Complaint Hotlines

About Filing Complaints


Preparation is Everything


Filing a complaint can be an important part of making businesses and service providers better for us all. Your call may be transferred to a more-appropriate department or individual and this may take some time.

Remember as well that filing a complaint requires that consumers have all their facts straight. Here are some helpful hints to consider before you begin:
  • Know the details of any warranties or guarantees
  • Assemble all your receipts, cancelled checks and related paperwork
  • Know the names of individuals involved
  • Know the dates of all communication
  • Be able to provide information about the circumstances and situations
  • Keep your cool

Consumer Complaint Hotlines


Be an advocate - for yourself.

Aging and Disability Services Administration (ADSA)


  • Ph: 1 (800) 422-3263
  • Info on State Long Term Care Policies and Procedures
  • Website

Better Business Bureau


  • Complaints about unscrupulous business practices and telemarketing fraud
  • Ph: (206) 431-2222
  • Website

Charity Fraud


  • Make sure charities are registered at 1 (800) 332-4483
  • If an organization is fraudulent, then call the AG's Office at 1 (800) 551-4636

Comptroller of the Currency (United States)


  • Complaints against nationally chartered banks or federal savings associations
  • 1-800-613-6743
  • Website

Complaints Against Adult Family Homes


  • DSHS Complaint Hotline
  • Ph: 1 (800) 562-6078

Attorneys - Complaints Against Attorneys


  • Ph: 1 (800) 945-9722
  • Washington Bar Association Review Board Office of Disciplinary Counsel

Doctors - Complaints Against Doctors


  • Washington State Health Professions Quality Assurance
  • Ph: (360) 236-4700
  • May be on hold up to 15 minutes

Federal Employees - Complaints Against Federal Employees


  • Ph: (202) 606-1800
  • Federal Office of Personnel Management
  • Select Option #3
    • Ask for OPM Investigative Services

Funeral Homes & Cemeteries - Complaints Against Funeral Homes / Cemeteries


Crime Stoppers


  • Ph: (253) 591-5959
  • Non-Emergency Sheriff / Police
    • Ph: (253) 798-4721
    • To report information about crimes
  • Website

DSHS Residential Care Services Complaint Line


  • Ph: 1 (800) 562-6078
  • Oversees all licensed facilities and staff in facilities. This includes nursing homes, boarding homes, adult family homes, ICFMR and certified supported living facilities. Leave a message on the line.

DSHS Constituent Relations


  • Ph: 1 (800) 865-7801
  • Problems with food stamps or Medicaid that the local office can't handle

DSHS Hotline


  • Ph: 1 (800) 562-6906
  • Report fraudulent claims for DSHS benefits

Health Professions Quality Assurance


  • Ph: (360) 236-4222 or (360) 236-4221
  • Nursing assistants

Healthcare Licensing, Certification or Registration


Health Care Professionals - Complaints Against Health Care Professionals


To register complaints against Health Professionals, there are three main commissions under the auspices of the Department of Health (DOH) listed below.
  • The first oversees physicians (MDs and MDPAs).
  • The second oversees nurses (ARNPs, RNs, and LPNs).
  • The third oversee all other health professions.
Regardless of the profession, any of the forms are available online. Complaints must be made in writing.

The address to which written complaints can be sent is:
  • Complaint Intake Unit
    P.O. Box 467857
    Olympia, WA 98504-7857
Phone numbers are listed below:
  • Complaints Against Doctors and Physician Assistants
    • Ph: (360) 236-2762
    • Washington State Medical Quality Assurance Commission
  • Complaints Against Nurses (ARNP, RN, or LPN)
    • Ph: (360) 236-4739
    • Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission
  • Complaints Against All Other Health Professionals
    • Dentists, dental assistants, dental hygienists, denturists, nursing assistants, etc.
    • Ph: (360) 236-2620
    • Washington State DOH, Health Systems Quality Assurance Commission
      • This commission has regulatory oversight for medical care facilities (hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, medical labs, kidney dialysis, in-home care agencies, as well as hotels and motels). For a complete listing of health care professions overseen by the DOH Health System Quality Assurance Commission, visit their website.

Hospital & Home Health Agency Complaints


  • Ph: 1 (800) 633-6828
  • Washington State DOH Facilities and Services Licensing Complaint Hotline
  • They accept complaints against:
    • Ambulatory surgical centers
    • Correctional facilities
    • Hospitals
    • Hotels and motels
    • In-home care agencies
    • Kidney dialysis centers
    • Medical laboratories
    • Residential care facilities

Individual Providers


  • Ph: (360) 236-4700
  • To register a complaint about an individual caregiver

Identity Theft


If your personal information is stolen and includes your Social Security number, call the toll-free fraud number of any one of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies and place an initial fraud alert on your credit reports. This alert can help stop someone from opening new credit accounts in your name.
  • Equifax
    • Ph: 1 (800) 525-6285
    • P.O. Box 740241
      Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
  • Experian
    • Ph: 1 (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742)
      • Listen to the menu and select the appropriate options
    • P.O. Box 2002
      Allen, TX 75013
  • TransUnion
    • Ph: 1 (800) 680-7289
    • Fraud Victim Assistance Division
      P.O. Box 6790
      Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Go to the FTC for additional important information regarding ID theft or call 1 (877) ID-THEFT (438-4338); TTY: 1 (866) 653-4261.

Landlord Tenant Complaints


For persons living within Tacoma's city limits:
  • City of Tacoma Human Rights & Human Services at (253) 591-5151
For persons living in Pierce County outside Tacoma City limits:
  • CLEAR (60 years of age and older) at 1 (888) 387-7111
  • NW Justice (any age) at (253) 272-7879 or 1-888-201-1015
For persons with computer access from home or a public library:
  • WA Law Help NWJP
  • The Washington State RCW
    • Click on Title 59 On the next screen, under 'Chapters,' click on the link 59.18 for the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, or 59.20 for the Manufactured Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act.
  • City of Lakewood
    • Lauren Walker / Puget Sound Fair Housing Commission
    • Fair Housing Center of Washington for housing discrimination issues related to race, nationality, color, gender, disability, religion, sex, or presence of children in the household
    • Ph: (253) 274-9523
  • Office of the Attorney General Consumer Line
    • Ph: (253) 593-2904
    • File a complaint, review consumer info and latest press releases
  • Problems with Tacoma or Pierce County Housing Authority (HUD)
    • Ph: (206) 220-5200

Lemon Law


  • Ph: 1 (800) 541-8898
  • The Lemon Law Program concerns arbitration and compliance processes, request forms, etc. Listen to motor vehicle Lemon Law information through this automated phone system (option #5)

Madigan Patient Advocate (complaints)


  • Ph: (253) 968-1145

Mail Fraud Complaints


  • Ph: 1 (877) 876-2455
  • Postal Inspector / Public Information Officer
  • If you suspect fraud, call the US Postal Inspection Service at this number
  • See What is mail fraud? (USPS publication)
  • More Information

Manufactured Homes - Dispute Resolution Program


  • Ph: (866) 924-6459
  • Web

Medicare Information


  • Ph: 1 (800) 633-4227

Medicaid Fraud Control Unit


  • Ph: 1 (800) 562-6906
  • For reporting DSHS Medicaid Provider and Welfare Fraud
    • Due to strict laws, the investigative unit will not be able to report the results of their investigation

National Fraud Information Center


  • 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. PST
  • Ph: 1 (800) 876-7060
  • Telemarketing fraud information

Nursing Assistants Registry


  • Ph: (360) 236-4708
  • Find out if a nursing assistant is registered with the state

Nursing Home and Residential Care Complaints


  • Ph: 1 (800) 562-6078
  • DSHS Nursing Home Complaint & Investigation Line

Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution


  • Ph: (253) 572-3657
  • Inexpensive mediation for ongoing problems such as landlord / tenant, neighbor to neighbor or child custody arrangements. The center also offers mediation and conflict management and conflict resolution training for community members and organizations. Sliding fee scale available.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman


  • Pierce County
    • Ph: (253) 798-3789 or 1 (800) 642-5769
    • Complaints about care in nursing homes and adult care facilities
  • Washington State
    • Ph: 1 (800) 562-6028

Police / Sheriff Non-Emergency Line


  • Ph: (253) 798-4721

Security Fraud (Washington State Attorney General)


  • Ph: 1 (800) 551-4636
  • Scams, fraud, 'investment opportunities,' etc.
  • Website to file complaint, listen to pre-recorded information and review recent press releases.

Tacoma (City) Human Rights Department


  • Ph: (253) 591-5151
  • Complaints about employment, housing, racial discrimination in city limits

WA State Attorney General


  • Ph: (253) 593-2904
  • WA State Attorney General Consumer Protection Hotline
    • Ph: 1 (800) 551-4636

WA State Department of Financial Institutions


  • Toll free: 1-877-RING-DFI (1-877-746-4334)
    En español: 1-888-976-4422
  • Fraud related to state-chartered banks, investment firms, banking practices, mortgage companies, etc.
  • Website

WA State Human Rights Commission


  • Ph: 1 (800) 233-3247
  • Discrimination complaints outside of City of Tacoma (employment, other)

WA State Office of the Insurance Commissioner


  • Ph: 1 (800) 562-6900

Disabilities Rights Washington


  • Ph: 1 (800) 562-2702
  • For persons with disabilities, this organization can provide information and possible advocacy regarding access to services or care in the community and institutional settings.

Utilities Oversight


Oversight and regulation of utilities (phone, television, cable, internet, electricity) depends on the type of utility in question. The services may be overseen by federal, state, or local county jurisdictions.
  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
    • Ph: 1 (877) 382-4357
    • TTY: 1 (866) 653-4261
    • To report a complaint about a business
    • There is an avenue online to register a complaint as well as useful information related to utilities overseen by the FTC
  • WA Utilities and Transportation Commission
    • Ph: 1 (800) 562-6150
    • Consumer problems with private utility and transportation companies such as electric, natural gas, telephone, garbage haulers, water, bus companies, railroads, private ferries and household goods movers
    • Website