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F.A.Q. |
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Q: I think I have been cheated by a contractor, tradesman, shopkeeper, or other person who provides labor or services. Can the DA’s office help me?
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Q: Can the District Attorney's Office give me legal advice about my legal case?
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Q: What should I do if I am a victim of a company’s unlawful/unfair/fraudulent business practices or deceptive/untrue/misleading advertising?
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Q: I think I have been cheated by a contractor, tradesman, shopkeeper, or other person who provides labor or services. Can the DA’s office help me?
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A: The DA’s Consumer Protection Unit may be able to help, or they may refer you to an agency that can help you. You should send your complaint in writing to: Orange County District Attorney, Consumer Protection Division, 401 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. To contact the division by phone: (714)834-3600.
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Q: Can the District Attorney's Office give me legal advice about my legal case?
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A: No. We are prohibited from giving legal advice regarding a case you have or are thinking about pursuing. A private attorney can give you that kind of legal advice. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office serves as the public prosecutor, bringing criminal charges and civil law suits where the interests of the public at large are involved. This office is not legally permitted to represent individuals in civil matters, take action in order to obtain money owed a consumer, help cancel any debt due on a contract that was signed, resolve or mediate individual consumer complaints, or obtain any other personal relief. It is generally a good idea to consult with private counsel to explore private legal remedies that might be available. In smaller matters of no more than $5,000, local small claims courts should also be considered. Action in these courts does not require the use of an attorney.
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Q: What should I do if I am a victim of a company’s unlawful/unfair/fraudulent business practices or deceptive/untrue/misleading advertising?
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A: You should contact your local law enforcement agency to report a crime or contact the appropriate regulatory agency. Find the right agency on the Resources Page that may help you with your situation. Generally, the appropriate law enforcement or regulatory agency investigates crimes and/or complaints and then presents a case to the Office of the District Attorney for filing.
After contacting the appropriate agency, you may also file a complaint with the Office of the District Attorney. First click on and read “Procedure for filing a consumer complaint”. Then click on and print out the form “Consumer complaint” and mail your original signed form to the Office. You may also call the Office and we will send you the form: (714) 648-3600.
Complaints of false advertising, deceptive business practices, and unfair competition will generally be reviewed by the Consumer Protection Unit of the District Attorney’s Office to determine if government action is appropriate. However, because of the large number of such complaints, action can only be taken when the harm from these practices is great and involves a large number of consumers or businesses. In cases where these criteria are not met, we often keep the complaint as part of our information files. If the problem warrants action in the future, the complaint will form part of the basis for that action. Generally, the Office does not handle one-on-one business transaction complaints.
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