Tribal Consumer Protection · Est. 1994
What happened
to you?
We are patient. We have seen it before. Tell us in your own words — we will find the path forward together.
The path forward
What happens when
you reach out
You tell us
You sit down with one of our advocates — in person at the community center, over the phone, or through this page. No forms yet. No legal language. Just you, describing what happened in whatever words feel right. We write it down carefully. We have heard stories like yours before, and we are not surprised by any of them.
We investigate
Our team pulls the records — loan agreements, payment histories, dealer contracts, benefit assignment forms. We look for the signatures that were rushed, the fees that were buried, the terms that were never explained. Most predatory arrangements leave evidence. We know where to find it.
We fight
When we have the evidence, we file formal complaints with the CFPB, the FTC, state regulators, and tribal courts where jurisdiction applies. We write demand letters. We negotiate directly with lenders. We have recovered funds for families who believed they had no options. You are not alone in this room.
We teach so it never happens again
Every family who comes through our door gets a printed guide — plain language, large print, yours to keep. We run workshops in community halls every month. We train elders to recognize the warning signs. The goal is not just to recover what was taken. It is to make sure no one can take it again.
"The coffee is always on. The door is always open. We have been here since 1994 and we will be here tomorrow."
— Shield Tribal Consumer Protection Authority
Real families. Real outcomes.
What we have
been able to do
"They sat with me for two hours going through every statement. I had been paying that loan for three years and never touched the principal. They found the violations and got most of it back."
"The dealer added $4,000 in fees I never agreed to. Shield wrote the demand letter and the dealer settled within three weeks. I did not think anyone could do that."
"Someone came to my door offering cash against my pension. By the time I understood what I signed, I had already lost money. Shield found the contract violations and recovered most of it."
"A company was taking a cut of my disability payments every month. I thought it was legal. Shield showed me it was not, filed the complaint, and got the payments stopped."
"They called my family members. They called at midnight. Shield sent one letter and the calls stopped. Then they helped me understand my rights so I would know what to do next time."
"I did not know there were things in my mortgage that should not have been there. The Shield team found three separate violations. It took four months but we got the money back."
Stand with us
This work runs on
community trust
We take no government funding that comes with strings. Every dollar here stays in the community — in guides, in filings, in advocates who sit at the table with families.
Choose an amount
$100 Funds one full complaint investigation
Or enter a custom amount
Start here
Tell us what
happened
There is no wrong way to start. Write what you can. We will read every word and reach out within one business day.
Prefer to call?
Reach an advocate directly: (605) 555-0194 · Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm CT