Need Letter Writing Help?

Ellen Phillips is a professional letter writer who has recovered millions of dollars for her clients who were not satisfied with the goods or services they purchased. This woman knows how to get results, and you can learn these secrets in her book 'Shocked, Appalled, and Dismayed!' (Vintage, 1998).

Get Help for Common Complaints

Dry cleaners. The International Fabricare Institute (800-638-2627; IFI.org) has a testing facility and investigates consumer complaints against its members.

Telephone/wireless services. The Federal Communications Commission (888-225-5322; FCC.gov) oversees complaints about problems with interstate calling, unauthorized charges, and switching services from one carrier to another.

Insurance. Go to your state’s Web site or general information phone number and find the contact information for your state’s insurance commissioner. Making a formal complaint will undoubtedly create a stir and give you the attention needed to solve your dispute. Credit cards. While many agencies police banks and credit-card issuers, the Federal Reserve Board is the best all-purpose place to start. The FRB is required by law to forward your complaint to the appropriate agency that oversees the issuer of your particular credit card. Prepare for major bureaucratic red tape. Send your written complaint to: Federal Reserve Board, Division of Consumer and Community Affairs, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20551; FRB.gov. Or call the Federal Depository Insurance Corporation (FDIC) toll-free, 877-275-3342; FDIC.gov.

Excerpted with permission from 'Live Your Life For Half the Price,' by Mary Hunt.

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