Attorney General and CFPB Consumer Complaint Pack - Rhode Island

CONSUMER COMPLAINT PACK — RHODE ISLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL AND CFPB

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Complainant Information
2. Respondent / Subject Information
3. Cover Letter to RI Attorney General — Consumer Protection Unit
4. RI AG Consumer Complaint Form Narrative
5. Cover Letter to CFPB
6. CFPB Complaint Narrative
7. Statement of Resolution Sought
8. Verification
9. Document Index
10. Rhode Island Practice Notes
11. Sources and References

1. COMPLAINANT INFORMATION

2. RESPONDENT / SUBJECT INFORMATION

3. COVER LETTER TO RI ATTORNEY GENERAL — CONSUMER PROTECTION UNIT

[DATE]

Office of the Attorney General

State of Rhode Island

Consumer Protection Unit

150 South Main Street

Providence, RI 02903

Phone: (401) 274-4400

Re: Consumer Complaint — [BUSINESS NAME] — Deceptive / Unfair Trade Practices

Dear Consumer Protection Unit:

I respectfully submit this consumer complaint against the above-named Respondent for unfair and/or deceptive acts or practices in violation of the Rhode Island Deceptive Trade Practices Act, R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-1 et seq., and [ADD: Identity Theft Protection Act of 2015 / specific statute] as applicable.

Enclosed are: (a) my completed Consumer Complaint Form (or this narrative in lieu thereof, signed and verified), (b) a chronological summary of the conduct, and (c) supporting documents indexed in Section 9.

I request that the Consumer Protection Unit (1) open an investigation; (2) facilitate mediation with Respondent if appropriate; (3) take such enforcement action as is warranted under R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-5 and § 6-13.1-7; and (4) preserve my private right of action under R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-5.2.

I authorize the Consumer Protection Unit to share this complaint with Respondent for response and with any other state, federal, or local agency with concurrent jurisdiction.

Respectfully,

[________________________________]

[COMPLAINANT NAME]

4. RI AG CONSUMER COMPLAINT FORM NARRATIVE

4.1. Summary

I am a Rhode Island consumer. I purchased / engaged Respondent's [goods / services] on or about [__/__/____]. Respondent engaged in the unfair and deceptive conduct described below, causing me ascertainable loss of money or property in the approximate amount of $[AMOUNT].

4.2. Chronology

1. [__/__/____] — [Initial transaction or first contact: describe the offer, representations made, and any contract or invoice numbers.]

2. [__/__/____] — [Payment / delivery / service event.]

3. [__/__/____] — [First indication of problem; what happened, who said what.]

4. [__/__/____] — [Complaint to merchant; response or non-response.]

5. [__/__/____] — [Subsequent events, including any escalation, threats, refusal to refund, or continuing harm.]

6. [__/__/____] — [Date of last contact with Respondent.]

4.3. Specific Acts or Practices Alleged to be Unlawful

a. ☐ False or misleading representation regarding [product / price / sponsorship / approval / characteristic] — R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-1(6);

b. ☐ Bait-and-switch or deceptive advertising;

c. ☐ Failure to deliver goods or services paid for;

d. ☐ Unauthorized charges to my account;

e. ☐ High-pressure or coercive sales tactics;

f. ☐ Failure to honor refund / cancellation rights, including the three-day right of rescission under R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-28-1 et seq. (Home Solicitation Sales Act), where applicable;

g. ☐ Unlawful debt collection conduct (overlap with FDCPA, 15 U.S.C. § 1692);

h. ☐ Identity theft / data breach (R.I. Gen. Laws Ch. 11-49.3);

i. ☐ Other: [DESCRIBE].

4.4. Harm

I suffered the following harm as a direct result of Respondent's conduct:

• Out-of-pocket loss: $[AMOUNT]
• Consequential damages: [describe]
• Time and effort: [describe]
• Emotional distress / anxiety: [describe]
• Damage to credit / reputation: [describe]

4.5. Prior Resolution Efforts

I attempted to resolve this matter directly with Respondent on [__/__/____] by [phone / letter / email]. [Describe response or non-response.]

I have ☐ filed / ☐ not filed a parallel complaint with: ☐ CFPB ☐ FTC ☐ BBB ☐ RI DBR ☐ Other.

I have ☐ filed / ☐ not filed a private civil action.

5. COVER LETTER TO CFPB

[DATE]

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

P.O. Box 27170

Washington, DC 20038

Phone: (855) 411-2372

Re: Consumer Complaint — [BUSINESS NAME] — [Product / Issue]

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to 12 U.S.C. § 5534, I submit this complaint regarding a consumer financial product or service offered by the above-named Respondent. The product or service involved is:

☐ Credit card ☐ Mortgage ☐ Student loan ☐ Vehicle loan ☐ Personal loan ☐ Payday / installment loan ☐ Debt collection ☐ Credit reporting ☐ Deposit account ☐ Money transfer / virtual currency ☐ Prepaid card ☐ Other: [____]

The issue I am complaining about is:

☐ Improper fees or charges ☐ Inaccurate information ☐ Communication tactics ☐ Disclosure failure ☐ Account servicing ☐ Identity theft ☐ Discrimination ☐ Privacy / data practices ☐ Other: [____]

A detailed narrative is provided below. I request that the CFPB (1) forward this complaint to Respondent for response under the Bureau's consumer-response process; (2) investigate any pattern or practice of violations; and (3) provide me a record of Respondent's response.

Respectfully,

[________________________________]

[COMPLAINANT NAME]

6. CFPB COMPLAINT NARRATIVE

6.1. Product / Issue

Product: [product/service]. Sub-issue: [describe].

6.2. What Happened

On or about [__/__/____], I [describe the event giving rise to the complaint]. Respondent [describe Respondent's act or omission]. The conduct violates, among other things:

• The Consumer Financial Protection Act's prohibition on unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts or practices, 12 U.S.C. § 5531;
• [as applicable: 15 U.S.C. § 1692 (FDCPA); 15 U.S.C. § 1681 (FCRA); 12 U.S.C. § 2605 (RESPA); 15 U.S.C. § 1601 (TILA); 15 U.S.C. § 1693 (EFTA)];
• The Rhode Island Deceptive Trade Practices Act, R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-2.

6.3. Resolution Sought from CFPB Process

☐ Refund / credit of $[AMOUNT]
☐ Correction of credit report / blocking under FCRA § 605B
☐ Cessation of harassing collection conduct
☐ Reinstatement of account / restoration of services
☐ Written explanation of charges
☐ Other: [____]

7. STATEMENT OF RESOLUTION SOUGHT

The Complainant seeks the following relief:

8. VERIFICATION

I, [COMPLAINANT NAME], declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States and the State of Rhode Island that the foregoing complaint and the documents attached are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

Executed this [____] day of [_______________], 20[____], at [CITY], Rhode Island.

[________________________________]

[COMPLAINANT NAME]

9. DOCUMENT INDEX

10. RHODE ISLAND PRACTICE NOTES

• RI AG jurisdiction. The Consumer Protection Unit investigates and prosecutes DTPA matters under R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-5 and § 6-13.1-7. The Unit can issue civil investigative demands, seek injunctive relief, civil penalties (up to $10,000 per knowing violation under § 6-13.1-8), and restitution. The Unit does not represent individual consumers in private suits; it acts in the public interest.
• Mediation track. The RI AG often resolves complaints informally by forwarding to the merchant for response. Track the assigned investigator and follow up in writing every 30 days.
• Regulated-industry referral. If the Respondent is a state-chartered bank, insurer, broker-dealer, or licensed lender, the AG often refers the matter to the RI Department of Business Regulation (DBR), 1511 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, RI 02920. Per R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-4 and Chavers v. Fleet Bank (RI), N.A., 844 A.2d 666 (R.I. 2004), DBR-regulated activities may fall outside the DTPA's private right of action; AG enforcement is therefore the principal remaining state remedy in many financial-services matters.
• CFPB jurisdiction. Complaints involving "consumer financial products or services" within 12 U.S.C. § 5481 are processed through the CFPB consumer-response system. Companies have 15 calendar days to respond and up to 60 days for a final answer. Responses become part of the public Consumer Complaint Database (consumer-narrative publication is opt-in).
• Parallel filing best practice. File with both agencies. The CFPB record establishes notice and a corporate response useful for later litigation; the RI AG record establishes state-law violations and may catalyze enforcement.
• Adjacent agencies for specific matters:
• Telemarketing / Do-Not-Call: FTC and FCC.
• Auto dealers: RI DMV Dealer License & Regulations Office.
• Home improvement contractors: RI Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board (https://crb.ri.gov/).
• Health insurance: RI Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC).
• Statute of limitations preservation. Filing an administrative complaint does NOT toll the 1-year FDCPA limitations period, the 2-year FCRA limitations period, or the catchall 10-year DTPA period. Calendar these dates independently.

11. SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Rhode Island Attorney General — Consumer Protection — https://riag.ri.gov/consumerprotection
• RI AG Consumer Complaint Form — https://riag.ri.gov/forms/consumer-complaint
• R.I. Gen. Laws Ch. 6-13.1 (DTPA) — https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE6/6-13.1/INDEX.htm
• R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-5 — https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE6/6-13.1/6-13.1-5.htm
• R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-5.2 — https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE6/6-13.1/6-13.1-5.2.htm
• R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13.1-7 — https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE6/6-13.1/6-13.1-7.htm
• R.I. Gen. Laws Ch. 11-49.3 (Identity Theft Protection Act of 2015) — https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE11/11-49.3/INDEX.htm
• Chavers v. Fleet Bank (RI), N.A., 844 A.2d 666 (R.I. 2004)
• CFPB Submit a Complaint — https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
• CFPB Consumer Complaint Database — https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints/
• 12 U.S.C. § 5481 et seq. (Consumer Financial Protection Act) — https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/12/chapter-53
• RI Department of Business Regulation — https://dbr.ri.gov/

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