Resources

Regulatory Resources
Legal Resources
Social Services Resources

 

Regulatory Resources [top]

Florida Department of Children and Families' Adult Services Program's Abuse Hotline
File a report or call about concerns involving elder abuse, neglect or exploitation.
Phone: 1-800-962-2873 (1-800-96ABUSE)
TDD: 1-800-453-5145
Fax: 1-800-914-0004
Web: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/as/

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Contact or file a complaint about concerns involving business opportunities, charitable organizations, dance studios, Do Not Call (Florida list), game promotions/sweepstakes, health studios (gyms), Lemon Law, motor vehicle repair, movers (household intrastate), pawnshops, sellers of travel, telemarketing, etc.
Phone: 1-800-435-7352 (1-800-HELP-FLA)
Web: http://www.800helpfla.com/complnt.html

Office of the Attorney General of Florida
File a complaint or contact about concerns involving consumer fraud.
Phone: 1-866-966-7226 (1-866-9-NO-SCAM)
Web: http://myfloridalegal.com/Contact.nsf/Contact

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Contact, file a complaint with, or report unlicensed activity regarding concerns involving architects, asbestos contractors and consultants, athlete agents, auctioneers, barbers, building code administrators and inspectors, community association managers, construction industry, cosmetology, electrical and alarm contractors, employee leasing companies, geologists, harbor pilots, interior designers, landscape architects, surveyors and mappers, talent agencies, veterinary medicine, etc.
Phone: 850-487-1395 (8 a.m.-6 p.m.)
Web: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/entercomplaint.asp
Report Unlicensed Activity: 1-866-532-1440

Florida Department of Financial Services
Contact or file a complaint regarding concerns involving insurance, including companies, agents and adjusters.
Consumer Helpline: 1-877-693-5236 (1-877-MY-FL-CFO)
Web: http://www.myfloridacfo.com/sitePages/services/display.aspx?a=Consumer%20Protection

Florida Office of Financial Regulation
File a complaint or contact about concerns involving collection agencies, consumer finance, mortgage brokers, mortgage brokerage businesses, mortgage lenders, correspondent lenders, retail installment seller, sales finance company, motor vehicle retail installment, home improvement finance, title loan companies, funds transmitters, payment instrument issuers, check cashers, foreign currency exchangers, deferred presentment providers, state-chartered banks, state-chartered credit unions, savings associations, non-deposit trust companies, international banking offices, broker/dealers, investment advisers, securities offerings, savings and loans, etc.
Phone: 1-800-848-3792
Web: http://www.flofr.com/director/complaints.htm

Agency for Health Care Administration
File a complaint with the Agency for Health Care Administration. Contact the Complaint Administration Unit about a health care facility or provider, health maintenance organization (HMO), or a health care professional licensed by the Florida Department of Health.
Phone: 1-888-419-3456 (M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
Web: http://www.fdhc.state.fl.us/

Florida's Long-term Care Ombudsman Program
File a complaint or contact about concerns regarding a residents' quality of life and care at a long-term care facility, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family care homes.
Phone: 1-888-831-0404
Web: http://ombudsman.myflorida.com/

Federal Trade Commission
File a complaint or contact about concerns involving complaints about companies, business practices, identity theft, and episodes of violence in the media.
Phone: 1-877-382-4357
Web: http://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
File a complaint or contact about concerns involving a national bank.
Phone: 1-800-613-6743
Web: http://www.occ.treas.gov/customer.htm

Securities and Exchange Commission
File a complaint or contact about concerns involving buy and sell orders of securities, brokerage firms or brokers, sales or manipulations of securities, financial privacy complaints, cold calling, investment advisers, financial planners, mutual funds, 401k, pensions, retirement plans, securities marketing or trading scams or frauds, etc.
Phone: 1-800-732-0330
Web: http://www.sec.gov/complaint.shtml

Internal Revenue Service Identity Protection Specialized Unit
File a complaint or contact about concerns involving identity theft of your Social Security number.
Phone: 1-800-908-4490
Web: http://www.irs.gov

 

Legal Resources [top]

State Attorney's Office
Contact or file a complaint with your local State Attorney's Office (criminal matters).

Local Bar Association
Contact your local Bar Association to obtain a legal services referral for a local attorney (civil matters). Florida County Bar Associations: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Gadsden, Leon, Jefferson, Liberty, Wakulla, Franklin, Nassau, Baker, Duval, Clay, Orange, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Lee, Palm Beach, Collier, and Broward.

Florida Bar
Contact the Florida Bar to obtain a legal services referral for a local attorney, verify the license and practices of an attorney, or to file a complaint or grievance against an attorney (civil matters).
Web: www.floridabar.org
Lawyer Referral Service: 1-800-342-8011
Attorney Consumer Assistance Program: 1-866-352-0707

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Contact the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys to inquire about locating and retaining a local attorney in your geographical area who practices in elder law and/or who specializes in elder law issues (civil matters).
Phone: 520-881-4005
Web: www.naela.org

 

Social Services Resources [top]

Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Florida
A non-profit assistance program that provides guidance and assistance in the areas of debt consolidation, money management, debt management, credit counseling, and other related or similar personal finance areas.
Address:
Consumer Credit Counseling Services
5421 Beaumount Center Blvd., Ste. 600
Tampa, Florida 336343
Phone: 1-800-741-7040
Web: http://www.cccsfl.org/

Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas Counties
Offers information on local resources for providing various services or assisting with needs, including personal counseling.
Address:
Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas Counties
9887 - 4th Street North, Suite 100
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
Local Helpline: 727-217-8111
Statewide Helpline: 1-800-963-5337
Web: http://www.agingcarefl.org/

Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services, Inc.
A private, non-profit behavioral healthcare organization that provides 24/7 mental health services.
Address:
Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services, Inc.
11254 - 58 Street North
Pinellas Park, FL 33782-2213
Phone: 727-545-6477

Family Emergency Treatment Center
A mental health walk-in clinic. Open Monday - Saturday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and closed Sunday.
Address:
Family Emergency Treatment Center
400 - 15 Street North
St. Petersburg, FL 33705
Phone: 727-552-1053