Walmart Hotline – How to File a Complaint to Walmart and Consumer Protection Authority?

Walmart Inc. is a multinational retail corporation, headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas in the United States. The company operates a chain of hypermarkets, e-commerce marketplace, discount department stores and grocery stores. Founded in 1962, Walmart is Walmart operates various stores and clubs in 24 countries under Walmart and its subsidiaries such as Sam’s Club, Neighborhood Market, MoneyCenter, and others.

Walmart stores are located in 54 states and territories in the United States, most Walmart stores are located in Texas, with only four regions without any Walmart stores in the USA: American Samoa, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands.

Walmart e-commerce services in the USA:

• Walmart.com: Walmart’s online store for groceries, electronics, clothing, home goods, and many more.
• E-commerce: Services such as checkout, delivery, curbside pickup, and fulfilment.
• Walmart Grocery: A grocery pickup and delivery service
• Walmart Marketplace: An online marketplace where third-party sellers can sell products.
• Walmart Pay: To pay for purchases in Walmart stores and online platforms.
• Walmart Stores: Physical retail stores such as Supercenters, Discount Stores, Neighborhood Markets, or Sam’s Club.

Want to register a complaint with Walmart? To address the issue, reach out to Walmart’s customer service support through the helpline, email, or live chat. If not resolved, escalate the complaint to a senior customer representative.

Still not resolved? Consider filing an informal complaint with the Consumer Protection Forum (Bureau of Consumer Protection). Additionally, you have the option to start an arbitration or take legal action for potential violations of consumer rights and breaches of trade laws.

How to File a Complaint of Walmart?

Customers of Walmart or its seller partner can use the 3 tiered dispute resolution mechanism.

Levels of Complaint Resolution:

• Level 1: Customer Service, Walmart
  • Customer Care Number (If available)
  • Email
  • Chat Support
  • Online Complaint Form
• Level 2: Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC
• Level 3: Take Legal Action
  • Notice of Dispute
  • Arbitration
  • Small Claims Court

Level 1: Customer Service, Walmart

To connect with a customer care representative at Walmart, please note that Walmart may not provide a direct customer service number. When reaching out to a representative through chat support, email, or other channels, ensure you provide the following details for effective support:

• Name of the Consumer
• Product Details and Order ID
• Nature of complaint
• Issues related to product/service: Such as delivery, product quality, billing concerns (payments, refunds, or cancellations), or any other concerns.
• Supporting documents: such as supporting screenshots, photos of damaged/wrong products, or billing documents.Contact Method (only if required): Preferred method of contact, email or a call request for the representative to reach you.

Must note down the assigned ticket number to track the status or escalate the case to the Head of Customer Service.

Walmart Customer Service Number

Customer Service Number (Helpline) and E-mail details of Walmart:

Still, dissatisfied with the response? Request to escalate the matter to senior representatives.

File a Complaint Online

Details to file an online complaint to Walmart Customer Representative:

Tip: Use only the official Walmart App or communication method; Don’t share any personal/banking information; Protect yourself from scams.

Note: If the complaints related to medicines or pharma are not resolved by Walmart, you may file an online civil rights complaint against Walmart with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Mail a written complaint or call HHS for OCR at:

Procedure

Follow these steps to complain online with Walmart:

• Visit the link contact “Walmart customer help“
• Select the category of the issue
• Click “Chat with us”
• Login (if not logged)
• Select the order.
• Click “Contact Us”
• Choose a mode of communication: “Request a phone call” or “Chat with us”.

Report Intellectual Property Infringement

If you have concerns related to the infringement of intellectual property such as IPR, copyright, trademark/counterfeit, or patent, you can file a report for making claims of intellectual property infringement to Walmart.

Required information for addressing a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown notice to Walmart:

• Contact Information
• URL or Identifying Information
• Statement Under Penalty of Perjury
• Consent to Jurisdiction: A statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of the Federal District Court for the judicial district in which your address is located.
• Physical or Electronic Signature

Sent the notice letter by postal mail or Email to Walmart IPR Department at:

Address: IPR Department
Walmart.com; 850 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066.
Email: ipinvest@walmart.com.

Level 2: Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC

Want to raise concerns about the violation of consumer rights or substandard consumer products at Walmart? Address consumer disputes through arbitration or filing a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP) at the Federal Trade Commission.

Additionally, in the case of California, you may complain to the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

When doing so, ensure to include detailed information about the product and service:

1. Product Details: Product standard number, Company name, and Manufacturer Details
2. Walmart Order Details: If the product was purchased through Walmart, provide relevant order details.
3. Service Charges or Fees: Any concerns regarding higher service charges or fees associated with the product or service.
4. Additional Details: Include supporting details such as photos of the products, billing details (payments), and any information related to previously unsatisfactory resolutions by the company.
5. Expected Claim or Compensation: State the amount of claim or compensation you expect, providing a basis for the resolution sought.

Click: File a consumer complaint to the National Consumer Authority

1. Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP):

2. California Department of Consumer Affairs:

3. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office:

If the complaints related to medicines or pharma are not resolved by Walmart, you may file an online civil rights complaint against Walmart with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Mail a written complaint or call HHS for OCR at:

Level 3: Take Legal Action

If your complaint lodged with Walmart remains unresolved after 30 days, even after an informal resolution attempt, you have the option to pursue further action within 6 months of the company’s final response.

These steps aim to protect your rights and enable the process of fair services and potential financial reimbursement from Walmart Inc.

1. Submit a Notice of Dispute

To address issues with Walmart, initiate the resolution process by sending a Notice of Dispute to Walmart’s legal department. The resolution process typically takes a maximum of 60 days, aiming for a final agreement.

When filing a Notice of Dispute with Walmart, include:

1. Name of the Walmart Account Holder
2. Order Number or Transaction Reference
3. Description of the problem
4. Relevant documents
5. Claim of damage or monetary loss
6. Statement of relief

Details of the Walmart Legal Department:

Postal Mail: Walmart Inc. Legal Department, 702 SW 8th Street, Mailstop 0215, Bentonville, AR 72716.
Email: ipinvest@walmart.com (for IP infringements)

2. Start Arbitration or Take Small Claims Action

I. Arbitration with AAA:

To initiate arbitration with Walmart, you can either complete the online form on adr.org or send a letter by mail following the guidelines of the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Must send a copy of the notice to Walmart’s legal department to initiate the mediation process.

Details to Start an Arbitration with AAA:

II. Small Claims Court:

In the United States, if dissatisfied with the resolution of the dispute with Walmart, opt for Small Claims Court instead of arbitration, by relevant regulations. Seeking advice from legal experts or consulting with the National Association of Attorney Generals (NAAG) is recommended, and in certain situations, legal representation may be necessary for the Small Claims Court process.

3. Approach Federal District Court

Finally, if you are dissatisfied with Walmart or the above resolutions, you have the option to take legal action in the Federal District Court, although there may be associated fees. If you choose this path, it is essential to have legal representation or advocate.

Must consult with a legal expert before pursuing any legal action against Walmart for informed decision-making.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I contact Walmart’s customer care for assistance?
A. You can reach out to Walmart’s customer care through various channels, including chat support, email, or by filling out an online complaint form. While Walmart may not provide a direct customer service number, alternative methods are available.

2. Where should I complain about the consumer services of Walmart?
A. Raise your concerns to the Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP) at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If your issues related to the violation of consumer rights are not resolved by Walmart, the BCP offers a secondary avenue for addressing consumer disputes.

3. What steps can I take if my complaints with Walmart are still unresolved?
A. If your concerns persist, you may take legal action. This includes submitting a Notice of Dispute, engaging in arbitration, or pursuing resolution through Small Claims Court, depending on the nature of your complaint.

4. How can I address concerns about consumer rights or substandard products at Walmart?
A. To address such concerns, you can choose to initiate arbitration or file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection (BCP) at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). These avenues are designed to address issues related to consumer rights and product quality.

5. What should I do if my complaints involve medicines or pharmaceutical products purchased from Walmart?
A. If your complaints pertain to medicines or pharmaceuticals and remain unresolved through Walmart, you may file an online civil rights complaint against Walmart with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Reference

• About Walmart (walmart.com)
• Walmart Marketplace (walmart.com)
• Terms of Use  (walmart.com)