More Wisconsin consumers appeared to be having problems with various products and services. The state Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection says it received more than 11,500 complaints during 2014 — an increase of more than ten percent from the previous year.
About one in five of the calls received in 2014 dealt with telemarketers violating the Do-Not-Call list, along with scammers claiming to be with the IRS or a computer tech support specialist. Landlord-tenant disputes were second on the list of top ten complaints, followed by telecommunications service problems. Problems with telecommunications, which includes cable, phone, and cell phone services, also had the biggest single area increase, climbing 31 percent over the previous year.
Identity theft was the fourth most common consumer problem, followed by fuel and heating issues, home improvement issues, gas pump inaccuracies, vehicle repairs, computers and equipment, and issues with contests.