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How do you file a complaint against a contractor in Louisiana?

Use the complaint form of the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, online or on paper, and enclose copies of your contract, cancelled checks or receipts and invoices. For unfair or deceptive business practices, you can also file a consumer dispute with the Louisiana Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section.

Source: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, Consumers page, read 22 October 2026.
Source: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, Consumer Complaint Form (PDF), read 22 October 2026.
Source: Louisiana Attorney General, Consumer Dispute page, read 22 October 2026.

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By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. Sources read: 22 October 2026 Updated 2026-10-22

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Key facts

Where do you file a complaint with Louisiana's contractor board?

File it once, either through the board's online complaint process or on its printable form, and not both. The board's consumer page, read 22 October 2026, links to both versions, and the online process's own warning about paper complaints is quoted below.

Source: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, Consumers page, read 22 October 2026.
Source: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, File A New Complaint (online complaint process), read 22 October 2026.

The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors lists two links on its consumer page: "File a Complaint Against a Contractor (online)" and "File a Complaint Against a Contractor (PDF)".

Source: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, Consumers page, read 22 October 2026.

The board's online complaint page, read 22 October 2026, says: "Please use this complaint entry process for your use in registering a New complaint." It also says, in capitals: "DO NOT FILE AN ELECTRONIC COMPLAINT IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED A PAPER COMPLAINT TO THE BOARD’S OFFICE BY MAIL OR E-MAIL." and "DO NOT USE THIS FORM FOR SUBMITTING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR A COMPLAINT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN FILED."

Source: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, File A New Complaint (online complaint process), read 22 October 2026.

The printable form, read the same day, is addressed to the board with the line "Attention: Enforcement".

Source: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, Consumer Complaint Form (PDF), read 22 October 2026.

What should a Louisiana contractor complaint include?

Include who the contractor is, what went wrong in your own words, and copies of the papers behind the job. The board's online process and its printable form set out what to give, in the words quoted below.

Source: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, Consumer Complaint Form (PDF), read 22 October 2026.
Source: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, File A New Complaint (online complaint process), read 22 October 2026.

The online process, read 22 October 2026, lists these steps among others: "Identify whom the Complaint is against (the Contractor)", "Provide details about the Complaint" and "Provide documents to support your Complaint (optional)". The same page says: "Please provide all of the requested information and attach any other documents or information you feel are relevant to this matter."

Source: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, File A New Complaint (online complaint process), read 22 October 2026.

The board's printable consumer complaint form, read 22 October 2026, has a box headed "Detailed Explanation of Complaint (Attach additional pages if necessary):" and a line for "Name of Salesperson(s):". Under it, the form says: "Enclose the Following: Copy of Contract(s)/Proposal(s), Cancelled Checks/Receipts, Invoices, Advertising".

Source: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, Consumer Complaint Form (PDF), read 22 October 2026.

Which contractor conduct does Louisiana law let the board act on?

Louisiana's contractor law, La. R.S. 37:2158, names the actions the board may take and lists the violations they apply to. The opening of subsection A and three items from its list are quoted below in their own words.

Source: La. R.S. 37:2158, Louisiana State Legislature, read 22 October 2026.

La. R.S. 37:2158(A), on the Louisiana Legislature's site, read 22 October 2026, says: "The board and residential subcommittee may revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew a license; issue cease and desist orders to stop work; issue fines and penalties;"

Source: La. R.S. 37:2158, Louisiana State Legislature, read 22 October 2026.

Three items from its list of violations read: "(16) Abandoning or failing to perform, without justification, any contract or project engaged in or undertaken by any licensee or deviating from or disregarding plans or specifications in any material respect without the consent of the owner and the design professional." "(17) Efforts to deceive or defraud the public." "(20) Failure to have a written contract signed and dated by all parties."

Source: La. R.S. 37:2158, Louisiana State Legislature, read 22 October 2026.

In our reading, a complaint is easier to act on when it points to the item in that list the facts fit, such as a job left unfinished or work done without a signed and dated contract. None of the passages quoted here promises a particular result to the person who complains, and nothing on this page is legal advice.

When does the Attorney General's office take a contractor dispute?

When the problem is an unfair or deceptive business practice, the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section takes a consumer dispute. Its page, read 22 October 2026, sets out what it handles, what it may do with a dispute, and two limits; each is quoted below in its own words.

Source: Louisiana Attorney General, Consumer Dispute page, read 22 October 2026.

The Attorney General's consumer dispute page says: "If you experience unfair or deceptive business practices, please file a consumer dispute." It adds: "We address matters concerning civil unfair trade practices and consumer protection." On how to file: "You may file an online consumer dispute form or download the printable consumer dispute form from the bottom of the page."

Source: Louisiana Attorney General, Consumer Dispute page, read 22 October 2026.

On what happens next, the page says: "Depending on the nature of the dispute, we may refer the issue to another agency, or in an effort to assist in its resolution, we may forward a copy of the consumer dispute form, including any documents you provide, to the company complained about and ask for a response. If so, we will review the response and send a copy to you."

Source: Louisiana Attorney General, Consumer Dispute page, read 22 October 2026.

It also sets two limits: "We cannot act as your attorney, a court of law, or your legal advisor. If you need legal assistance, we recommend that you consult a private attorney or legal aid organization." And: "If you have a complaint about criminal conduct, such as fraud, we recommend that you contact local law enforcement agencies, which have jurisdiction over criminal activity."

Source: Louisiana Attorney General, Consumer Dispute page, read 22 October 2026.

The Attorney General's printable dispute form, read the same day, says: "IMPORTANT: Enclose copies of all documents relevant to your dispute including advertising material, contracts, warranties, receipts, canceled checks, etc." It asks: "What would satisfy your dispute?" It also warns: "Do not include personal or sensitive information such as health or medical history, date of birth, or driver license, social security, financial account or credit/debit card numbers on this form."

Source: Louisiana Attorney General, Consumer Dispute Form (PDF), read 22 October 2026.

How should you get your papers ready before you file?

Build one folder for the job before you fill in any form, so the board, the Attorney General's office or a lawyer can each see the same record in the same order. This is practical reasoning, not legal advice and not a finding from any agency.

  1. Put the contract or written proposal first, then every change order, so the reader sees what was agreed before what changed.
  2. List each payment by date and method, with a copy of the cancelled check or receipt beside it. Black out account numbers on the copies.
  3. Write a short timeline of what happened, one dated line per event: when work started, when it stopped, and each time you asked for it to be finished or fixed.
  4. Add dated photos of the work as it stands, and copies of texts, emails and letters with the contractor.
  5. Decide what you are asking for, such as the work finished, a defect repaired or money returned, and say it in one sentence. The Attorney General's form asks this question directly: "What would satisfy your dispute?"

    Source: Louisiana Attorney General, Consumer Dispute Form (PDF), read 22 October 2026.

  6. Keep a copy of everything you send, and note the date you sent it and to which office.

Who sees your contact details when you post on InstaBids?

Contact details stay hidden until the homeowner picks a contractor and they confirm the connection.

Source: InstaBids process and privacy, live-page excerpts, read 22 October 2026.

Post your job on InstaBids, and contractors can bid in writing on one written scope.

Homeowners anywhere in the US can post a job; once you send it, InstaBids finds contractors to bid on it.

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