The Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection safeguards Kentuckians from unfair business practices by enforcing the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act (KCPA). The KCPA protects Kentucky's citizens from "unfair, false, misleading, or deceptive acts or practices in trade or commerce." The Office of Consumer Protection enforces the Act by bringing lawsuits in the public interest to obtain civil penalties and consumer redress, including restitution and injunctive relief aimed at changing bad business practices. The division acts in a wide variety of cases, including those involving unscrupulous auto dealers, pharmaceutical companies that understate risks or overstate benefits of their drugs, and for-profit colleges that misrepresent the value of their degrees. The Office of Consumer Protection has also taken action against telemarketers, home remodelers, mortgage lenders, and other types of companies when they do not compete fairly or engage in unfair practices. This enforcement protects not only citizens, but also ethical sellers of goods and services.
The Office of Consumer Protection is made up of three subdivisions – Litigation and Investigation, Registration and Compliance, and the Louisville Consumer Resource and Service Branch. The Litigation and Investigation group is responsible for investigating and litigating violations of the KCPA. The Registration and Compliance group provides administrative support required to ensure compliance with state statutes that require certain businesses, such as funeral homes, cemeteries, charitable solicitors, and health spas, to register and/or post bonds with the Attorney General's Office. The Louisville Consumer Resource and Service Branch mediates and investigates consumer complaints primarily related to businesses in the Louisville Metro area.
The Office of Consumer Protection is committed to protecting Kentuckians from bad actors in the marketplace. The Office has the power to civil investigative demands and civil subpoenas in order to investigate conduct alleged to violate Kentucky's consumer protection laws. In addition, the Office of Consumer Protection works closely with the Office of Senior Protection and Mediation in order to identify and prosecute businesses that engage in deceptive business practices.