State and local agencies are the bedrock of the consumer protection system in the United States. Because of their accessibility, these are the agencies that consumers first turn to with their problems. They provide information about consumers’ legal rights and advice about how to resolve disputes. Unlike most federal agencies, state and local agencies often mediate individual complaints when consumers are unable to get satisfaction on their own. Some also provide help with business‐to‐business problems and complaints about government services. Since they are faced with a broad array of questions and complaints, the personnel at state and local agencies need to develop expertise on everything from auto repair to weight loss claims.