Each year the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection publishes the top 10 complaints made by consumers from the previous year.
Division of Consumer Protection Director Michelle Reinen says the top complaint returns from 2018...telemarketing...
"...Not your traditional telemarketing sales calls.(Then) people would be violating the Do Not Call list. The calls consumers received in the last year were scam calls. Individuals or robocalls trying to rip consumers off...."
Number two is also close to home...
Coming in at number two we have landlord-tenant issues.
"A lot of these issues dealt with security deposit returns or why money is being withheld as well as some eviction issues. We have valuable resources for consumers to educate themselves on their rights and responsibilities as it relates to landlord-tenant relationships..."
The remaining 8 include telecommunication providers, home improvement, identity theft, motor vehicle repair, gas pumps, motor vehicle sales, and the quality of motor fuel.
In all, DATCP received 11,303 complaints to the Bureau of Consumer Protection and another 390 to the Bureau of Weights & Measures. The agency returned more than $4.6 million in funds to Wisconsin – the majority of which were returned to consumers in the form of mediated refunds, negotiated settlements or court-ordered repayments.
More information is at datcp.wi.gov or the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-422-7128.
