Wisconsin DOJ / DATCP / CFPB Consumer Complaint Pack

WISCONSIN DOJ / DATCP / DFI / CFPB CONSUMER COMPLAINT PACK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Cover Letter — Coordinated Filing
2. Consumer Information
3. Subject Business Information
4. Statement of Facts
5. Specific Wisconsin and Federal Violations Alleged
6. Remedies Requested
7. Exhibit List
8. Signature and Verification
9. Agency Routing Sheet
10. Wisconsin Practice Notes
11. Sources and References

1. COVER LETTER — COORDINATED FILING

[CONSUMER NAME]

[STREET, CITY, WI ZIP]

[PHONE] | [EMAIL]

Date: [DATE]

Re: Coordinated Consumer Complaint Against [BUSINESS NAME]

I respectfully submit this coordinated complaint regarding deceptive, unfair, and unlawful conduct by [BUSINESS NAME] ("Subject"). I am filing concurrently with the agencies listed above so that each may exercise its respective enforcement authority. I request a written response confirming receipt and assignment of a complaint number.

2. CONSUMER INFORMATION

3. SUBJECT BUSINESS INFORMATION

4. STATEMENT OF FACTS

4.1. Initial transaction or contact. Describe how you first encountered the Subject and the nature of any transaction: [describe in detail].

4.2. Representations made by the Subject. Describe what the Subject said, advertised, or promised, in writing or orally: [describe and attach copies as exhibits].

4.3. Conduct alleged to be unlawful. Describe specifically what the Subject did or failed to do that you believe is unlawful: [describe — false advertising, bait-and-switch, refusal of refund, harassing collection calls, unauthorized charges, defective product, unlicensed activity, identity theft, etc.].

4.4. Harm suffered. Describe financial loss and any non-financial harm: $[AMOUNT] in direct loss; [other harms — emotional distress, missed work, damage to credit].

4.5. Attempts to resolve. Describe any contacts with the Subject to resolve the matter, including dates, persons spoken to, and the Subject's response: [describe].

4.6. Witnesses. Names, addresses, and phone numbers of witnesses, if any: [list].

5. SPECIFIC WISCONSIN AND FEDERAL VIOLATIONS ALLEGED

Check all that apply and identify the conduct supporting each:

☐ Wis. Stat. § 100.18 (Fraudulent Representations). False, deceptive, or misleading advertisement, announcement, or statement made to the public to induce a sale or obligation. Pecuniary loss $[___].

☐ Wis. Stat. § 100.20 / Wis. Admin. Code ATCP rules. Unfair methods of competition or trade practices declared unlawful by DATCP rule, including ATCP 127 (Telemarketing); ATCP 110 (Home Improvement); ATCP 111 (Door-to-Door); ATCP 132 (Mail Order).

☐ Wis. Stat. ch. 427 (WCA — Debt Collection). Including § 427.104(1)(f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (L) — see attached communications log.

☐ Wis. Stat. § 218.04. Collection agency operating without a Wisconsin license.

☐ Wis. Stat. § 134.98. Failure to provide timely breach notice; unauthorized acquisition of personal information.

☐ Wis. Stat. § 943.201. Unauthorized use of personal identifying information (criminal — referral requested).

☐ 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq. (FDCPA).

☐ 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq. (FCRA).

☐ 12 U.S.C. § 5536 (UDAAP — Consumer Financial Protection Act).

☐ 15 U.S.C. § 45 (FTC Act — Unfair or Deceptive Acts).

☐ 47 U.S.C. § 227 (TCPA).

☐ Other: [________________________________]

6. REMEDIES REQUESTED

I respectfully request the following actions:

☐ Investigation of the Subject's practices;

☐ Cease-and-desist directive against the unlawful conduct;

☐ Restitution / refund to me in the amount of $[AMOUNT];

☐ Civil forfeitures under Wis. Stat. § 100.26 — $50 to $200 for each violation of Wis. Stat. § 100.18(1) to (8) or (10) (§ 100.26(4)), and $100 to $10,000 for each violation of an injunction issued under § 100.18 (§ 100.26(6)) — plus, where the conduct was perpetrated against an elderly (62+) or disabled person and the court makes the findings the statute requires, a supplemental forfeiture of up to $10,000 (§ 100.264(2)), and any other applicable provision;

☐ License action against the Subject under Wis. Stat. § 218.04 or other licensing law;

☐ Criminal referral to the appropriate district attorney or to the Wisconsin DOJ Criminal Division under Wis. Stat. § 943.201, § 943.20 (theft), or § 943.38 (forgery), as applicable;

☐ Public notice / consumer alert to warn other Wisconsin consumers;

☐ Coordination with the CFPB / FTC for federal-law violations;

☐ Confirmation of receipt and complaint number from each agency;

☐ Status update within [___] days.

7. EXHIBIT LIST

8. SIGNATURE AND VERIFICATION

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Wisconsin that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, and I authorize the agencies receiving this complaint to share information necessary to investigate and resolve it, including with the Subject.

[________________________________]

[CONSUMER NAME]

Date: [DATE]

9. AGENCY ROUTING SHEET

9.1 Wisconsin Department of Justice — Office of Consumer Protection

• Address: 17 W. Main Street, P.O. Box 7857, Madison, WI 53707-7857
• Hotline: (800) 998-0700 or (608) 266-1852
• Website: https://www.doj.state.wi.us/dls/consumer-protection
• Online complaint: Use forms linked from website
• Authority: Wis. Stat. § 165.25 (DOJ duties); § 100.18(11)(a), (d) (actions in the name of the state by DATCP, by DOJ after consulting DATCP, or by a district attorney); criminal referrals under Wis. Stat. ch. 943

9.2 Wisconsin DATCP — Bureau of Consumer Protection

• Address: 2811 Agriculture Drive, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708-8911
• Hotline: (800) 422-7128
• Email: [email protected]
• Online portal: https://mydatcp.wi.gov
• Website: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/FileConsumerComplaint.aspx
• Authority: Wis. Stat. § 100.20; ATCP administrative code; § 100.18 enforcement (concurrent with DOJ)

9.3 Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI)

• Address: 4822 Madison Yards Way, North Tower, Madison, WI 53705
• Phone: (608) 264-7969
• Website: https://dfi.wi.gov
• Authority: Wisconsin Consumer Act (Wis. Stat. chs. 421–427); collection-agency licensing under § 218.04; financial institution supervision

9.4 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

• Online complaint: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
• Phone: (855) 411-2372
• Mail: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, P.O. Box 27170, Washington, DC 20038
• Authority: 12 U.S.C. § 5481 et seq.; UDAAP (§ 5531, § 5536); FDCPA, FCRA, TILA, RESPA, ECOA, EFTA enforcement

9.5 Federal Trade Commission

• Online: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
• Phone: (877) 382-4357
• Authority: 15 U.S.C. § 45 (FTC Act); Telemarketing Sales Rule; Mail-Order Rule; FCRA; FDCPA enforcement

9.6 Other Agencies (as applicable)

• Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI): 125 South Webster Street, Madison, WI 53703; (800) 236-8517; https://oci.wi.gov
• Wisconsin Public Service Commission: 4822 Madison Yards Way, Madison, WI 53705; (608) 266-5481; https://psc.wi.gov
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): for housing/lending discrimination; (800) 669-9777; https://www.hud.gov

10. WISCONSIN PRACTICE NOTES

• Concurrent jurisdiction. DATCP and the Wisconsin DOJ both enforce § 100.18 and the ATCP rules. DOJ also handles criminal referrals; DATCP handles administrative resolution and rulemaking. Filing with both is standard practice.
• DATCP turnaround. DATCP confirms receipt within roughly one week and contacts the business on the consumer's behalf. The agency cannot act as a collection agency for the consumer but can mediate.
• Wis. Stat. § 100.18(11)(d) authorizes DATCP, the Department of Justice after consulting DATCP, and any district attorney to sue in the name of the state to restrain violations by temporary or permanent injunction and to obtain restoration of pecuniary loss, with subpoena power in aid of the action. It does not itself impose forfeitures: forfeitures come from § 100.26(4) and (6), and the elderly/disabled supplemental forfeiture from § 100.264(2). Strong individual complaints can seed a public action.
• Private right of action. Most consumer protection statutes here include a private right of action (§ 100.18, WCA, FDCPA, FCRA, TCPA). Filing with agencies does not waive your right to sue and may help by generating documentary admissions.
• Statutes of limitations. § 100.18: 3 years (§ 100.18(11)(b)3). WCA penalties: 1 year. Common-law fraud: 6 years (§ 893.93(1m)(b)). FDCPA: 1 year. FCRA: 2 years from discovery, 5 years from violation (§ 1681p).
• Elder priority. DATCP and the DOJ prioritize elder-fraud and active-duty-military complaints. Mark the box.
• Records. Keep certified-mail receipts and the assigned complaint numbers. Cross-reference numbers in any subsequent civil pleadings.
• Identity theft. Pair with the Wisconsin Identity Theft Affidavit and Police Report Cover packet (Wis. Stat. § 943.201; § 134.98).
• Privacy. DATCP shares the complaint with the Subject as part of its mediation process. Redact any sensitive non-relevant information (full SSN, account numbers) before filing where possible.

11. SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Wisconsin DATCP — File a Complaint — https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/FileConsumerComplaint.aspx
• DATCP General Complaint Form (PDF) — https://datcp.wi.gov/Documents/ComplaintFormGeneral.pdf
• Wisconsin DOJ — Consumer Protection — https://www.doj.state.wi.us/dls/consumer-protection
• Wisconsin DFI — Wisconsin Consumer Act — https://dfi.wi.gov/Pages/ConsumerServices/WisconsinConsumerAct/
• CFPB Complaint Portal — https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
• FTC Report Fraud — https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
• Wis. Stat. § 100.18 — https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/100.18
• Wis. Stat. § 100.20 — https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/100.20
• Wis. Stat. ch. 427 — https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/427
• Wis. Stat. § 218.04 — https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/218.04
• Wis. Stat. § 134.98 — https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/134/98
• Wis. Stat. § 165.25 (DOJ duties)
• Wis. Admin. Code ch. ATCP (DATCP trade-practice rules) — https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/atcp

Disclaimer: This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. A Wisconsin-licensed attorney should review your facts before submission. Verify each agency's current address and submission method before mailing.