Consumers Deserve Truth and Justice

By District Attorney Summer Stephan
 
Recently, our office secured a major victory on behalf of Californians who were misled by Vivint Solar’s sales and contracting practices. As part of a multi-county enforcement action, the company agreed to a $4.3 million consumer protection settlement, including a $3 million restitution fund for eligible consumers who lost money under certain solar power purchase agreements.
In cases like this, a restitution fund gives real help to everyday people harmed by deceptive practices, not just symbolic penalties. But justice like this doesn’t happen on its own. It happens because members of the public come forward, and because my District Attorney Consumer Protection Unit takes those reports seriously and has an expert team of prosecutors and investigators to fight against big companies like Tesla, Apple, and Target.
That’s why I want to urge you: if a business has misled you, overcharged you, or violated your trust, please report it.
You can file a consumer complaint on our DA website:
https://www.sdcda.org/preventing/consumer-protection/
When you submit a complaint, you help us spot patterns of misconduct that might otherwise go unnoticed. While we can’t act as your private attorney, your reports often form the foundation for broader enforcement actions that help you and at the same time help thousands of consumers.
What the Consumer Protection Unit Does
Our Consumer Protection Unit investigates and takes action against unlawful business practices in civil cases that seek restitution and penalties, and in criminal cases that can lead to charges against those who defraud the public and obtain restitution.
We handle cases involving:

• Scams that target our seniors through a specialized Elder Justice Task Force
• False or misleading advertising
• Cyber scams through our CATCH team of specialized cyber cops
• Unfair pricing or billing practices, especially after a natural disaster
• Deceptive contract terms or sales tactics
• Environmental violations that harm our communities with toxic waste and more

 
We have a team of highly experienced professionals dedicated to this mission, so much so that one of our Deputy District Attorneys wrote the authoritative book on consumer protection law itself.
Recent Work That Matters
Over the past year, our unit has been especially active in holding bad actors accountable:

• We announced more than $13.6 million in consumer protection judgments against several companies.
• We brought fraud charges against a business owner for cheating customers.
• We secured a $1 million settlement for overcharging consumers at the point of sale.
• And, as noted above, we helped ensure a $3 million consumer restitution fund in the Vivint Solar case.

 
These results are meaningful but because they reflect real consequences for businesses that break the law and real relief for consumers who suffered harm.
You Have a Role in Consumer Protection
Most investigations start with a complaint from someone just like you. A neighbor, a teacher, a small business owner, a retiree who said, “This doesn’t seem right.” That simple act of reporting can trigger reviews, investigations, and sometimes powerful enforcement actions.
If you think you’ve been misled or harmed by a company, don’t hesitate. File a complaint with us today at the Consumer Protection section of our website.
Your voice helps protect the whole community, not just you.
The DA’s Consumer Protection Unit is made up of Deputy District Attorneys, Investigators and Paralegals dedicated to protecting consumers and law-abiding businesses from fraudulent or unfair business practices. To report a consumer complaint, you can file a complaint online at: https://www.sdcda.org/preventing/consumer-protection/, call (619) 531-3507, or email [email protected].