Montana Department of Justice
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The Office of Consumer Protection is here to help – The Office of Consumer Protection seeks to protect Montana consumers from, and educate them about, harmful and unfair practices by retail businesses. The Consumer Protection Act prohibits businesses from taking advantage of consumers.

The major responsibilities of the Office of Consumer Protection include...

  • Providing information to consumers about the Consumer Protection Act
  • Enforcing consumer laws designed to protect the consumer from unfair or deceptive business practices
  • Assisting consumers by distributing consumer education materials including consumer alerts and scam alerts
  • Investigating false, misleading, or deceptive trade practices
  • Assisting in the preparation of legislation designed to protect consumers
  • Enforcing statutes relating to telephone solicitation and telemarketing
  • Participating in multi-jurisdictional actions with other state and federal law enforcement agencies

SOME OF THE LAWS ENACTED INCLUDE

Consumer Protection Act

Personal Solicitation Sales

Unfair Trade Practices

QUICK LINKS TO SOME OF OUR MOST VISITED WEBPAGES

DOWNLOAD COMPLAINT FORM

Mail or fax this complaint form to the Office of Consumer Protection.

Mail in your complaint.

Download the complaint form and complete with as much detailed information as possible, then mail or fax to the Office of Consumer Protection.

DOWNLOAD FORM

FILE COMPLAINT ONLINE

Quickly file your complaint online with the Office of Consumer Protection.

ONLINE FILING.

Have all your information handy as your session will time out after 45 minutes - you will be notified if this happens.

FILE ONLINE

KEEP MY MONTANA HOME

Have you been a victim of consumer fraud regarding your mortgage?

Help for Struggling Homeowners

If you are facing foreclosure or struggling to make your house payments, you may qualify for help.

READ MORE

CONSUMER AND SCAM ALERTS

Matters of Special Interest to Consumers - Scam Alerts & Consumer Alerts

Knowledge is Power

Protect yourself. And tell your children, parents and neighbors about current scams.

CURRENT SCAMS

IDENTITY THEFT

One of the top reported forms of crime in the U.S.

Protect Your Identity.

Information to protect yourself; tips to recover from identity theft.

HELPFUL INFORMATION

PRIOR COMPLAINTS AGAINST A BUSINESS

Have complaints been filed with OCP against a particular business?

Search for prior complaints

Check to see if any complaint have been filed with OCP against a particular business.

SEARCH

CURRENT RECALLS

Stay Informed About Unsafe Products

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction.  Click for recent and past recalls.

Contact Information

Office of Consumer Protection

Toll-Free:  800-481-6896
Phone: 406-444-4500
Facsimile:  406-442-2174
E-mail:  contactocp@mt.gov

Mailing Address

Office of Consumer Protection
P. O. Box 200151
Helena, MT 59620-0151

Physical Address

Office of Consumer Protection
555 Fuller Avenue
Helena, MT 59601-3394
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    Attorney General's Office & Legal Services Division

    The Attorney General’s Office, headed by Attorney General Tim Fox, and the Legal Services Division function as the lawyers for the State of Montana. The attorneys in the Office have expertise in a wide range of legal topics and handle a broad range of legal cases involving the State of Montana and its people.

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    Children’s Justice Bureau

    The Children’s Justice Bureau is an agency-wide initiative at the Montana Department of Justice dedicated to IMPROVING how we respond to child victims, DEVELOPING state-of-the-art approaches by keeping up with the newest research and, most importantly, HELPING child victims recover and move on with their lives.

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    Forensic Science Division & State Crime Lab

    The mission of the Montana Forensic Science Division is to use operationally efficient and financially responsible practices as the laboratory provides accurate, objective, and timely forensic analyses to the criminal justice community in order to maximize value to the citizens of Montana.

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    Missing Persons Clearinghouse

    The Missing Children Act of 1985 established a Montana Missing Persons Clearinghouse within the Department of Justice. In March 2008, the department implemented a searchable online database that, for the first time, is updated in real time and includes any photos provided by law enforcement.

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    Office of Victim Services

    The goal of the Office of Victim Services is to provide tools and information to help crime victims recover from their experience and provide them with a range of services available. The criminal justice system can be confusing and intimidating for victims. To assist them as they go through the justice system, the Office of Victim Service is available to answer any questions they may have.

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    Central Services Division

    The Montana Department of Justice’s Central Services Division provides financial and human resources support for the department. We make sure that everything works for the people Working for Justice. If you’re interested in a rewarding career helping protect the rights and safety of all Montanans, we invite you to join our team of over 800 dedicated employees working across the state.

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    Justice Information Technology Services Division

    Our Justice Information Technology Services Division (JITSD) provides vital Information Technology (IT) infrastructure upon which Montanans and local and state law enforcement agencies rely for timely, accurate information. JITSD manages the IT systems, services, and interfaces to support nearly 800 DOJ employees, 325 statewide county motor vehicle system users, and over 3,000 Criminal Justice Information Network (CJIN) users across the state.

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    Division of Criminal Investigation

    The Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) at the Montana Department of Justice is involved in many aspects of Montana law enforcement and is integral to the Department of Justice’s mission of promoting public safety.

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    Montana Highway Patrol

    Montana is rich in natural beauty and history. From Glacier Park in the west to Makoshika Park in the east, the men and women of the Montana Highway Patrol are working hard to make your travels safe and enjoyable. The Highway Patrol’s core values are “Service, Integrity and Respect.” These values are reflected in our commitment to public safety through diligent and fair enforcement of our traffic codes.

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    Montana Law Enforcement Academy

    The Montana Law Enforcement Academy is the premier law enforcement and public safety educational and training institution for state, county, city and tribal officers throughout the state. The Academy offers entry-level programs referred to as Basic Programs and advanced training through an array of Professional Development Programs.

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    Public Safety Officer Standards & Training

    The Council was formed in 2007 under 2-15-2029, MCA as an independent Quasi-judicial board. And as allowed by statute the Council adopted Administrative Rules in order to implement the provisions of Title 44, chapter 4, part 4, MCA. Per 44-4-403, MCA the Council is required to set employment and training standards for all Public Safety Officers as defined in 44-4-401, MCA and in addition the Council shall provide for the certification or recertification of public safety officers and for the suspension or revocation of certification of public safety officers.

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    Motor Vehicle Division

    The mission of the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) is to identify and promote efficient, cost-effective programs that benefit the interests, safety, and well-being of Montana citizens through licensing, registering, and regulating the motoring activities of the public. The MVD continuously strives for excellence in customer service. Streamlining the way we do business has allowed us to improve our efficiency and make our services more convenient for our customers.

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    Natural Resource Damage Program

    The Natural Resource Damage Program (NRDP) was created in 1990 to prepare the state’s lawsuit against the Atlantic Richfield Co. (ARCO) for injuries to the natural resources in the Upper Clark Fork River Basin (UCFRB). Decades of mining and mineral processing operations in and around Butte and Anaconda released substantial quantities of hazardous substances into the Upper Clark Fork River Basin between Butte and Milltown. These hazardous substances extensively degraded the area’s natural resources.

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    Office of Consumer Protection

    Enforce consumer laws designed to protect the consumer from unfair or deceptive business practices. Enforce statutes relating to telephone solicitation and telemarketing. Provide information to consumers about the Consumer Protection Act. Assist consumers by distributing consumer education materials including scam and consumer alerts. Investigate false, misleading, or deceptive trade practices.

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    Gambling Control Division

    Through the Gambling Control Division, the Department of Justice regulates all forms of gambling in Montana, except for the Montana Lottery and horse racing. The legislature has charged the division with maintaining a uniform regulatory climate that is fair and free of corrupt influences. The division is also responsible for collecting gambling revenue for state and local governments.

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    Human Trafficking

    The Montana Department of Justice has a continued commitment to victims of human trafficking. In partnership with federal authorities, our agency plays a key role in the investigation, enforcement, and prosecution of crimes related to human trafficking in Montana. This form of modern day slavery does happen here in Big Sky Country.

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    Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Program

    Montana’s deadliest drugs aren’t made in secret labs and they don’t always come from dealers on the corner. They’re in our own medicine cabinets. Each year, prescription drug abuse contributes to the deaths of more than 300 Montanans — making prescription drug abuse 15 times more deadly than meth, heroin and cocaine combined. Our kids report the third-highest rate of prescription drug abuse in the country and more than half of them say prescription drugs are easier to get than street drugs.

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    Safe in Your Space

    When it comes to embracing new technology, kids have rapidly outpaced their parents and teachers. By their early school years, many children are already more comfortable on the Internet than their parents. But just because children are smart enough to know how to navigate the Internet, doesn’t mean they have the experience to make good decisions about some of the possibilities they may face online.

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    Montana Sexual or Violent Offender Registry

    Created by the Montana Department of Justice in 1989, the Sexual or Violent Offender Registry is a valuable resource for Montanans to protect their families against sexual or violent offenders.

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    Montana 24/7 Sobriety Program

    Drinking and driving has been a chronic – and deadly — problem on Montana’s roadways for decades. In 2008, Montana was ranked as the deadliest state in the nation when it came to per capita DUI-related traffic fatalities.

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    Work for Justice

    Everyday at The Montana Department of Justice, our employees are dedicated to ensuring the well-being and rights of the people of our great state. We’re passionate about what we do because it’s more than a job or a career. It’s about who we are as people. If this sounds like you, your unique experiences, knowledge, and values may be just what the Montana Department of Justice is looking for and needs. In return we can offer a culture that promotes fairness and growth opportunities.

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