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Consumer Complaint

 Complaint Form

Please proceed to DFI Complaint Form (MS Word) | Complaint Form (Adobe PDF)

By submitting this form you agree that you have read the Notice of Individuals located on the DFI Web site at http://www.dfi.ca.gov/forms/.

 Guidelines:

Before completing this form, please take the time to read the guidelines. They will help you understand the Department of Financial Institutions(DFI) regulatory responsibilities and how we can provide assistance. Have you determined that your complaint is against a licensee regulated by the DFI? If no, refer to the Department's Directory of Licensees to verify the

If you have any questions about this form please call our Consumer Service Office: 1-800-622-0620 (outside CA) or (916) 322-0622.

Please note: The DFI Consumer Information Desk is unable to assist consumers with complaints against national banks, federal savings and loan associations or federal savings banks, federal credit unions, or mortgage banker/mortgage brokers. "Information on Who Regulates Your Financial Institution" is available on our Web site.

The DFI is neither an advocate of the individual consumer or of the licensee. The Department's role as part of this complaint process is to facilitate communication between the consumer and their financial institution. The Department facilitates this communication so that the consumer's concerns are heard by the appropriate official within their financial institution. The Department does not guarantee that that this process will result in the outcome for which the consumer seeks. Those complaints that reach an impasse may require the consumer

 How to submit a complaint

How to submit a complaint against a financial institution licensed by the California Department of Financial Institutions.

Please follow one of the methods for delivering your complaint as explained below. Please do not send any additional documentation; send only the complaint form. If additional information is required by the financial institution to resolve your complaint, they will contact you directly.

Follow these steps to submit electronically Follow these steps to submit via mail or fax
  1. Fill out the complaint form in its entirety. For email submission, a signature is not required. (Omission of information may delay the response to your complaint.)
  2. Save the form to your hard drive in a familiar location. Name the file something familiar like "DFI Complaint Form."
  3. Open your email account and click new email.
  4. In the To: line of the new email, type consumer.complaint@dfi.ca.gov
  5. On the menu bar select insert file. Select the file you named earlier.
  6. Send the email.
  7. You will receive a confirmation email indicating that the DFI has received your complaint.
  1. Open the link and print the form.
  2. Fill out the complaint form in its entirety. (Omission of information may delay response to your complaint.) Make a copy for your records. Send only the complaint form. If other documents are required, your financial institution will request them.
  3. If filing by fax dial (916) 445-2123
  4. If filing by mail, send to:
    Department of Financial Institutions
    Consumer Services Desk
    1810 13th Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
  5. Within the next 7-10 business days you will receive a confirmation letter indicating that DFI has received your complaint.

Acknowledgement

By filing this complaint, I acknowledge that I understand that:

  • The Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Consumer Services Office will facilitate communication between me and my financial institution to assist me in resolving my dispute ;
  • The DFI cannot assist me in the complaint process if I am in litigation with my financial institution; and
  • If the dispute is not resolved in my favor, the DFI Consumer Services Office cannot award damages to me or order my financial institution to reverse a fine or fee, give me a loan, remove a negative credit report or take any action in my behalf.