Pennsylvania AG and CFPB Consumer Complaint Pack

PENNSYLVANIA AG AND CFPB COMPLAINT PACK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Cover Letter / Filing Index
2. Consumer Information
3. Subject of Complaint
4. Statement of Facts
5. Statutory Violations Alleged
6. Damages and Relief Sought
7. Authorization to Share with Subject Company
8. Exhibit Index
9. Verification
10. Filing Routes — Pennsylvania AG and CFPB
11. Pennsylvania Practice Notes
12. Sources and References

1. COVER LETTER / FILING INDEX

Date: [__/__/____]

2. CONSUMER INFORMATION

3. SUBJECT OF COMPLAINT

4. STATEMENT OF FACTS

4.1. How I came into contact with the company. [Describe initial contact — advertisement, in-person solicitation, phone call, email, online form, contract.]

4.2. The transaction or account at issue. [Describe transaction — date, product or service, amount, terms agreed.]

4.3. What went wrong. [Chronological narrative — list each act or omission complained of, with dates, dollar amounts, and the persons involved. Quote misrepresentations verbatim where possible.]

4.4. What I did in response. [Describe consumer's mitigation — calls, letters, written disputes, notice-of-cancellation, prior complaints. Reference dates and confirmation numbers.]

4.5. Company's response, if any. [Describe.]

4.6. Resulting harm. [Describe ascertainable loss in dollars; describe non-economic harm — credit damage, emotional distress, lost time, lost opportunities.]

5. STATUTORY VIOLATIONS ALLEGED

5.1. Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (UTPCPL), 73 P.S. §§ 201-1 to 201-9.3. The conduct described above constitutes one or more of the unfair or deceptive acts or practices enumerated in 73 P.S. § 201-2(4), including the catch-all "engaging in any other fraudulent or deceptive conduct which creates a likelihood of confusion or of misunderstanding" (§ 201-2(4)(xxi)).

5.2. Pennsylvania Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act (FCEUA), 73 P.S. §§ 2270.1 to 2270.6. [If debt-collection-related] The conduct violates 73 P.S. § 2270.4, which prohibits unfair or deceptive collection acts and which expressly applies to creditors collecting their own debts in addition to third-party debt collectors (73 P.S. § 2270.4(a)). A FCEUA violation is a per-se UTPCPL violation under 73 P.S. § 2270.5(a).

5.3. Pennsylvania Breach of Personal Information Notification Act (BPINA), 73 P.S. §§ 2301-2329. [If breach-related] The conduct violates BPINA's notification, free-credit-monitoring, and AG-notification duties as amended by Act 33 of 2024. A BPINA violation is a per-se UTPCPL violation under 73 P.S. § 2329.

5.4. Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1692-1692p. [If debt-collection-related] The conduct violates one or more sections of the FDCPA (§ 1692c, § 1692d, § 1692e, § 1692f, § 1692g).

5.5. Federal Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1601 et seq. [If credit-disclosure-related.]

5.6. Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq. [If credit-reporting-related — furnisher duties under § 1681s-2; CRA duties under § 1681i; identity-theft block under § 1681c-2.]

5.7. CFPB UDAAP Authority, 12 U.S.C. §§ 5511, 5531, 5536. [If financial product or service.] The conduct constitutes an unfair, deceptive, or abusive act or practice subject to CFPB jurisdiction.

5.8. Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45. [If non-financial product/service spanning multiple states.]

6. DAMAGES AND RELIEF SOUGHT

6.1. Out-of-pocket loss / ascertainable loss: $[____________].

6.2. Other measurable harm: [describe — credit damage, lost wages, fees incurred, time spent, emotional distress.]

6.3. Relief requested from the agency:

☐ Investigation and enforcement action under the cited statutes;

☐ Restitution of $[____________];

☐ Cancellation of the disputed account / transaction;

☐ Correction or removal of credit-report tradelines;

☐ Cease-and-desist letter from the agency to the company;

☐ Referral to other agencies (CFPB, FTC, U.S. Attorney, local DA);

☐ Civil penalties under 73 P.S. § 201-8 ($1,000 per violation; $3,000 if victim is age 60+);

☐ Mediation between consumer and company;

☐ [Other: ________________________________].

6.4. Reservation of private rights. Filing this complaint does not waive my private rights of action under 73 P.S. § 201-9.2 (UTPCPL: actual damages or $100, whichever is greater; treble damages in court's discretion; mandatory attorney's fees and costs); 15 U.S.C. § 1692k (FDCPA: actual + up to $1,000 statutory + fees); or other applicable law.

7. AUTHORIZATION TO SHARE WITH SUBJECT COMPANY

I authorize the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, the CFPB, and any other agency to which this complaint is referred to share this complaint, including my contact information and supporting documents, with the company that is the subject of the complaint and with other governmental agencies, for the purpose of investigation, mediation, and enforcement.

[________________________________]

[CONSUMER NAME]

Date: [__/__/____]

8. EXHIBIT INDEX

9. VERIFICATION

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

COUNTY OF [COUNTY]

I, [CONSUMER NAME], verify that the statements made in the foregoing Complaint are true and correct to the best of my personal knowledge, information, and belief. I understand that false statements herein are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa. C.S. § 4904 relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.

[________________________________]

[CONSUMER NAME]

Date: [__/__/____]

10. FILING ROUTES — PENNSYLVANIA AG AND CFPB

10.1 Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Bureau of Consumer Protection

• Online: https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/consumer-complaint/
• Phone: 1-800-441-2555 (Consumer Protection Hotline, Mon-Fri)
• Spanish: 1-866-786-1574

• Mail:
  Office of Attorney General
  Bureau of Consumer Protection
  Strawberry Square, 16th Floor
  Harrisburg, PA 17120

• Email (scams): [email protected]

• Email (elder/senior): [email protected]
• Regional Offices: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton, Erie, Allentown, Norristown, Ebensburg (file at the regional office nearest you)

10.2 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

• Online: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
• Phone: (855) 411-2372
• Fax: (855) 237-2392
• Mail:
  Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
  P.O. Box 27170
  Washington, DC 20038

10.3 Federal Trade Commission

• Online: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
• Phone: 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357)

10.4 Other Pennsylvania Agencies (Use as Applicable)

• PA Department of Banking and Securities (banks, mortgage, consumer-loan licensees) — https://www.dobs.pa.gov/Consumers/Pages/Filing-a-Complaint.aspx; (800) 722-2657
• PA Insurance Department (insurance products) — https://www.insurance.pa.gov/Consumers/FileAComplaint/Pages/default.aspx; (877) 881-6388
• PA Public Utility Commission (utilities, telephony) — https://www.puc.pa.gov/; (800) 692-7380
• PA Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (licensed professionals) — https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/

11. PENNSYLVANIA PRACTICE NOTES

• PA AG enforcement, not individual representation. The Bureau of Consumer Protection investigates and enforces UTPCPL violations in the public interest; it cannot file suit on behalf of a single consumer to recover that consumer's individual losses (73 P.S. § 201-4 authorizes parens-patriae actions). However, the Bureau frequently mediates individual complaints and obtains restitution as part of "assurances of voluntary compliance" under 73 P.S. § 201-4.1.
• UTPCPL civil penalties. Civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation, increased to $3,000 if the victim is age 60 or older (73 P.S. § 201-8). Highlight elder-victim status because the PA AG operates a Senior Protection Initiative.
• Pennsylvania Consumer Hotline. The (800) 441-2555 hotline is the public-facing intake line. Calls are logged and routed to the appropriate regional office. Always also file the written packet for documentary record.
• Strict liability for "deceptive conduct." Under Gregg v. Ameriprise Fin., Inc., 245 A.3d 637 (Pa. 2021), the catch-all prong of UTPCPL § 201-2(4)(xxi) is strict-liability — no proof of intent required for the public-enforcement action or for the private cause of action. Reliance and ascertainable loss are still required for private damages under 73 P.S. § 201-9.2.
• CFPB complaint mechanics. CFPB sends the complaint to the company and requires a response within 15 calendar days (with final substantive response within 60 days). CFPB publishes complaint narratives (with consumer consent) in its public Consumer Complaint Database. Most complaints involve mortgages, credit reporting, debt collection, credit cards, and student loans.
• Filing parallel complaints does not toll SOLs. The FDCPA's 1-year SOL (15 U.S.C. § 1692k(d)) and the UTPCPL's 6-year SOL (42 Pa. C.S. § 5527) continue to run. Diary deadlines independently.
• Privacy considerations. Complaints to the PA AG and CFPB may be released under public-records or FOIA-equivalent processes after redaction. Do not include third-party non-public personal information.
• Practical tip — file the FCEUA / UTPCPL hooks for creditor conduct. Many consumers omit creditor conduct because the federal FDCPA does not reach creditors. Pennsylvania's FCEUA does (73 P.S. § 2270.4(a)), and BCP investigators are familiar with creditor-targeted FCEUA complaints. Cite the FCEUA expressly to differentiate your complaint and trigger the proper enforcement track.
• Coordinate with private counsel. Filing the regulatory complaint can produce favorable evidence for a parallel private suit (e.g., the company's response to the BCP becomes admissible as a party admission). Work with counsel on timing.

12. SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Submit a Consumer Complaint — https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/submit-a-complaint/consumer-complaint/
• Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Bureau of Consumer Protection — https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/public-protection-division/bureau-consumer-protection/
• Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Consumer Complaint Form (PDF) — https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/BCP_Complaint_Form.pdf
• Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Fair Debt Collection Practices — https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/protect-yourself/consumer-advisories/fair-debt-collection-practices/
• Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — BPINA — https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/bpina/
• Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, 73 P.S. §§ 201-1 et seq. — https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/uconsCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&yr=1968&sessInd=0&smthLwInd=0&act=387
• Pennsylvania Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act, 73 P.S. §§ 2270.1 to 2270.6 — https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/HTM/2000/0/0007..HTM
• Pennsylvania Breach of Personal Information Notification Act, 73 P.S. §§ 2301-2329 — https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/HTM/2005/0/0094..HTM
• Toy v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 928 A.2d 186 (Pa. 2007) — https://caselaw.findlaw.com/pa-supreme-court/1340603.html
• Gregg v. Ameriprise Fin., Inc., 245 A.3d 637 (Pa. 2021)
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — File a Complaint — https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
• CFPB Consumer Complaint Database — https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints/
• FTC ReportFraud — https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
• PA Department of Banking and Securities — https://www.dobs.pa.gov/
• PA Insurance Department — https://www.insurance.pa.gov/

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