2007 Top 5 Consumer Complaints in MD
We told you this already, but I figured it's worth a reminder that it's National Consumer Protection Week. If you haven't already started, do yourself a favor by vowing to be more vigilant about researching businesses you choose to do business with, reading contracts you sign with a thorough eye and managing your finances more carefully.
Failure to do so, of course, can land you in hot water. Take it from someone who knows: The Maryland Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division (CPD), which was able to acquire more than $4 million for consumer reimbursements and received 15,661 complaints last year. They've helped a whole lot of people who have encountered problems with businesses!
Here are the top five consumer complaints filed last year with the AG's Office:
Landlord/Property Management - 629 complaints (3.8%) were filed on landlords and property managers. Tenant issues varied from landlords failing to return security deposits to not providing a habitable place to live. Add to those gripes, lack of maintenance and excessive damages deducted from deposits, too.
Auto Repair - 628 complaints (3.8%) concerned consumer experiences on auto repair. The most common were unsatisfactory workmanship, misdiagnosis of services needed and cars that were damaged or not returned while being held for service. Other top issues were failure to honor express warranty and billed for goods/services not requested or received. (I just want to point out that those young mechanics in that photo haven't done anything wrong. They're just a visual prop!)
General Merchandise - 572 complaints (3.5%) from Marylanders were on general merchandise issues. Failure to deliver any goods or provide any services was the top complaint in this category. Billed for goods/services not requested or received came in second and other complaints varied from failure to honor refund requests to price gouging.
Used Auto Dealer - 516 consumers (3.1%) filed complaints on their experiences while buying a used car. Defective/damaged goods, failure to honor implied warranty of merchantability, misrepresentation of material fact and omission of material facts were all major concerns.
Collection Agencies - 474 Marylanders (2.9%) complained about collection agency practices. Consumers often complained of collection agencies attempting to collect debt not owed and inaccurate information reported to credit reporting agencies.
Anyone experiencing similar problems or who need help with a complaint should contact the AG. To read up on how to avoid some of these problems, check out the tips available on the AG's Web site.
Maryland consumers can file complaints through the CPD at (410) 528-8662 or toll-free in Maryland at 1-888-743-0023. You may also file your complaints online at www.oag.state.md.us/consumer/complaint.htm.
(Sun Photographer Lloyd Fox)
Comments
Clearly. Thanks!
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