Section 240.210  Contents and Filing of a Complaint

a)         A complaint shall be filed on a form to be supplied by the Department.  A complaint should be in such detail as to substantially apprise the Department of the dates, locations and facts with respect to the alleged violation of the Act.  Each complaint shall contain the following information:

1)         the full name and address of the complainant;

2)         the full name and address of the contractor;

3)         a statement or reflection of the complainant's basis of knowledge of the essential facts constituting the alleged violation, including the dates and locations of the alleged violation and the nature of the contractor's business;

4)         the complainant's signature, including date of signing; and

5)         a statement as to any other action, civil or criminal, instituted by the complainant or that the complainant has knowledge of, in any other forum based on the same violation as alleged in the complaint, together with a statement as to the status or disposition of the other action.

b)         Complaints must be filed within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation.

c)         Any complaint that fails to meet the requirements set forth in subsection (a) of this Section may be accepted by the Department if it otherwise contains the information determined by the Department to be necessary for a proper investigation and review of the alleged violation contained in the complaint.

d)         All complaints should be filed with the Department's Springfield office and will be considered filed upon receipt.  Complaints shall not be accepted by facsimile or other electronic transmission.