Aging and Disability Services Administration (ADSA)
1-800-422-3263
Info on State Long Term Care Policies and Procedures
www.aasa.dshs.wa.gov
Better Business Bureau
Complaints about unscrupulous business practices and telemarketing fraud
(206) 431-2222
Charity Fraud
Make sure charities are registered at 1-800-332-4483
If an organization is fraudulent, then call the AG's Office at 1-800-551-4636
Comptroller of the Currency (United States)
Complaints against nationally chartered banks or federal savings associations
1-800-613-6743
www.occ.treas.gov
Complaints Against Adult Family Homes
DSHS Complaint Hotline
1-800-562-6078
Complaints Against Attorneys
1-800-945-9722
Washington Bar Association Review Board Office of Disciplinary Counsel
Complaints Against Doctors
Washington State Health Professions Quality Assurance
(360) 236-4700
May be on hold up to 15 minutes
Complaints Against Federal Employees
(202) 606-1800
Federal Office of Personnel Management
Select Option #3; ask for OPM Investigative Services
Complaints Against Funeral Homes/Cemeteries
(360) 664-6652
Washington State Dept. of Licensing
www.dol.wa.gov/forms/600006F.pdf
Crime Stoppers
(253) 591-5959
Non-Emergency Sheriff/Police
(253) 798-4721
To report information about crimes.
DSHS Residential Care Services Complaint Line
1-800-562-6078
Oversees all licensed facilities & staff in facilities. This includes nursing homes, boarding homes, adult family homes, ICFMR, and certified supported living facilities. Leave a message on the line.
DSHS Constituent Relations
1-800-865-7801
Problems with food stamps or Medicaid that the local office can't handle.
DSHS Hotline
1-800-562-6906
Report fraudulent claims for DSHS benefits
Health Professions Quality Assurance
(360) 236-4222 or 4221
(Nursing assistants)
Healthcare Licensing, Certification or Registration
You can check the following Department of Health website to verify a healthcare professional's status at this website: http://www.doh.wa.gov/licensing/
Complaints Against Health Care Professionals
To register complaints against Health Professionals, there are three main Commissions under the auspices of the Department of Health (DOH) listed below. The first oversees physicians (MDs and MDPAs). The second oversees nurses (ARNPs, RNs, and LPNs). The third oversee all other health professions. Regardless of the profession, any of the forms are available online at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/Complaint.htm Complaints must be made in writing.
The address to which written complaints can be sent is:
Complaint Intake Unit
P.O. Box 467857
Olympia, WA 98504-7857
Phone numbers are listed below:
- Complaints Against Doctors and Physician Assistants
(360) 236-2762
Washington State Medical Quality Assurance Commission
- Complaints Against Nurses (ARNP, RN, or LPN)
(360) 236-4739
Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission
- Complaints Against All Other Health Professionals
(Dentists, Dental Assistants, Dental Hygienists, Denturists, Nursing Assistants, etc.)
(360) 236-2620
Washington State DOH, Health Systems Quality Assurance Commission
This Commission has regulatory oversight for medical care facilities (hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, medical labs, kidney dialysis, in-home care agencies, as well as hotels and motels. For a complete listing of health care professions overseen by the DOH Health System Quality Assurance Commission, visit their website at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/licensing/default.htm
Hospital & Home Health Agency Complaints
1-800-633-6828
Washington State DOH Facilities and Services Licensing Complaint Hotline
They accept complaints against: hospitals, in-home care agencies, residential care facilities, Also ambulatory surgical centers, kidney dialysis centers, medical laboratories, hotels and motels, and correctional facilities.
Individual Providers
(360) 236-4700
To register a complaint about an individual caregiver.
Identity Theft
If your personal information is stolen and includes your Social Security number, call the toll-free fraud number of any one of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies and place an initial fraud alert on your credit reports. This alert can help stop someone from opening new credit accounts in your name.
- Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 or www.equifax.com
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
- Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) or www.experian.com; listen to the menu and select the appropriate options.
P.O. Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013
- TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 or www.transunion.com;
Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790
Go to the FTC website for additional important information regarding ID theft: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
Or call: 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); TTY: 1-866-653-4261
Landlord Tenant Complaints
- For persons living within Tacoma's city limits:
City of Tacoma Human Rights & Human Services at (253) 591-5151
- For persons living in Pierce County outside Tacoma City limits:
CLEAR (60 years of age and older) at 1-888-387-7111
- NW Justice (any age) at (253) 272-7879 or 1-888-201-1015
For persons with computer access from home or a public library:
WA Law Help NWJP - http://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/
The Washington State RCW website - http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=
Click on Title 59 On the next screen, under 'Chapters,' click on the link 59.18 for the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, or 59.20 for the Manufactured Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act.
- City of Lakewood
(Lauren Walker / Puget Sound Fair Housing Commission
Fair Housing Center of Washington for housing discrimination issues related to race, nationality, color, gender, disability, religion, sex, or presence of children in the household ) (253) 274-9523
- Office of the Attorney General Consumer Line (253) 593-2904
www.atg.wa.gov (file a complaint, review consumer info, and latest press releases)
- Problems with Tacoma or Pierce County Housing Authority (HUD):
(206) 220-5200
Lemon Law
1-800-541-8898
The Lemon Law Program concerns arbitration & compliance processes, request forms, etc. Listen to motor vehicle Lemon Law information through this automated phone system (option #5 etc.)
Information can be downloaded at lemon@atg.wa.gov
Information can be downloaded from www.atg.wa.gov
Madigan Patient Advocate (complaints)
(253) 968-1145
Mail Fraud Complaints
1-877-876-2455
Postal Inspector/Public Information Officer
If you suspect fraud, call the US Postal Inspection Service at this number.
See ''What is mail fraud?'' (USPS publication)
http://about.usps.com/publications/pub300a/pub300a_tech_001.htm
and http://about.usps.com/publications/pub281/welcome.htm
Medicare Information
1-800-633-4227
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
1-800-562-6906
For reporting DSHS Medicaid Provider and Welfare Fraud; due to strict laws, the investigative unit will not be able to report the results of their investigation.
National Fraud Information Center (6am-2pm PST)
1-800-876-7060
Telemarketing fraud information
Nursing Assistants Registry
(360) 236-4708
Find out if a nursing assistant is registered with the state
Nursing Home and Residential Care Complaints
1-800-562-6078
DSHS Nursing Home Complaint & Investigation Line
Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution
(253) 572-3657
Inexpensive mediation for ongoing problems such as landlord/tenant, neighbor to neighbor or child custody arrangements. The Center also offers mediation and conflict management and conflict resolution training for community members and organizations. Sliding fee scale available.
Pierce County Long Term Care Ombudsman
(253) 798-3789 or 1-800-642-5769
Complaints about care in Nursing Homes and Adult Care Facilities
Washington State Long Term Care Ombudsman
1-800-562-6028
Police/Sheriff Non-Emergency Line
(253) 798-4721
Security Fraud (Washington State Attorney General)
1-800-551-4636
Scams, fraud, 'investment opportunities,' etc.
www.atg.wa.gov to file complaint, listen to pre-recorded information, and review recent press releases.
Tacoma (City) Human Rights Department
(253) 591-5151
Complaints about employment, housing, racial discrimination in City limits
WA State Attorney General
(253) 593-2904
WA State Attorney General Consumer Protection Hotline
1-800-551-4636
WA State Department of Financial Institutions
1-800-372-8303
Fraud related to state-chartered banks, investment firms, banking practices, mortgage companies, etc. www.dfi.wa.gov
WA State Human Rights Commission
1-800-233-3247
Discrimination complaints outside of City of Tacoma (employment, other)
WA State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
1-800-562-6900
Disabilities Rights Washington
1-800-562-2702
For persons with disabilities, this organization can provide information and possible advocacy regarding access to services or care in the community and institutional settings.
Utilities oversight
Oversight and regulation of utilities (phone, television, cable, internet, electricity) depends on the type of utility in question. The services may be overseen by federal, state, or local county jurisdictions.
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
1-877-382-4357 TTY 1-866-653-4261
To report a complaint about a business
There is an avenue online to register a complaint as well as useful information related to utilities overseen by the FTC. Visit www.fcc.gov/complaints or
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en
- WA Utilities and Transportation Commission
1-800-562-6150
Consumer problems with private utility & transportation companies such as electric, natural gas, telephone, garbage haulers, water, bus companies, railroads, private ferries, and household goods movers.
