By Samantha Paul In South Carolina, the correct place to report an ordinary consumer dispute is not necessarily the Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General brings cases involving statewide unfair trade practices, but the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs handles complaints from individual customers. That division of responsibility matters: a person who sends a refund dispute to the wrong agency may lose time before reaching the team that offers consumer mediation.
This guide gives verified Attorney General contacts, identifies the current officeholder, and explains the Consumer Affairs complaint route. It also covers the online form’s 30-minute timeout, optional paper filing, and what the agency can realistically do after receiving a report.
Who Is the Current Attorney General of South Carolina?
As of October, 2026, Alan Wilson is South Carolina’s Attorney General. Elected in 2010 and reelected in 2014, 2018, and 2022, he serves as the state’s chief legal counsel and chief prosecutor and oversees several statewide enforcement functions.
The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division enforces the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act and may pursue litigation concerning deceptive practices or competition violations. Importantly, the division explicitly states that it does not handle individual consumer complaints against businesses. Those reports should go to the Department of Consumer Affairs, a separate state agency.
South Carolina Attorney General Contact Numbers
- Attorney General general information: (803) 734-3970 — statewide office inquiries.
- Attorney General constituent services: (803) 737-3953 — correspondence and questions for the Attorney General’s office.
- Attorney General victim advocacy: 1-800-213-5652 — specialized victims’ assistance information.
- Department of Consumer Affairs, toll-free in South Carolina: 1-800-922-1594 — ordinary business complaints and mediation guidance.
- Department of Consumer Affairs, Columbia: (803) 734-4200 — consumer services and complaint assistance.
- Consumer Affairs general email: scdca@scconsumer.gov — general questions to the consumer agency.
Attorney General contact page: https://www.scag.gov/about-the-office/contact-us/
Consumer Affairs contact page: https://consumer.sc.gov/contact-us
South Carolina Attorney General Office Address
- Attorney General office: Rembert Dennis Building, 1000 Assembly Street, Room 519, Columbia, SC 29201.
- Attorney General mailing address: Office of the Attorney General, P.O. Box 11549, Columbia, SC 29211.
- Department of Consumer Affairs: 293 Greystone Boulevard, Suite 400, Columbia, SC 29210.
- Mailing a consumer complaint: South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 5757, Columbia, SC 29250.
Do not mail a routine complaint about a purchase to the Attorney General’s P.O. Box when the Department of Consumer Affairs is the appropriate intake agency. The two offices have different responsibilities, locations, and submission systems.
How to File a Complaint in South Carolina
Step 1: Open the Department of Consumer Affairs complaint page
Visit https://consumer.sc.gov/consumer-resources/consumer-complaints and choose File a General Complaint. The Attorney General’s own consumer protection page directs residents to this separate agency. Consumer Affairs accepts online reports and paper complaint forms; online filing is generally processed faster.
Step 2: Try the business and check specialized regulators
The department encourages consumers to contact the company first and attempt to resolve the dispute directly. Save its response. Some topics belong primarily to other agencies: the Department of Insurance handles insurance-company matters, state licensing agencies handle various professional licensees, and the Board of Financial Institutions handles certain lending firms.
Step 3: Gather details and write the account before logging in
Record the seller’s name, relevant dates, payment amount, what was advertised, and the outcome you requested. Attach contracts, receipts, screenshots, bills, and correspondence as appropriate. South Carolina warns that its online complaint system times out after 30 minutes, so draft the narrative in a separate document before opening the form.
Step 4: Enter the complaint online or submit the paper form
Complete the form and upload your relevant explanation and evidence. The department suggests copying a prepared account into the online fields or attaching the written statement; if attaching the narrative, enter the requested short text in required comment boxes to proceed. Consumers who prefer paper may print the agency form and send it to P.O. Box 5757, Columbia, SC 29250.
Step 5: Keep the submission details and follow the assigned analyst
Online users can access their complaint in the portal and correspond with an assigned analyst through the system. Retain complaint details and watch for requests for clarification. If you encounter a technical problem, Consumer Affairs publishes (803) 734-4200 and 1-800-922-1594 for assistance during weekday business hours.
What Happens After You File a Complaint?
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs processes written complaints, uses voluntary mediation to seek an agreed resolution, and refers issues outside its jurisdiction when another agency is more appropriate. The online portal gives consumers a way to exchange information with their assigned analyst. Mediation does not compel the business to accept the consumer’s requested outcome.
The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division separately investigates and litigates broader legal violations on behalf of the state. Filing with Consumer Affairs may help identify troubling business practices but is not the same as having the Attorney General personally take a refund dispute to court. Private legal deadlines continue to matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I complain directly to the South Carolina Attorney General about a refund?
The Attorney General’s website expressly directs individual consumer complaints to the Department of Consumer Affairs. For a typical refund, non-delivery, or sales dispute, use that agency’s complaint portal or phone number. The Attorney General’s enforcement division addresses wider violations rather than providing individual mediation.
Q. What happens if the online complaint form times out?
The Department of Consumer Affairs warns that its online system times out after 30 minutes. Prepare your account in Word or a text editor before starting, then paste or attach it. If the session expires, return to the complaint page instead of relying on text that may not have been submitted.
Q. Is a homeowners association complaint handled through the same form?
South Carolina has a separate HOA complaint option. The Department of Consumer Affairs requires an HOA Supplemental Questionnaire with these reports and says it collects the information for reporting purposes rather than administering or enforcing the state’s HOA law. Use the HOA instructions rather than the standard general complaint alone.
Q. Can I search a business’s previous complaints before buying?
Yes. Consumer Affairs publishes a searchable database of complaints received since January 1, 2014. It includes categories and closing status, but the agency warns that complaint totals alone do not prove misconduct. Consider business size, the nature of the allegation, and how the complaint was resolved.