How do I document a consumer complaint?

Keep the receipt, photos of the fault, all correspondence, and any promises made — with dates — so your claim for a refund, repair, or replacement is clear.

What should I keep for a consumer dispute?

The receipt or proof of purchase, the contract or warranty, dated photos, every message with the seller, and notes from any calls.

Can I take a consumer dispute to small claims court?

Often yes, up to your state's limit. A clear, dated record of the purchase, the fault, and your attempts to resolve it supports your claim.

When should I start documenting?

From the purchase, and especially at the first problem. A record kept from the start beats one assembled later.

buildmyevidence Start your record →

buildmyevidence · consumer

Document the consumer complaint. Build your case.

The receipt, the product, every message and promise — captured, dated, and kept in one place. The record that gets a refund, repair, or resolution.

Start your record See the free demo →

Case TimelineConsumer17 ENTRIES · TIMESTAMPED

Purchase & receipt savedJan 20, 2026 · 1:15 PM · $340 paid

Photo of the faultJan 28, 2026 · 6:00 PM · stopped working

Contacted seller — loggedFeb 2, 2026 · 10:00 AM · promised a refund

Complaint filedFeb 16, 2026 · 3:30 PM · no refund yet

Export complete case file → PDF

Is this you?

Is this happening to you?

You paid for something that didn't deliver, and now you're chasing it. If this is you:

A product that’s faulty, broken, or not as described
Service you paid for that never happened
A refund or warranty they keep dodging
Promises made at the sale, then denied
Calls and emails going in circles

A consumer complaint comes down to the receipt, the fault, and the dates. That's what this app helps you build.

How it works

Three simple steps.

Capture — Add the receipt, photos of the fault, and every message. Timestamped instantly.
Build — Everything lands on one dated timeline.
Export — One tap turns it into a complete record for the seller, a regulator, or small claims.

The demo

See the whole app for yourself.

No signup. No payment. Just open the free demo and see exactly how it works — about 60 seconds.

Try the free demo →

For consumer advocates & lawyers

A consumer case is only as strong as the receipt and the record.

Most people arrive with “they ripped me off” and a vague timeline. The ones who get resolution show up with the receipt, dated photos, and every message in order. You can't make the purchase for them. But you can point them somewhere that captures it.

What usually walks in

“They wouldn’t refund me”
Lost the receipt
Photos with no dates
Messages scattered

What buildmyevidence brings

Receipt and purchase, saved
Dated photos of the fault
Every message in order
Exported as a clean record

They arrive ready

The full record, not “I think”. Stronger from day one.

Evidence isn’t lost

Recommend it at the first sign of trouble.

Costs you nothing

No admin. Just point them to it.

See what your client would bring you →

Opens the free demo · no signup

If it's not documented, it's just your word.

Start building your record today — or see the free demo first.

Start your record See the free demo →

Private to you · export your case file anytime

Questions

Documenting a consumer complaint

How do I document a consumer complaint?: Keep the receipt, photos of the fault, all correspondence, and any promises made — with dates — so your claim for a refund, repair, or replacement is clear.
What should I keep for a consumer dispute?: The receipt or proof of purchase, the contract or warranty, dated photos, every message with the seller, and notes from any calls.
Can I take a consumer dispute to small claims court?: Often yes, up to your state's limit. A clear, dated record of the purchase, the fault, and your attempts to resolve it supports your claim.
When should I start documenting?: From the purchase, and especially at the first problem. A record kept from the start beats one assembled later.

Other situations

Dealing with more than one thing?

buildmyevidence works for any situation you need to prove. A few others:

Debt collection dispute /debt-collection-dispute Contractor dispute /contractor-dispute Medical billing dispute /medical-billing-dispute Identity theft /identity-theft

See all situations →