city_hall

Official websites use .boston.gov

A .boston.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the City of Boston.

lock

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Social Media Survey
/
We want to better understand where folks in the City of Boston are finding news and information through social media. To help with this effort, please take our quick survey today:
Try AI Search Through our AI search, you can quickly find semantic answers to your questions related to Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion services.
Last updated:

Our work at Consumer Affairs and Licensing

Find out how our division protects your rights as a consumer.

Toggle
Page Sections

We oversee the interaction between companies and consumers in the City. Through our work with the Massachusetts attorney general’s office, we also educate the public about their rights as customers.

We handle complaints against businesses inside and outside of Boston and try to resolve complaints before they end up in court. If you do take legal action, we can tell you about different services to help you resolve your issue. In some cases, we may even be able to act as a mediator.

Have a Complaint?

You have rights as a consumer. If you feel those rights have been violated, we can help. Please call us at 617-635-3834 if:

  • you feel a business was unfair to you and you couldn’t resolve the issue
  • you want to know how to get a business to respond to you, or
  • you want help, more information, or copies of our educational pamphlets.

If you want, you can also file a formal complaint against a business.

Know Your Rights as a Consumer

Our division works on a number of consumer problems, including issues with cars, homes, and banks. We also offer tips for dealing with businesses on these issues:

Entertainment Licensing

A company needs to get an entertainment license for certain activities. With the licenses, we can make sure businesses meet our safety standards and are fair to consumers. Our division processes new licenses and renewals, inspects events, and handles violations.

We license:

  • live entertainment, like restaurant and nightclub events
  • non-live entertainment, like jukeboxes and arcades, and
  • one-time events, like carnivals and exhibitions.

Learn more about the different types of entertainment licenses, and how to get one.

Provide Your Feedback
Back to top