Consumer Lawyer Referrals

National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA)

1730 Rhode Island, NW, Suite 805

Washington, DC 20036

  • Phone: (202) 452-1989
  • Fax: (202) 452-0099
  • Email

Lawyer Referral Service: The Bar Association of the District of Columbia offers half-hour, in-office consultation for a small fee, and can provide a list of attorneys that you can hire. Call (202) 296-7845 or email.

Legal Advice Clinics: The DC Bar offers free advice by an attorney but not representation. Clinics are held on the second Saturday of every month from 10 am to noon at the following locations:

  • Bread for the City, 1525 7th Street, NW
  • Max Robinson Center, 2301 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE

More information can be found on the DC Bar website.

Legal Service Providers for the Public: The DC Bar provides a directory of legal services organizations arranged by topic, including legal clinics and issue advocacy groups.

Legal Services for Low-income DC Residents

Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia

1331 H Street, NW | Suite 350
Washington, DC 20005

  • Phone: (202) 628-1161
  • Fax: (202) 727-2132

Neighborhood Legal Services Program

680 Rhode Island Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20002

  • Phone: (202) 269-5100
  • Fax: (202) 832-1984

Tzedek DC

UDC David A. Clarke School of Law
4340 Connecticut Ave NW | Suite 319
Washington, DC 20008

  • Phone: (202) 274-7386

Legal Services for the Elderly

American Association of Retired Persons

AARP offers legal services for DC residents aged 60 and older (55 and older for representation regarding disability benefits). Preference is given to low-income and vulnerable older persons.

Legal Counsel for the Elderly

601 E Street, NW, Fourth Floor
Washington, DC 20049

  • Email: lce@aarp.org
  • Main Number: (202) 434-2120
  • Legal Hotline: (202) 434-2170
  • Fax: (202) 434-6464
  • Long Term Care Ombudsman: (202) 434-2190
  • Senior Medicare Patrol: (202) 434-2099

Debt Counseling

National Foundation for Credit Counseling

801 Roeder Road, Suite 900
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Washington, DC 20024

  • (800) 388-2227
  • Call to find the nearest Consumer Credit Counseling Service near you.
  • www.nfcc.org

DC.gov Consumer Protection Agencies

Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA)

1100 4th St. SW, 5th Floor
Washington, DC 20024

Department of Insurance, Securities, Banks (DISB)

810 First Street, NE, Suite 701
Washington, DC 20002

  • Phone: (202) 727-8000

Insurance, Mortgages, Loans, & Check-Cashing Issue

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20580

  • Phone: (877) 382-4357
  • www.ftc.com

Financial Fraud/Identity Theft

Metropolitan Police - Financial Crimes and Fraud Unit

300 Indiana Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001

Housing Assistance

  • Neighborhood Legal Services (202) 269-5100
  • Bread for the City, NW Center (202) 265-2400
  • SE Center (202) 561-8587
  • DC Law Students in Court (202) 638-1351
  • Legal Aid Society (202) 628-1161
  • Legal Counsel for the Homeless (202) 328-5500
  • University Legal Services NE Office (202) 547-4747/
  • SE Office (202) 645-7175
  • DC Bar Pro Bono Program (202) 737-4700
  • Legal Counsel for the Elderly (202) 434-2170
  • Howard University Legal Assistance (202) 806-8082
  • UDC School of Law Housing/Consumer Clinic (202) 274-7326
  • Landlord Tenant Resource Center (202) 737-4700
  • American Bar Association Referral Service (202) 296-7845

Mediation

District of Columbia Superior Court: The District court system provides free help before you file a lawsuit, including mediation, conciliation and referrals.

Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Program - DC Superior Court

500 Indiana Avenue, NW, Room 1235
Washington, DC 20001

  • (202) 879-1549

DC Bar: For the public Website.

Call for Action: This nonprofit organization provides free mediation to consumers with problems with businesses or government agencies. They also work with local media outlets to publicize consumer information at http://www.callforaction.org

Call for Action, DC Local Office

WTOP AM & FM

5272 River Road, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20816

  • (301) 652-4357
  • Tuesday through Friday from 11 am to 1 pm

The Key Bridge Center for Mediation offers free mediation to individuals and organizations throughout DC. They offer mediation from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm Monday through Friday and Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The Key Bridge Center for Mediation

  • 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Ste 440
  • Washington, DC 20016
  • Phone: (202) 274-1822
  • Fax: (202) 274-1824
  • www.keybridge.org

Human Rights

DC Office of Human Rights

441 4th Street, NW, Suite 570 North
Washington, DC 20001

  • Phone: (202) 727-4559
  • Fax: (202) 724-3786
  • http://ohr.dc.gov
  • Discrimination issues in areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, educational, insurance and credit

Service Provider Referrals

Angie's List

1030 E. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202

Better Business Bureau

1411 K St NW # 1000
Washington, DC 20005-3479

Consumer's Checkbook

1625 K Street, NW 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20006

Utilities

The offices below handle local phone, gas, electric, and slamming—the unauthorized switching of your long distance carrier—complaints.

Office of the People's Counsel for the District of Columbia

1133 15th Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005

Phone: (202) 727-3071

Fax: (202) 727-1014

Public Service Commission

1333 H Street, NW, Room 200, West Tower
Washington, DC 20005