What you can complain about
Anything about how we run this website: inaccurate or misleading content, how a correction report was handled, how we handled your personal information, accessibility, or a reply you received from us. For a simple factual error, the corrections form is usually quicker.
How complaints are reviewed
- Acknowledgement: we acknowledge your complaint by email, aiming to do so within 5 business days.
- Review: we look into it — where possible with someone who was not involved in the original issue — checking the page history, sources and any messages.
- Response: we write to you with what we found and what we will do. We aim to respond in full within 30 days, and will tell you if we need longer and why.
- Action: where we agree something went wrong, we fix it — for example by correcting a guide and adding a correction note, deleting data, or improving a page’s accessibility.
If you are not satisfied
Reply to our response and ask for a second review; it will be looked at again and we will give you a final answer. You can also contact an outside body:
- For privacy concerns, your state’s attorney general (California residents can also contact the California Privacy Protection Agency (external site)).
- For unfair or deceptive practices, the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (external site).
Complaints about an appointment itself — for example at a government office or a business — need to go to that organization; we have no role in its decisions.