To file a Call for Action complaint form, submit it online through CFA’s complaint database at cfadatabase.org/cfa/submit-a-complaint.aspx, which you can also reach by clicking “Submit Complaint Here” on callforaction.org.1Call For Action. Call For Action Call for Action is a nonprofit network of trained volunteers who mediate disputes between consumers and businesses at no cost, and it reports a 90-percent resolution rate.2Call For Action. About Call For Action Each local office operates out of a partnering radio or television station, so before you file it’s worth checking that an affiliate serves your area through the “Local Offices” link on callforaction.org.
Make Sure Your Dispute Fits
CFA volunteers mediate private consumer disputes: billing errors, warranty claims a business won’t honor, defective products, contractor work left unfinished, security deposit and living-condition fights with landlords, and insurance claims denied unfairly. If a company took your money and stopped returning calls, this is the kind of case CFA is built for.
Some matters fall outside CFA’s scope and belong elsewhere:
- Timeshare disputes
- Employment matters, including wage disputes, wrongful termination, and workplace grievances
- Discrimination or sexual harassment claims
- Active litigation or alternative dispute resolution already underway
- Medical complaints other than billing issues
Many of those categories have dedicated legal channels. Employment claims generally go through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or a state labor board, and discrimination claims involve specific administrative remedies.1Call For Action. Call For Action Identity theft and other criminal matters should be reported to law enforcement and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Gather Your Documents First
Pull everything together before you open the form. A clean file lets a volunteer understand the dispute in minutes rather than days.
- Business details: the company’s full legal name, physical address, phone number, and the name of anyone you already spoke with there.
- Transaction specifics: the exact date of the purchase or service and the dollar amount in dispute.
- Written correspondence: copies of emails, letters, or chat transcripts showing your attempts to resolve the problem directly.
- Financial records: receipts, bank statements, credit card statements, or canceled checks that verify what you paid.
- Contracts or agreements: signed documents, service agreements, warranties, or promotional materials the business provided.
- Evidence of harm: photographs of defective products or property damage, repair estimates from independent professionals, or inspection reports.
Organize the file in chronological order: purchase date, first complaint to the company, follow-up attempts, final refusal.
Fill Out the Form
The online form asks for the information you just gathered. Enter the business’s contact details carefully, because a wrong address or misspelled company name can delay outreach to the right corporate department. Pick the category that best fits your dispute so CFA can route the file to a volunteer with experience in that area.
The description field is where most complaints succeed or stall. Stick to facts: what you purchased or contracted for, what went wrong, when it happened, what you asked the business to do about it, and how the business responded. Skip the venting. A mediator presenting your case to a company representative needs a clean, factual summary they can work from.
End the description with the specific resolution you want: a full refund of $850, completion of the originally contracted work, a corrected billing statement. A concrete ask gives the volunteer a defined goal for the negotiation.
When you submit, the system generates a confirmation or case identification number. Save it. You’ll need it for any follow-up with your local office.
What Happens After You Submit
CFA’s intake team routes your complaint to a volunteer, who reviews the evidence and decides how to approach the business. During that review the volunteer may call or email you to clarify transaction details or ask for additional documentation. Volunteers primarily work cases through inbound and outbound phone calls, typically one day a week between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.,1Call For Action. Call For Action so keep those hours in mind if you plan to call in.
The mediation itself is the volunteer contacting the business to present your complaint and the resolution you asked for. A complaint carried by a television or radio station’s consumer desk tends to get a different reception than a solo call to customer service.
CFA mediation does not produce a legally binding judgment. The goal is a mutually agreeable fix: a refund, a completed repair, a corrected bill. If the business cooperates, you may see a resolution within a few weeks. If it refuses to engage, or the dispute proves too complex for volunteer mediation, you still have options.
If Mediation Doesn’t Resolve It
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
For disputes with banks, credit card companies, debt collectors, or other financial service providers, the CFPB is a strong next step. File at consumerfinance.gov/complaint (about 10 minutes online) or call (855) 411-2372 (25 to 30 minutes). You can attach up to 50 pages of supporting documents. The CFPB forwards your complaint to the company, which generally responds within 15 days, though some cases allow up to 60 days for a final response. You then have 60 days to review the response and provide feedback.3Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Submit a Complaint
State Attorney General
Every state attorney general has a consumer protection division that accepts complaints against businesses operating in the state. These offices can investigate patterns of fraud, pursue civil enforcement, and in some cases mediate individual disputes. Most accept submissions online. This route is especially useful when you suspect the business is running a broader pattern of deceptive practices.
FTC Fraud Reporting
If your situation is outright fraud or a scam rather than a contractual dispute, report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC does not resolve individual complaints, but it builds cases from reports and feeds a database other law enforcement agencies use.
Small Claims Court
For a defined dollar amount, small claims court lets you present your case to a judge without hiring an attorney. Filing fees typically run from $25 to over $100 depending on the jurisdiction and the amount in dispute. State caps vary; most sit between $5,000 and $10,000, though some states allow claims up to $25,000. The documents you assembled for your CFA complaint translate directly into small claims evidence.