Today the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) becomes a unit of the Georgia Department of Law. Earlier this year, the Georgia General Assembly passed a bill transferring OCP to the Georgia Department of Law, and Gov. Deal signed the bill into law on May 6, 2015.

“I am pleased to add a consumer protection unit to the Georgia Department of Law,” said Olens. “I will work with businesses and consumers to ensure a fair and transparent marketplace for Georgians. My goal is to protect Georgia consumers while also fostering an environment where businesses can thrive.”

The Georgia Department of Law’s Consumer Protection Unit protects consumers and businesses from unlawful, deceptive, and unfair practices in the marketplace by enforcement of the laws it administers and through education. The main law the unit enforces is Georgia’s Fair Business Practices Act. This law applies to consumer transactions involving the sale, lease, or rental of goods, services, or property mainly for personal, family, or household purposes.

If you suspect a business of illegal or deceptive practices in a consumer transaction, you can file a complaint with the Georgia Department of Law’s Consumer Protection Unit by going to www.law.ga.gov or www.consumer.ga.gov or calling 404-651-8600 or 1-800-869-1123 (toll-free in Georgia, outside of the metro Atlanta calling area).