Contact Us | Search this Site:

ABOUT THE OFFICE OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS

The Office of Consumer Affairs at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provides protection to consumers against fraudulent, deceptive, and illegal practices in the marketplace. The Office of Consumer Affairs accomplishes our mission through the collaborative efforts of our three units.

Consumer Protection HOTLINE Toll free in Virginia: 1.800.552.9963 or within the Richmond, VA area 804.786.2042.

The Counseling, Intake and Dispute Resolution Unit handles complaints related to the advertisement, sale, or lease of goods and services that are intended for personal, family or home use.

We do not handle complaints resulting from private transactions between individuals where no business is involved, or from transactions involving products or services intended for business or commercial use.

Certain complaints may be within the jurisdiction of other local, state, or federal offices. Please go to the Complaint Topic Selector to determine the proper agency to assist you.

You may also pursue resolution of your complaint through the courts system. In that case, you should consider seeking legal advice first. If you do not have an attorney, you may contact one through the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service at 800.552.7977 or 804.775.0808, or through the local chapter of the Virginia Legal Aid Society.

The Investigations Unit handles consumer complaints that may contain violations of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. This unit works closely with the Office of the Attorney General and local Commonwealth’s Attorneys to stop illegal activities, and to pursue civil and criminal prosecutions. The Regulatory Programs Unit oversees all registrations, investigations, and related surety management for certain types of businesses that are required to file with the Office and may be required to post surety for the protection of Virginia consumers. The types of businesses are health spas, extended service contact providers, credit repair facilities, travel clubs, membership campgrounds, and organizations that solicit contributions for charitable purposes in Virginia. To determine if a particular business may be subject to the law administered by OCA, you may review the laws by clicking here.

Price Gouging Complaint Form

Local Offices of Consumer Affairs

Office of Consumer Affairs News and Information