MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – The numbers of Wisconsinites complaining about various products and services jumped by more than 10 percent last year.
The state Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection received over 11,500 complaints during 2014. About 1 of every 5 of those calls involved telemarketers who violated the do-not-call list, and scammers who claimed they were people like IRS agents and computer tech support personnel.
Landlord-tenant disputes were second, followed by telecommunications service problems — which had the biggest increase in complaints at 31 percent. Identity theft was the 4th most common consumer problem followed by fuel and heating issues, home improvement issues, gas pump inaccuracies, vehicle repairs, computers and equipment, and contests that went awry.
Meanwhile, the state’s chapter of the Better Business Bureau said it also received about 11,000 consumer complaints in 2014. Department store problems made up just over 7 percent of the complaints followed by new car issues, mail order and catalog problems, retail furniture, and building materials.
The BBB said it obtained responses from affected businesses for 85 percent of the total complaints.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)