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Attorney general lays out Top 10 consumer complaints, scams

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Attorney General Chris Koster recently released a list of the Top 10 consumer complaints and scams reported to his office in 2010.

The Top 10 consumer complaints and scams reported in 2010 to the attorney general office's Consumer Protection Hotline:

1. Debt collectors, 2,225 complaints. Consumers indicated they were harassed by debt collectors for debts they didn't owe; were contacted by debt collections agencies with abusive, threatening and repeated calls; and were called by debt collections companies after notifying the company to cease contact.

“Even though you may be responsible for the debt the collectors are calling about, there are federal laws governing just how far the debt collector can go,” Koster said in the release, pointing to a Federal Trade Commission frequently asked questions Web page concerning debt collections. “Your best protection against harassing and abusive calls from debt collectors is to know your rights."

2. Credit and debit card, 1,575 complaints. These complaints stem from individuals who have had unauthorized debits taken from their checking accounts or by access of their credit card information, which occur by telephone, e-mail or text messaging. In these cases, the attorney general's office advises consumers not to provide personal information to an unknown source.

3. Telephone cramming, 1,477 complaints. Cramming refers to charges to a phone bill for services that were not ordered. These charges are typically unwarranted and can be as small as $1 to $2 in an effort to go unnoticed. In addition to filing a complaint with the attorney general's office, consumers also can notify the Missouri Public Service Commission, which regulates the carriers.

4. Mortgage, foreclosure and loan modifications, 1,204 complaints. These types of complaints are made regarding banks or other loan providers, typically suggesting the provider requests paperwork already filed or that the provider fails to provide permanent solutions to temporary loan modifications.

5. Home repair and remodeling, 1,083 complaints. These types of scams involve people posing as repair contractors going door-to-door asking for money up front for home repairs, such as driveway, roof, chimney and remodeling work.

6. Lotteries and sweepstakes, 933 complaints. Scam artists, in these cases, will promise a sizable reward in return for payment on overpriced products or serves or contributions to bogus charities. Victims rarely receive the promised prize.

7. Preneed burial, funeral or cemetery plans, 887 complaints. Missouri law dictates that a funeral home is required to put 80 percent of the purchase price of a preneed services plan into a trust fund accessible only to cover funeral expenses. The Missouri attorney general pursues companies that do not properly handle money paid to them by consumers in these cases.

8. Cable and satellite services, 864 complaints. These types of complaints involve faulty installations, price discrepancies and loss of free programming or channels in which consumers purchased packages, such as for professional sports programming. The Missouri attorney general's office pursued Dish Network and DirecTV in 2010.

9. Automobile repair, 644 complaints. These consumer complaints involve mechanics convincing car owners that unnecessary repairs are needed. The attorney general's Know MO service can be used to look up complaints the office has received on businesses.

10. Automobile warranty or service contracts, 624 complaints. Complaints in this bracket - typically involving misleading purchases made through telemarketers - dropped to No. 10 on the list after being No. 1 on the 2009 list. The attorney general's office attributes the reduction to the creation of the office's Auto Service Contract Task Force - created to pursue and prosecute marketers and sellers of false contracts.

Complaints can be filed to the attorney general office's Consumer Protection Hotline, (800) 392-8222, which helps the office investigate scams and take necessary action, according to a news release.[[In-content Ad]]

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