Violations of the states Do Not Call list by telemarketers continue to top the list of complaints at the state Division of Consumer Protection.
Consumers filed over 2,200 complaints about telemarketers in 2010. Division administrator Sandy Chalmers says it’s the main issue handled by the agency for the eighth year in a row on its annual top ten list of the consumer complaints.
Chalmers says its continued presence sends a clear signal that consumers are tired of the “unwanted and intrusive telemarketing calls.” She says the public is encouraged to report violations, which the agency does investigate. Consumers should try to note the phone number the call is coming from, along with the product or service they are attempting to sell.
Landlord-tenant issues again took the number two spot, with almost 1,700 complaints filed. Chalmers says most of those complaints deal with landlords holding back money from security deposits.
Issues with cable and phone bills came in at number three, with just over 1,400 complaints. Home improvement issues were at number four and problems with satellite dish services finished out the top five.
Rounding out the top ten were motor vehicle sales at number six, vehicle repair seventh, travel and tourism at eighth, mail order sales in ninth, and collection agency complaints in tenth place.