or deceptive acts or practices);
• [15 U.S.C. § 1692e(2), (5), (8), (10) — FDCPA misrepresentations] (if debt collection);
• [15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2 — FCRA furnisher duty] (if credit reporting);
• [32 M.R.S. § 11013 — Maine FDCPA] (if debt collection);
• [10 M.R.S. § 1346 et seq. — Notice of Risk to Personal Data] (if data breach).

5.9. Resolution Sought. I request that Respondent [REFUND / CANCEL / DELETE / CEASE / OTHER] and that the agencies receiving this complaint take such administrative or enforcement action as is appropriate.

6. SCHEDULE OF EXHIBITS

7. MAINE PRACTICE NOTES

• Mediation is voluntary but effective. The Maine AG's Consumer Protection Division does not adjudicate disputes; it mediates. Cooperation is voluntary on the business's side, but Maine businesses generally respond to AG inquiries to preserve goodwill and avoid escalation. Many disputes resolve in 30–60 days.
• AG enforcement separate from mediation. Even where mediation fails, the Division refers patterns of conduct to the Attorney General's Public Protection Division for formal enforcement under 5 M.R.S. §§ 209–211. A pattern of consumer complaints is the building block of a § 209 injunction action with civil penalties up to $10,000 per intentional violation under § 209.
• CFPB scope. The CFPB has jurisdiction over federally regulated consumer financial products and services. It does NOT cover most retail purchases, home improvement, or general goods/services. Use the Maine AG for those.
• BCCP licensure leverage. For licensed entities, a BCCP complaint can result in license suspension or revocation, which often produces faster restitution than civil litigation.
• FTC. For telemarketing, robocall, and cross-border fraud, also file at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For identity theft, IdentityTheft.gov is the appropriate FTC portal.
• Litigation preservation. Filing administrative complaints does NOT toll the FDCPA 1-year limitations period or any other statute of limitations. Preserve civil claims by separately tracking deadlines.
• MUTPA pre-suit demand. A regulatory complaint is NOT a substitute for the 30-day written demand under 5 M.R.S. § 213(1-A) required before a private MUTPA action.
• Public records. AG complaints can become public under Maine's Freedom of Access Act (1 M.R.S. § 401 et seq.) once an investigation closes. Mark sensitive personal information accordingly.
• Spanish / language access. Maine AG accepts complaints in multiple languages. Request an interpreter at (207) 626-8849.
• Accessibility. TTY users may contact Maine Relay 711.

8. SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Maine AG Consumer Protection Division — https://www.maine.gov/ag/consumer/
• Maine AG Online Complaint Form — https://www.maine.gov/ag/consumer/complaints/complaint_form.shtml
• Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection — https://www.maine.gov/pfr/consumercredit/
• 5 M.R.S. § 207 — https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/5/title5sec207.html
• 5 M.R.S. § 209 (AG enforcement) — https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/statutes/5/title5sec209.html
• 5 M.R.S. § 210 (Restoration; civil penalties) — https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/statutes/5/title5sec210.html
• 5 M.R.S. § 213 (Private remedies) — https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/5/title5sec213.html
• 32 M.R.S. § 11051 (Maine FDCPA enforcement) — https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/statutes/32/title32sec11051.html
• CFPB Consumer Complaint Portal — https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
• CFPB Consumer Complaint Database — https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints/
• FTC ReportFraud.ftc.gov — https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
• FTC IdentityTheft.gov — https://www.identitytheft.gov/
• Pine Tree Legal Assistance — Filing a Complaint Against a Business — https://www.ptla.org/filing-complaint-against-business

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