By Samantha Paul A deposit paid to a home-improvement contractor goes missing. A retailer adds fees never disclosed at checkout. A licensed professional may have violated the rules governing their practice. New Jersey residents can raise these concerns through the state Attorney General’s system, but the correct filing destination depends on the misconduct. A general consumer dispute should usually go to the Division of Consumer Affairs, not the Attorney General’s headquarters in Trenton.
This guide explains who leads the office in 2026, which telephone numbers and addresses are appropriate, how to submit a business complaint, and what can happen once regulators receive the information.
Who Is the Current Attorney General of New Jersey?
As of October, 2026, Jennifer Davenport is New Jersey’s Attorney General. Governor Mikie Sherrill nominated her, and Davenport became acting attorney general on January 20, 2026. The state Senate unanimously confirmed her on February 24, 2026. She succeeded Matthew J. Platkin, whose name may still appear on older legal forms or news reports.
The Attorney General heads the Department of Law and Public Safety, with responsibilities covering statewide law enforcement, state litigation, consumer protection and civil rights. The Division of Consumer Affairs and its Office of Consumer Protection handle many complaints involving businesses; professional licensing boards address regulated occupations. Neither office should be mistaken for a private legal representative.
New Jersey Attorney General Contact Numbers
New Jersey separates general constituent inquiries from calls about goods, services and regulated professionals. Choose the relevant line:
- Attorney General constituent services: (609) 984-5828 — questions and messages intended for the Attorney General’s Office.
- General Attorney General inquiry: (609) 292-4925 — published in the state’s Attorney General fact sheet.
- Consumer Service Center: (973) 504-6200 — questions about consumer complaints and Division of Consumer Affairs matters.
- In-state toll-free consumer line: 1-800-242-5846 — available to callers within New Jersey.
- Consumer complaint follow-up email: AskConsumerAffairs@dca.njoag.gov — requests for status and supporting documents on an existing complaint.
New Jersey Attorney General Office Address
- Attorney General headquarters: Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex, 8th Floor, West Wing, 25 Market Street, Trenton, NJ 08625-0080.
- Constituent services mailing address: Office of Constituent Services, Office of the Attorney General, 25 Market Street, P.O. Box 081, Trenton, NJ 08625-0081.
- Consumer Affairs walk-in office: 124 Halsey Street, Newark, NJ 07102.
- Consumer complaint mailing address: New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 45025, Newark, NJ 07101.
The Trenton and Newark addresses serve different purposes. Do not send a paper consumer complaint to the Attorney General’s general constituent-services address if you intend it for the Consumer Service Center.
How to File a Complaint With the New Jersey Attorney General
Follow the steps below for a consumer complaint. Other types of allegations may require a separate state agency, board, or reporting form.
Step 1: Choose the correct complaint channel
Start at https://www.njoag.gov/contact/file-a-complaint/ to see how New Jersey divides complaints among its agencies. For a purchase, repair, hidden fee, refund or other ordinary business dispute, use the Division of Consumer Affairs complaint page at https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/Pages/Consumer-Complaints.aspx. Professional misconduct, stockbroker concerns and lemon-law claims have their own routes. This distinction can prevent a complaint from being sent to the wrong unit.
Step 2: Try the business first, and state your requested outcome
New Jersey’s official consumer guidance advises taking the issue first to a salesperson, manager or customer service representative, then escalating where appropriate. Keep a record of what was said and when. State whether you want a refund, repair, cancellation or another practical remedy. A complaint is easier to assess when the outcome sought is as clear as the allegation.
Step 3: Prepare details and documentary proof
Identify the company, its address, the product or service, purchase date, amount paid and what was promised. Write a chronological explanation and include legible copies of invoices, advertisements, contracts, warranty terms, messages and proof of payment. Do not send original records. The state warns that submitted information can be subject to disclosure under the Open Public Records Act, so leave out unnecessary bank numbers or other sensitive information.
Step 4: Submit the online form or use the paper option
Select the General Consumer Complaint form on the Division’s filing page, review the statements and submit as instructed. New Jersey also offers complaint forms for licensed professionals and specified products, including vehicles. If using a printable form, mail the completed complaint and supporting copies to P.O. Box 45025, Newark, NJ 07101. To request a paper general consumer form, call (973) 504-6200.
Step 5: Keep proof and use the correct follow-up contact
Save a copy of your submission and any acknowledgment. To inquire about an existing consumer complaint or provide more information, email AskConsumerAffairs@dca.njoag.gov and identify the complainant’s first and last name and the business involved. New Jersey states that investigations are generally confidential, so a request for updates may not yield the details of an ongoing inquiry.
What Happens After You File a Complaint?
New Jersey’s Consumer Service Center serves as a central entry point for consumer complaints. The Office of Consumer Protection may assess the report, request more information and examine whether the conduct suggests a violation of state consumer laws. Different allegations may instead be handled by professional boards or another unit. Filing does not itself establish that a business broke the law.
The Division can pursue investigations or enforcement where warranted, but it does not function as a complainant’s private attorney, cannot provide personal legal advice and does not promise a refund or an individual settlement. Public disclosure rules may apply to submitted materials; information in an active investigation may be treated differently until the inquiry ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I report a licensed contractor on the ordinary business form?
A dispute over a home-improvement purchase may fit the general consumer route, but allegations against a separately regulated professional or unlicensed activity may require a profession-specific form. Check the category list before submitting; the right route depends on the conduct you are reporting.
Q. How do I add evidence to a complaint already filed?
Email AskConsumerAffairs@dca.njoag.gov. Give the complainant’s name and the business name so staff can identify the existing complaint. Do not send sensitive identification or account details unless the agency specifically requests them through an appropriate channel.
Q. Will I be told whether the company is under investigation?
Not necessarily. New Jersey says its consumer investigations are generally confidential unless and until an enforcement action becomes public. Staff may acknowledge or process a complaint without revealing confidential investigative developments.
Q. Can I request information about previous complaints against a business?
Yes. The Office of Consumer Protection says requests for complaint-history information can be sent to AskConsumerAffairs@dca.njoag.gov with the business name, address and relevant timeframe. What can be released depends on applicable disclosure rules.