What about formal actions?

When there is a potential violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act or other consumer protection law, or a pattern of complaints against a business or individual, the Division collaborates with the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office, which enforces the Consumer Protection Act and other state and federal consumer protection laws on behalf of the State. Consumers who want to pursue formal legal actions based on their own claims should seek a private attorney as the Attorney General’s Office is not able to represent individual consumers.

If a lawsuit or settlement is filed by the State, that information will be publicly available, and the Division generally attempts to notify consumers that a legal action has been taken. The goal is to obtain money to repay consumers what they have lost. Even after litigation, however, consumers sometimes may not receive restitution. For example, a company facing a lawsuit may go out of business and the owners may not be found, the entities may file bankruptcy, or may not be held legally responsible by a court of law.