Consumer Protection

​​​​​Student Loan For​bearance ends June 30, ​2023 or sooner. Find resources here.

What We Do

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade ​and Consumer P​rot​ection is the state’s primary consumer protection agency. The Bureau of Consumer Protection has authority to regulate unfair business practices.

  • Operate Wisconsin’s Consumer Protection Hotline; consumers can contact our hotline staff by email at DATCPHotline@wi.gov or through our toll-free hotline a​t (800) 422-7128.

  • Handle 100,000 new consumer complaints and inquiries every year.

  • Returned more than $11,151,000 million to affected consumers in 2021​.

  • Regulate unfair and deceptive business practices to protect millions of Wisconsin consumers every day.

  • ​Provide information, training, and resources for businesses to help them better serve Wisconsin Consumers.

  • Administer Wisconsin’s telemarketing “Do Not Call” Law (over 4.5 million Wisconsin numbers are registered.)

  • Educate consumers on best practices to combat and avoid identity theft, and offer recovery services to identity theft victims with the aid of the Identity Theft Assistance Team.

  • Regulate hazardous consumer products.

  • Enforce environmental regulations related to consumer products.

Consumer Protection ​​News

February 2, 2023: ​​DATCP's Top Ten Consumer Complaints of 2022

January 30, 2023: DATCP and DOR Observe Identity Theft Awareness Week

December 13, 2022: Don't Get Scammed This Holiday Season

December 8, 2022: AG Kaul, DATCP Announce Settlement With Direct-Mail Marketer of Extended Vehicle Warranty Products

November 22, 2022: Attorney General Kaul Announces $328,000 Settlement with American Tax Solutions​​

November 22, 2022: Attorney General Kaul, DATCP Announce Settlement of Enforcement Action Against Extended Vehicle Warranty Telemarketer

November 18, 2022: DATCP Provides Consumer Tips for the Holidays

November 14, 2022: Consumer Alert: Gift Cards Fraudulently Drained of Funds

October 26, 2022: DATCP Addresses Misleading COVID-19 Test Advertisements

October 4, 2022: DFI and DATCP Host Student Loan Debt Relief Workshop: How to Avoid Scams, Use Free Repayment Tools and Save Money

October 3, 2022: October 2022 is National ​Cybersecurity Awareness Month

September 1, 2022: Consumer Alert: Facebook-Related Phishing Scams

August 29, 2022: Consumer Alert: Student Loan Debt Scams

August 2, 2022​: DFI and DATCP Host Student Loan Debt Relief Workshop: How to Avoid Scams, Use Free Repayment Tools and Save Money

August 1, 2022: Consumer Alert: Increase in Wisconsin Lottery-related Scams

July 28, 2022: AG Kaul, Secretary Romanski Secure $15 Million Agreement with Frontier Communications

June 15, 2022: DATCP Recommends Consumers Use Caution When Contracting for Storm Damage Repairs

May 10, 2022: DATCP Sees Rise in Scam Letters Related to Antivirus Subscriptions

April 7, 2022: DFI and DATCP Host Student Loan Debt Relief Workshop: How to Avoid Scams, Use Free Repayment Tools and Save Money

April 4, 2022: AG Kaul, DATCP Announce Enforcement Action Against Extended Vehicle Warranty Telemarketer​

April 4, 2022: Consumer Advisory: Cyclospora Found in Ocean Mist Farms Brand Romaine Hearts

March 2, 2022: DATCP and AG Kaul Alert Consumers Impacted by Massive 2021 T-Mobile Data Breach to Protect Their Personal Information

March 1, 2022: Watch for Charity Scams Claiming to Support Those Affected by Russian Invasion on Ukraine

March 1, 2022: DATCP Weighs in on 2021 Inspections During National Weights and Measures Week 2022

Contact Us​​

The Bureau of Consumer Protection is located on the first floor of the Wisconsin Agriculture Building located at 2811 Agriculture Drive on Madi​son’s southeast side. Additionally, the Bureau of Consumer Protection's Milwaukee office is located at 1027 W. St. Paul Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53223. Consumers can also contact our hotline staff by email at DATCPHotline@wi.gov or through our toll-free hotline at (800) 422-7128. Our hotline and business hours are Monday – Friday from 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome​.​