Phone issues top complaint list

Nixon’s Consumer Protection Division received 88,993 consumer complaint calls, letters and e-mails in 2005, according to a Dec. 27 news release. Telephone billing, cramming and slamming complaints accounted for 1,428 of that total. Unsolicited faxes, with 1,265 complaints, and home repair and remodeling scams, at 1,153, also continued to be major areas of concern for consumers in Missouri.

“We want to continue to get the message out that consumers in Missouri should contact my office if they have a problem with the sale of goods or services that they’re not able to resolve on their own,” Nixon said in the release.

“Whether it’s through mediating a dispute or taking legal action if it becomes necessary, we’ll continue to stick up for Missouri consumers.”

Consumers can contact the Consumer Protection Division through the toll-free hotline at 1-800-392-8222 or they can download a complaint form at www.ago.mo.gov.