10. Fraud (tie)
Beware bogus sweepstakes and lotteries, work-at-home schemes, fake-check scams and other types of common fraud. In this Monday, June 11, 2012 photo, Assistant Attorney General David Kirkman holds checks of the type often received by targets in his Raleigh, N.C., office.
(AP FILE Photo/Allen Breed)
AP FILE Photo/Allen Breed
10. Internet sales (tie)
Consumers may be getting more web-savvy. Complaints involving internet sales — including deceptive sales practices and failing to deliver online purchases — fell slightly last year.
(Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
9. Health products/services
Too good to be true? Consumers filed complaints with state and local agencies citing misleading claims, unlicensed practitioners and failing to deliver.
(Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
8. Household goods
Stiffed by your blender repairman? Complaints about household goods were on the rise last year and include misrepresenting services, failing to deliver and faulty repairs in connection with furniture and appliances.
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images
7. Landlord/tenant
Renters reported their landlords for unhealthy or unsafe conditions, failing to make repairs or provide amenities and over rent disputes and illegal eviction tactics.
(Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
6. Services
This catch-all category in the consumer survey included misrepresentations, shoddy work, service providers who lacked the proper licenses and a failure to perform work.
(Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
5. Retail services
Shoppers flagged false advertising and other deceptive retail practices, damaged or defective merchandise, and hassles over coupons, rebates and gift cards.
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
4. Credit/debt
Many consumers had a bone to pick with their credit card companies over billing and fee disputes, predatory lending, mortgage modifications and abusive debt collection tactics.
(AP FILE Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
AP FILE Photo/Martin Meissner, File
3. Utilities
It’s no secret many consumers are fed up with super-slow internet service or expensive charges mysteriously showing up on their cellphone bill. Complaints about utilities, such as phone, cable, electric and gas services, climbed up last year, according to the survey.
(Thinkstock)
Thinkstock
2. Home improvement/construction
Stuck with shoddy work or a contractor who never completed — or even started — a job? You’re not alone. State and local agencies received the second highest number of complaints about home improvement and construction services.
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
AP Photo/John Bazemore
1. Auto
Complaints dealing with automobiles topped the list — as they have for the past five years. These types of complaints include everything from misrepresentations in advertising and sales to faulty repairs and towing disputes.
(AP FILE Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
WASHINGTON — Gripes over cars that turn out to be clunkers, shoddy home improvement projects and billing disputes with utility companies topped the annual list of the most common consumer complaints filed with state and local consumer protection agencies.
Meanwhile, scams involving fraudsters posing as Internal Revenue Service agents or your utility company were among the fastest-growing complaints last year, according to the new survey, released Wednesday by the Consumer Federation of America and the North American Consumer Protection Investigators organization.
The survey included statistics from 33 consumer agencies from 21 states. Those agencies received more than 200,000 complaints last year.
Also, the report includes new types of complaints flagged by state and local consumer agencies, including the use of iTunes gift cards by fraudsters as a method of payment and crowdfunding investments that failed to pan out.
Jack Moore joined WTOP.com as a digital writer/editor in July 2016. Previous to his current role, he covered federal government management and technology as the news editor at Nextgov.com, part of Government Executive Media Group.
