Michigan

Office of Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909-7713
(517) 373-1140/(877) 765-8388
http://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-164-17337—,00.html

To file a complaint online, click here.

Michigan’s Laws

Here’s a snapshot of Michigan’s laws regarding deceptive advertising:

Michigan Compiled Laws § 445.902 and § 445.903: Lists a number of acts that are deemed unfair or deceptive trade practices, including, but not limited to, advertising goods or services with the intent not to sell them as advertised.

Possible Penalties

Some of the penalties that fraudulent or deceptive advertisers may suffer in Michigan include:

• Injunction (Michigan Compiled Laws § 445.911);

• Actual damages or $250, whichever is greater (Michigan Compiled Laws § 445.911);

• The cost of reasonable attorney’s fees of the person suing, if that person wins the lawsuit (Michigan Compiled Laws § 445.911).

Small Claims Court in Michigan

If you’re not trying to recover big bucks, but rather just trying to recoup the money you spent on a product or service after being duped by a false ad, then you might consider filing a lawsuit in Small Claims Court.

For general info about filing a lawsuit in Small Claims Court, click here.

For info on how to file a Small Claims lawsuit in Michigan, click here.

Researching Consumer Complaints

To obtain copies of complaints consumers have filed against a business, you can send a Freedom of Information request to:

Michigan Department of Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909

A sample Freedom of Information request can be found here.

**Please note that this page is informational only and does not take the place of legal advice.  Please also note that the above summary is meant to provide a brief look at the laws in Michigan, and not a comprehensive list.**