Filing a Complaint With Your State Attorney General Got Me a $5,000 Refund.

A contractor took my $5,000 deposit and did no work. They ignored my calls and emails. I filed a complaint with my state attorney general's consumer protection division. The process: I found the consumer complaint form on my state's attorney general website. I filled it out with the contractor's name, address, and a detailed description of what happened. I attached the contract, payment receipt, and my communication attempts. The attorney general's office contacted the contractor. Within 30 days, the contractor refunded the full $5,000. State attorney general offices have investigative authority. They can subpoena documents and take legal action against businesses that violate consumer protection laws. The threat of a state investigation is often enough to get a refund. This works best for larger amounts (over $1,000) and for clear violations of consumer protection laws.