Where to complain about a tree company: what two licensing boards and two consumer offices say
The California Contractors State License Board, NSW Fair Trading and GOV.UK each publish where a customer takes a complaint about a tradesperson. This page reports what they say, plus what New Jersey's Board of Tree Experts tells consumers, and which office handles what.
This page is for tree owners. It reports what the named sources say and is not advice about your tree: for that, ask a qualified arborist or one of the offices under Who to call.
Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 9, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.
This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It does not say whether any company has done anything wrong or whether any complaint will succeed. Each office decides that for itself, and the offices below cover only their own state or country.
What each office says
| Place | Office | What its page says |
|---|---|---|
| California, United States | Contractors State License Board (CSLB) | Its complaint process page says complaints involving a threat to public health and safety get the highest priority, and every written complaint is reviewed to see whether it falls within the board's jurisdiction. The board confirms receipt in writing and sends a notice to the contractor encouraging a settlement without the board. It says it cannot guarantee that a complainant will get any money back. |
| New South Wales, Australia | NSW Fair Trading | Its complaints page sends a customer to a "products and services" route, and points building and renovation complaints to Building Commission NSW. It also publishes a Complaints Register of businesses that had 10 or more complaints lodged against them in one calendar month, and a list of public warnings about unfair business practices. |
| England and Wales | Citizens Advice, through GOV.UK | The GOV.UK consumer rights page lists building work and rogue traders among the problems for which a helpline can give advice. It says the helpline can pass a complaint to local Trading Standards, who may investigate, and can share complaint details with national enforcement bodies. |
| Scotland | Advice Direct Scotland, through GOV.UK | The same GOV.UK page names it as the contact for consumer protection advice in Scotland. |
| Northern Ireland | Consumerline, through GOV.UK | The same GOV.UK page names it as the contact for consumer protection advice in Northern Ireland. |
| New Jersey, United States | Board of Tree Experts | Its filing a complaint page says complaints can be made against a tree care business, registered or not, or against a licensee, using the board's complaint forms. It says the board sends the business or licensee a copy by certified mail and requires a written response within one month, and that the outcome can be no action, suspension of up to two years or revocation. It says the matter may take several months and that the board can act formally only where it finds a violation of state laws or regulations. Its separate consumer page says tree care businesses must be registered with the board and employ a licensed individual. |
The California process in more detail
The CSLB page Complaint Process Against Licensed Contractors describes these stages after the first review.
- Mediation: the board may ask for more information and then contact the complainant and the contractor to try to settle the dispute.
- Small claims and license bond claims: where mediation fails, the contractor has no history of repeated acts and the estimated financial injury is under US$12,500, the board may give information on small claims court and the contractor's license bond. The page says claims against a bond go to the surety company, not the board.
- Investigation: a complaint needing it goes to one of the board's investigative centers, which look for clear and convincing evidence of a violation of the license law.
- Arbitration: the board runs a mandatory program for alleged damages of US$25,000 or less and a voluntary one for damages between US$25,000 and US$50,000, with stringent criteria for referral.
- Discipline: violations may lead to a citation or charges, with civil penalties of up to US$30,000 depending on the violation, and the page says the state Attorney General represents the board, not the complainant.
What the sources do not cover
The pages above come from three offices and a state board. Other states, provinces and countries have their own contractor boards and consumer offices that this page has not read. The site's guide on contractor licences for tree work lists licensing boards, and the guide on checking a company reports what the sources say to look up before work starts. The guide on hiring an arborist reports what the trade bodies say to look for.
Who to call
- California Contractors State License Board: complaints about licensed contractors in California
- NSW Fair Trading: complaints about products and services in New South Wales
- GOV.UK consumer rights: the helplines for consumer problems in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
- New Jersey Board of Tree Experts: complaints about tree care businesses and licensees in New Jersey
- Contractor licences for tree work: the licensing boards the site lists for other places
Sources
- California Contractors State License Board, Complaint Process Against Licensed Contractors, read October 9, 2026
- NSW Fair Trading, Fair Trading complaints and enquiries, read October 9, 2026
- GOV.UK, Consumer rights, read October 9, 2026
- New Jersey Board of Tree Experts, Filing a Complaint, read October 9, 2026
- New Jersey Board of Tree Experts, What Consumers Should Look For, read October 9, 2026