By Samantha Paul A dealer delays a vehicle title. A subscription keeps renewing after cancellation. A home-improvement company takes payment but fails to complete the job. These disputes show why Missouri residents need a reliable route for reporting suspected misconduct. The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section collects complaints, attempts informal mediation in suitable cases, and uses consumer reports to identify possible violations of state law.
Filing a report is not the same as hiring a lawyer or obtaining a judgment. Here are the current officeholder, correct contact details, and the steps for using Missouri’s official complaint system.
Who Is the Current Attorney General of Missouri?
As of October 15, 2026, Catherine L. Hanaway is the Attorney General of Missouri. She took over the office in September 2025 after Andrew Bailey left the position. State materials and Attorney General press releases issued during 2026 identify Hanaway as the incumbent. Older articles naming Bailey as the current attorney general are therefore out of date.
The Attorney General is Missouri’s chief legal officer. The Consumer Protection Section enforces the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, which addresses deceptive representations, unfair practices, and other unlawful conduct connected with consumer transactions. The office also handles state interests in litigation and selected criminal matters; it cannot serve as a private attorney for an individual customer.
Missouri Attorney General Contact Numbers
- Main Jefferson City office: (573) 751-3321 — general calls and office inquiries.
- Consumer Protection Hotline: 1-800-392-8222 — business complaints, scam reporting, and updates on existing consumer cases.
- Consumer Protection email: consumer.help@ago.mo.gov — inquiries to the Consumer Protection Section.
- No-Call Team: 1-866-662-2551 — telemarketing registration and no-call questions.
- Medicaid Fraud hotline: 1-800-286-3932 — suspected Medicaid program fraud.
- Kansas City regional office: (816) 889-5000.
- St. Louis regional office: (314) 340-6816.
Missouri also lists offices in Springfield and Cape Girardeau. The official statewide directory is https://ago.mo.gov/about-us/contact-us/. For a new consumer complaint, use the complaint form or hotline rather than the general questions box.
Missouri Attorney General Office Address
- Main office: Missouri Attorney General’s Office, Supreme Court Building, 207 West High Street, P.O. Box 899, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
- Kansas City regional office: 615 East 13th Street, Suite 401, Kansas City, MO 64106.
- St. Louis regional office: 815 Olive Street, Suite 200, St. Louis, MO 63101.
The office’s posted hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays. If mailing a consumer complaint, use the official downloadable form and its mailing directions rather than assuming an ordinary business letter will be formally registered.
How to File a Complaint With the Missouri Attorney General
Step 1: Go to Missouri’s consumer complaint page
Visit https://ago.mo.gov/get-help/programs-services-from-a-z/consumer-complaints/. Select the online Consumer Complaint Form at https://app.ago.mo.gov/app/consumercomplaint. A printable PDF is also available. Residents without email may call 1-800-392-8222 to file by phone, according to the official online form.
Step 2: Enter your contact details and complaint category
The form requests your mailing address, telephone number, and email address, followed by the business’s name and a complaint category and subcategory. It asks whether you lost money, how you paid, and the transaction date. If a contract was signed, provide the place and date and indicate whether you have a copy.
Step 3: Explain the problem and identify the business
Describe what the seller advertised, the purchase or service agreed upon, the amount charged, and the reason you believe the business acted improperly. Give the business address, phone, website, and representative’s name when available. A precise timeline and relevant documents make it easier for a consumer advocate to understand the complaint.
Step 4: Describe previous efforts and the remedy requested
Missouri specifically asks what you have done to resolve the dispute, including emails, letters, other agency complaints, lawsuits, or contact with an attorney. It offers practical outcome choices such as refund, delivery, repair, replacement, cancellation, or further investigation. Choose the remedy that actually matches your situation, without treating it as a promise the office can secure that result.
Step 5: Read the disclosure and submit
Review the complaint carefully before using the submission button. Missouri’s form states that the merchant will receive a copy. It also warns that consumer complaints are public records under Missouri law, potentially including your name, address, and supporting documents. Save the information you submitted and any case correspondence. Avoid attaching sensitive identifiers unless they are truly necessary.
What Happens After You File a Complaint?
The Consumer Protection Section may assign an advocate and ask the company for its response. Through informal mediation, the office tries to resolve appropriate disputes, sometimes resulting in refunds, completed work, or other remedies. The state explains that mediation may take several months. A consumer may request an update from an assigned advocate or by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline.
If mediation fails and facts indicate a possible violation of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, investigators may examine the matter for enforcement. Not every complaint leads to an investigation or lawsuit, and enforcement serves the public interest. A resident seeking to preserve a private claim should consider independent legal advice and relevant deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I file a Missouri consumer complaint without an email address?
Yes. The online complaint form directs people without an email address to call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222 to file by phone. The office also provides a printable paper form.
Q. Will the company see the complaint I submit?
Yes. Missouri states that sending a copy to the merchant is part of its complaint-handling process. The merchant is asked to explain its position. Write with this disclosure in mind and avoid unsupported accusations.
Q. Are consumer complaints confidential in Missouri?
Do not assume so. The official form warns that a complaint and supporting records may be released under public-records law, potentially including personal contact information. Keep unnecessary confidential records out of the submission.
Q. How can I ask about an existing complaint?
Contact the consumer advocate assigned to your file, if one has contacted you, or call 1-800-392-8222. Give your identifying information and any reference number. Avoid filing duplicate complaints merely to obtain a progress update.