The Virginia Consumer is a Virginia-based nonprofit dedicated to strengthening consumer rights and maintaining a permanent record so individuals can make informed purchasing and investment decisions that protect and serve their best interests.

To educate consumers on their rights, the risks involved, and the rules that govern Virginia.

To maintain an independent, publicly searchable record of conduct, including violations, complaints, and relevant associations, free from industry or lobbying influence.

To advocate for common-sense protections, reasonable accountability, and restitution for consumers who have been wronged.

‍The Virginia Consumer traces its origins to Martin and Andrea Driffill’s experiences in Chesterfield County, Virginia. In 2020 they contracted Covenant Building and Design to construct a new Midlothian home. The project suffered missed deadlines, unperformed repairs, system failures, mold remediation, unauthorized material downgrades, and unlicensed contracting, worsened by legal and regulatory abuse involving attorneys, legislators, regulators, and developers. When the Driffills sought accountability, they were ignored and flagged on a constituent tracking list. The case illustrates a broader system favoring low regulation for alleged economic benefit, fueling homeowner losses—millions per DPOR—with JLARC highlighting regulatory failures in 2018. Upgrades were abandoned in 2024; 2025 audits found outdated systems and poor data practices.

The Virginia Consumer is not anti-business; sustainable investment depends on trust built through accountability. When systemic failures go unaddressed, consumer confidence erodes and responsible businesses suffer. It is not anti-contractor: ethical contractors benefit from a marketplace that shields consumers from bad actors who underbid, miss contracts, or employ unlicensed labor. Transparency rewards professionalism. It does not seek excessive regulation; it aims to uphold the rule of law, equal justice, and prevent accountability evasion through shielding or loopholes. It does not replace government agencies but acts as an advocate and information resource. Its core is protections and record of contractor conduct.