Below are some of the government and private organizations that respond to consumer complaints, listed by business type and issue. Many take complaints online. Go to their Web sites to determine the areas they cover and to find out what you can realistically expect them to do. If more than one organization is listed, it's a good idea to complain to them all.


Business type

Utilities
Gas, water, electric, local telephone: State public-utility service commission (www.naruc.org)
Long-distance phone, cell-phone, and paging: Federal Communications Commission (www.fcc.gov)
Cable and satellite television: Local or state franchising authority, or the FCC

Banks and credit unions
All: State banking departments
National bank: Comptroller of the Currency (www.helpwithmybank.gov)
State bank reporting to Federal Reserve: Federal Reserve (www.federalreserve.gov)
State bank not reporting to Federal Reserve: Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (www.fdic.gov)
Federal savings and loan or federally chartered savings banks: Office of Thrift Supervision (www.ots.treas.gov)
Federal credit union: National Credit Union Administration (www.ncua.gov)
State-chartered credit union: State banking supervisory authority

Investment professionals
All: Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov)
Brokerage firms: FINRA (www.finra.org)
Certified financial planners: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (www.cfp.net/complaint)

Credit-reporting agencies
All: FTC (www.ftc.gov)

Insurance companies
All: State insurance department. Find your state's office at www.naic.org.

Tax preparers
All: IRS Office of Professional Responsibility (www.irs.gov)

Real-estate professionals
Mortgage brokers: State real-estate department
Real-estate appraisers: State real-estate department or appraiser board

Household movers
All: American Moving and Storage Association (www.moving.org) or U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (http://nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov)

Funeral homes
All: State funeral board, the FTC, or the National Funeral Directors Association (www.nfda.org/helpline.php)

Travel
Travel agents: American Society of Travel Agents (www.astanet.com/about/consumercomplaint.asp)
Airlines (except safety and security): U.S. Department of Transportation (http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/problems.htm)
Cruise lines (except safety and sanitation): Federal Maritime Commission (www.fmc.gov) has limited jurisdiction.

Charities and nonprofits
All: State public charity regulators (www.nasconet.org/agencies) or BBB Wise Giving Alliance (www.give.org)

Attorneys
All: State disciplinary committees

Medical professionals
Physicians: State medical boards. Go to www.fsmb.org/directory_smb.html for list.
Dentists: State dentist licensing authority. Go to www.aadexam.org/links.htm for list.

Car repairers and dealers
Nonfinance-related: State consumer protection, transportation, or motor-vehicles officials (varies by state)
Finance-related: State banking or consumer credit officials

Licensed trades
All (electricians, plumbers, heating and air-conditioning technicians, etc.): State licensing boards