Free, no lawyer
How to claim
The tools that actually get companies to pay: CFPB and FTC complaints, state attorney general complaints, demand letters, chargebacks, and small claims court. Step by step, with templates.
- How to claimWhere to complain so a company actually pays: CFPB, FTC, state attorney general, FCC, DOT (which one, and what happens next)A complaint to the right agency is free, takes 10 minutes, and gets a written response from the company in 15 to 60 days, often with the refund you couldn't get from customer service. Which agency handles which company, what to write, what to attach, and how to combine complaints with a chargeback or small claims.
- How to claimHow to write a demand letter that gets paid (structure, tone, deadline, and where to send it)A one-page demand letter resolves a surprising share of disputes because it shows the company you know the rule, have the evidence, and will file. The five-paragraph structure, the deadline that works, certified mail vs. email, what to attach, and the mistakes that get letters ignored.
- How to claimSmall claims court: how to sue a company for up to $25,000 without a lawyer (limits by state, cost, and what to bring)Small claims is designed for people, not lawyers: filing costs $30–$100, the hearing takes 15 minutes, and companies often settle as soon as they're served. Dollar limits in every state, how to name the right defendant, serving the company, the evidence that wins, and collecting the judgment.
How to get a company to pay: the escalation ladder
Most disputes follow the same path, and knowing the next step is half the battle.
- Write to the company. Use its complaint form or email, state what happened, what you want (a specific amount), and the rule that backs you up. Keep the reference number. Phone calls leave no record: if you call, follow up by email.
- Use your payment protections. Credit card chargebacks and Regulation E disputes for debit cards often resolve refunds faster than anything else, but they have deadlines.
- File a complaint with the right agency. The CFPB for banks, cards, loans, and collectors; the DOT for airlines; the FCC for phone and internet; your state attorney general and the FTC for almost everything else. Companies must respond to many of these complaints.
- Send a demand letter. A short, firm letter with a deadline and a clear next step resolves a surprising share of disputes.
- Small claims court. Limits range from about $2,500 to $25,000 depending on the state, filing fees are modest, and you don't need a lawyer.
The guides below explain each step, with templates you can copy.