Top 10 consumer complaints

By Julianne Pepitone, staff reporter


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Landlords who won't exterminate roach-infested apartments. Debt collectors' harassing phone calls. Companies that sell timeshares for a fee -- then disappear with the money.

These are just a few of consumers' biggest complaints, according to a survey released Tuesday by the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators and the Consumer Federation of America. To come up with their data, the two groups polled state and local consumer protection agencies.

Here's the list of the top 10 areas that generated the most consumer complaints last year.

No. 1: Autos. Car-related complaints were also the No. 1 spot in 2008. Among the frustrations: misrepresenting vehicles for sale; lemons; faulty repairs; leasing and towing disputes.

No. 2: Credit/Debt. Billing and fee disputes; mortgage-related fraud; credit repair; debt-relief services; predatory lending; illegal or abusive debt collection tactics.

No. 3: Home improvement/Construction. Shoddy work; failure to start or complete the job.

No. 4: Utilities. Service problems or billing disputes with phone, cable, satellite, Internet, electric and gas services.

No. 5: Retail sales. False advertising and other deceptive practices; defective merchandise; problems with rebates, coupons, gift cards and gift certificates; failure to deliver.

No. 6: Services. Misrepresentations; shoddy work; failure to have required licenses; failure to perform.

No. 7: Internet sales. Misrepresentations or other deceptive practice; failure to deliver online purchases.

No. 8: Household goods. Misrepresentations; failure to deliver; faulty repairs in connection with furniture or appliances.

No. 9 (tie): Landlord/Tenant. Unhealthy or unsafe conditions; failure to make repairs or provide promised amenities; deposit and rent disputes; illegal eviction tactics.

No. 9 (tie): Home solicitations. Misrepresentations or failure to deliver in door-to-door, telemarketing or mail solicitations; do-not-call violations.

No. 10: Health products/services. Misleading claims; unlicensed practitioners; failure to deliver.

We want to hear about your consumer complaints. E-mail your story to julianne.pepitone@turner.com and you could be part of an upcoming article. For the CNNMoney.com Comment Policy, click here. To top of page

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