By Samantha Paul In a state where customers may live hours from the nearest seller, getting an answer about a faulty vehicle, unfinished building job, or undelivered farm-related purchase can be frustrating. Montana’s Department of Justice operates an Office of Consumer Protection that evaluates business complaints and contacts businesses when a problem falls within its authority. The office can investigate unfair practices, but it cannot simply order every disputed charge refunded.
This guide brings together the current attorney general, contact numbers, mailing information, online and paper complaint options, and the practical limits of state assistance.
Who Is the Current Attorney General of Montana?
Austin Knudsen is Montana’s Attorney General as of October 15, 2026. First elected in 2020, he took office in January 2021 and won reelection in 2024. As attorney general he is the chief legal officer, chief law enforcement officer, and head of the Montana Department of Justice.
The Attorney General’s Office represents Montana in legal disputes and provides legal services to state government. Consumer matters are handled through the Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP), which enforces consumer-protection rules and receives reports involving deceptive or unfair sales practices. These functions do not make the attorney general a personal lawyer for residents.
Montana Attorney General Contact Numbers
- Attorney General’s Office: (406) 444-2026 — general inquiries and correspondence with the chief legal office.
- Attorney General’s Office fax: (406) 444-3549 — published general fax number.
- Office of Consumer Protection, toll-free: 1-800-481-6896 — consumer disputes and scam concerns.
- Office of Consumer Protection, local: (406) 444-4500 — complaint assistance and consumer questions.
- Office of Consumer Protection fax: (406) 444-5275 — published option for sending signed forms.
- Consumer Protection online information: https://dojmt.gov/office-of-consumer-protection/ — access to complaint and scam-reporting routes.
Montana also provides separate consumer-privacy information and procedures. A report about misuse of personal data can require a different explanation from a routine auto-repair or retail-billing complaint.
Montana Attorney General Office Address
- Attorney General’s Office mailing address: Office of the Attorney General, Montana Department of Justice, P.O. Box 201401, Helena, MT 59620-1401.
- Consumer Protection mailing address: Office of Consumer Protection, P.O. Box 200151, Helena, MT 59620-0151.
- Consumer Protection street address: Mazurek Building, 215 North Sanders Street, Helena, MT 59601.
Keep the mailing addresses separate. Complaints mailed to the Consumer Protection unit belong at its P.O. Box rather than the general Attorney General address. Check current instructions before visiting in person.
How to File a Complaint With the Montana Attorney General
Step 1: Contact the business first
Montana’s Office of Consumer Protection asks consumers to approach the business before filing. Explain the problem to customer service or management and keep a record of when you called, wrote, or visited. If an initial contact fails, a follow-up letter requesting a specific remedy can help establish that you tried to resolve the matter in good faith.
Step 2: Open the consumer complaint page
Visit https://dojmt.gov/office-of-consumer-protection/consumer-complaints/. You can choose File a Complaint Online or download the paper form. Montana also offers a separate Report a Scam Online route for suspicious solicitations. The consumer page includes an option for searching previously reported complaints against businesses.
Step 3: Document the transaction precisely
Give the business’s name and address and explain what was purchased, when, for how much, and what went wrong. Identify sales claims, warranty terms, repair work, or delivery promises that matter. The OCP handles various issues, including auto disputes, construction, debt collection, misleading advertisements, telemarketing, and communications-service billing.
Step 4: Attach copies and sign a paper filing
Include copies of contracts, receipts, warranties, correspondence, and cancelled checks. The downloadable complaint form directs residents to complete and sign the complaint itself, keep a copy, and send photocopies of the supporting documents rather than their originals. Explain the relief requested, such as a refund or repair, in a realistic and specific way.
Step 5: Submit to the OCP and retain records
Complete the online portal or mail or fax the paper form using the Office of Consumer Protection contact details above. Keep the narrative and supporting files for future correspondence. If investigators need additional information, Montana requests that it be provided in writing. A phone inquiry alone does not replace the signed formal complaint.
What Happens After You File a Complaint?
Montana says OCP investigators evaluate the complaint and supporting materials to determine whether the agency has authority over the issue. If so, an investigator may send the business a letter and a copy of your complaint, inviting a response and a possible resolution. If a matter belongs with a different regulator, the OCP may refer it to an agency better equipped to handle it.
The office retains complaints to monitor potentially illegal practices. It cannot promise compensation or represent you in a private lawsuit. If there is an approaching card-dispute deadline or a significant financial loss, consider an appropriate payment dispute or timely legal advice in parallel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Will Montana send my complaint to the business?
Usually, yes, when the case falls within OCP authority. Its published process says an investigator sends the complaint with a letter asking the business to respond. Do not include details that are unrelated to your allegation.
Q. Can Montana investigate a towing-company complaint?
The Department of Justice has a towing-complaint procedure connected to its Office of Consumer Protection. Report the tow operator, location, fees, and supporting receipts. The OCP’s towing guidance directs residents to its online complaint form or paper option.
Q. What should I do if the company has closed?
Report the business using its last known details, but also review payment-reversal options promptly. Montana’s consumer guidance discusses credit-card disputes and the possibility of a bankruptcy claim; recovery depends on the transaction and deadlines.
Q. Can the OCP give me legal advice about filing a lawsuit?
No. Montana law prevents the consumer office from acting as a private attorney or giving individualized legal advice. For litigation or a personal damages claim, consult an independent attorney or an appropriate legal-aid organization.