Consumer Protection - Businesses
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How do I obtain information about a corporation, including, for example, its registered agent and its officers and directors?
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How do I find out if a company is legitimate or is being investigated?
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To find out about a business outside of Virginia
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The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) is responsible for handling corporate filings for corporations and other entities (e.g., limited liability companies, limited partnerships, business trusts) that wish to transact business in Virginia. For example, the SCC requires every corporation to register information such as the name and address of its Registered Agent, its principal business address and the names of the officers and directors of the corporation. This information is available to the public online from the SCC Clerk’s Information System.
SCC Clerk's Information System
Clerk of the State Corporation Commission
Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 371-9733How do I find out if a company is legitimate or is being investigated?
The Attorney General’s Office does not:
- Maintain lists of "legitimate" or "illegitimate" businesses
- Disclose whether a specific company is under investigation by our Office
- Have general information on file relative to all companies doing business in Virginia
There are several agencies you may wish to contact to attempt to obtain information about a particular company:
A) Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA)
OCA is our client but is a separate state agency. It has authority to investigate and refer its findings to this Office and to other governmental offices for an appropriate enforcement action if it has reason to believe a pattern or practice of deception, or other wrongdoing, in violation of any of our consumer protection statutes is occurring. OCA maintains a complaint database and can provide information on complaints filed with it in the past three years.
Office of Consumer Affairs
PO Box 1163
Richmond, VA 23218
(804) 786-2042
Toll Free in VA ONLY: 1-800-552-9963Search the OCA Complaint Database
There also currently is one local consumer affairs office that handles complaints relating to businesses in its jurisdiction:
Fairfax County
B) The Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Maintains records of complaints lodged against BBB member and non-member companies and can tell you how those complaints, if any, have been handled by the company.
To find out about a business outside of Virginia:
You may contact the Attorney General’s Office in the state in which the business is located. The National Association of Attorneys General Web Site has contact information for all Attorneys General:
National Association of Attorneys General Web Site.You also may contact the Better Business Bureau (BBB) that serves the locality in which the business is located. BBBs maintain records of complaints lodged against BBB member and non-member companies and can tell you how those complaints, if any, have been handled by the company.