Nebraska AG and CFPB Consumer Complaint Pack

NEBRASKA AG AND CFPB CONSUMER COMPLAINT PACK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Overview and Routing Decision Tree
2. Consumer Information Worksheet
3. Subject of Complaint (Business / Collector / Furnisher)
4. Narrative of the Conduct
5. Documentary Evidence Index
6. Nebraska Attorney General Complaint
7. CFPB Complaint
8. Companion Agency Filings
9. Action Checklist and Follow-Up
10. Nebraska Practice Notes
11. Sources and References

1. OVERVIEW AND ROUTING DECISION TREE

2. CONSUMER INFORMATION WORKSHEET

3. SUBJECT OF COMPLAINT (BUSINESS / COLLECTOR / FURNISHER)

4. NARRATIVE OF THE CONDUCT

4.1. What happened. [Plain-language chronological narrative — who, what, when, where, why you believe it is unfair, deceptive, or unlawful. 250–750 words is ideal. Avoid legal conclusions; describe conduct.]

4.2. What law you believe was violated (optional but helpful). [Cite FDCPA, FCRA, NCPA § 59-1602, UDTPA § 87-302, NCAA § 45-601, etc.]

4.3. What you have done so far. [Disputes filed, dates of phone calls, certified-mail validation requests, identity-theft affidavits, prior complaints.]

4.4. What you want to happen. [Specific resolution — refund, credit-line correction, account closure, license review, public enforcement action.]

4.5. Harm suffered. [Out-of-pocket loss, denied credit, lost time from work, emotional distress, damaged credit score, etc.]

5. DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE INDEX

6. NEBRASKA ATTORNEY GENERAL COMPLAINT

6.1. Filing Channels

Online (preferred): https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/file-consumer-complaint

Email: [email protected]

Mail:

Office of the Attorney General

Consumer Protection Division — Consumer Affairs Response Team

2115 State Capitol

P.O. Box 98920

Lincoln, NE 68509-8920

Phone: (800) 727-6432 (Nebraska toll-free) or (402) 471-2682

Local CART line: (402) 471-2785

6.2. Complaint Letter Template

DATE: [__/__/____]

TO: Office of the Attorney General — Consumer Protection Division

RE: Consumer Complaint — [BUSINESS NAME] — Conduct on or about [__/__/____]

Dear Consumer Protection Division:

I am submitting this complaint pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 59-1601 et seq. (Nebraska Consumer Protection Act) and Neb. Rev. Stat. § 87-301 et seq. (Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act).

Complainant: [NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE, EMAIL]

Subject of Complaint: [BUSINESS NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE, REGISTERED AGENT, LICENSE NO.]

Summary of Conduct: [See § 4 narrative; attach as supplement.]

Statutes I Believe Were Violated:

• ☐ Neb. Rev. Stat. § 59-1602 (unfair or deceptive acts in trade or commerce)
• ☐ Neb. Rev. Stat. § 87-302 (deceptive trade practices enumerated)
• ☐ Neb. Rev. Stat. § 45-601 (unlicensed collection agency)
• ☐ Neb. Rev. Stat. § 87-801 et seq. (data security breach notification)
• ☐ Federal: 15 U.S.C. § 1692 (FDCPA) / § 1681 (FCRA) / § 1693 (EFTA)

Resolution Sought:

• ☐ Refund of $[AMT]
• ☐ Cease-and-desist directive
• ☐ Public enforcement action / civil penalty under § 87-303.10
• ☐ License revocation referral to NDBF or other regulator
• ☐ Other: [___]

Authorization to Forward. I authorize the Attorney General to forward this complaint and supporting documents to the subject business and to other state, federal, or self-regulatory agencies as the office deems appropriate. I understand that the Attorney General does not represent me individually.

Enclosed: Exhibits A–[__] (see § 5 index).

Sincerely,

[________________________________]

[CONSUMER NAME]

7. CFPB COMPLAINT

7.1. Filing Channels

Online (preferred): https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/

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

Mail:

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

P.O. Box 27170

Washington, DC 20038

7.2. Online Portal Worksheet

7.3. CFPB Process Notes

• The company has 15 calendar days to provide an initial response and 60 days to provide a final response.
• You will receive a tracking number; save it.
• After receiving the company response, you have 60 days to provide feedback (helpful / not helpful) — use this window to escalate.
• Most CFPB complaints are published in the public Consumer Complaint Database with personally identifying information redacted.

8. COMPANION AGENCY FILINGS

9. ACTION CHECKLIST AND FOLLOW-UP

• ☐ Drafted narrative (§ 4) — neutral, factual, exhibit-referenced
• ☐ Indexed exhibits (§ 5) and redacted PII
• ☐ Filed Nebraska AG complaint (date: [__/__/____], confirmation: [___])
• ☐ Filed CFPB complaint (date: [__/__/____], tracking no.: [___])
• ☐ Filed companion agency complaints (list: [___])
• ☐ Calendared 15-day CFPB initial response date
• ☐ Calendared 60-day CFPB final response date
• ☐ Calendared 30-day Nebraska AG response check-in
• ☐ Logged all post-filing communications from agency or company
• ☐ Calendared FDCPA 1-year and NCPA 4-year civil-suit deadlines
• ☐ Consulted attorney about parallel civil action
• ☐ Retained complete file (electronic + paper) for 3+ years

10. NEBRASKA PRACTICE NOTES

• AG enforcement only. The Nebraska AG enforces the NCPA and UDTPA in the public interest and may obtain civil penalties (up to $2,000 per violation; up to $10,000 if the conduct is directed at vulnerable consumers — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 87-303.10), restitution, disgorgement, and injunctions. Private consumers retain their own § 59-1609 right of action.
• No punitive damages — civil penalties distinguished. Nebraska bars punitive damages in private civil suits (Neb. Const. art. VII, § 5; Distinctive Printing & Packaging Co. v. Cox, 232 Neb. 846 (1989)). Civil penalties recovered by the Attorney General are not punitive damages and remain available in public enforcement.
• CFPB scope. The CFPB has jurisdiction over consumer financial products and services; it does not handle pure consumer-goods complaints (e.g., defective appliances), insurance, or securities. For those, file with the Nebraska AG and the relevant agency.
• Public database disclosure. CFPB complaints are published with PII removed. Consumers can opt out of public disclosure of the narrative if they wish.
• Limitation periods are NOT tolled. Filing administrative complaints does not extend the FDCPA 1-year, NCPA 4-year, or FCRA 2-year statutes of limitations. Consult counsel about parallel civil filing.
• Coordination. The Nebraska AG and CFPB share information on multi-state collectors. A complaint to one may inform investigation by the other.
• Servicemember and elder enhancements. Identify servicemember status and age 60+ in both filings. Both agencies and the AG's office triage these complaints with priority.

11. SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Nebraska Attorney General — Protect The Good Life — https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/
• Nebraska AG — File a Complaint — https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/file-consumer-complaint
• Nebraska AG — Consumer Affairs Response Team — https://protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov/news/attorney-general-announces-consumer-affairs-response-team
• Nebraska AG — Main Office — https://ago.nebraska.gov/
• CFPB Submit a Complaint — https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
• CFPB Consumer Complaint Database — https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints/
• Neb. Rev. Stat. § 59-1602 (NCPA) — https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=59-1602
• Neb. Rev. Stat. § 59-1608 (AG enforcement) — https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=59-1608
• Neb. Rev. Stat. § 87-303.02 (AG UDTPA powers) — https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=87-303.02
• Neb. Rev. Stat. § 87-303.10 (UDTPA civil penalties) — https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=87-303.10
• Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance — https://ndbf.nebraska.gov/
• Nebraska Department of Insurance — https://doi.nebraska.gov/
• FTC IdentityTheft.gov — https://www.identitytheft.gov/
• FTC DoNotCall.gov — https://www.donotcall.gov/

Disclaimer: This template is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Filing administrative complaints is not a substitute for consulting a Nebraska-licensed attorney about your civil rights and remedies. Filing does not toll any statute of limitations.