Created: 3/8/2010 1:07:39 PM 
Raleigh, NC -- A total of 22,665 consumers filed complaints with the Consumer Protection Division of Attorney General Roy Cooper's Office in 2009, an increase of nearly 19 percent over the previous year. Cooper encouraged consumers to learn about the top sources of complaints as a way to avoid costly problems.
"In this tough economy, people really want to make sure every dollar counts," Cooper said. "If you experience a scam or bad business deal, we want to hear from you. Even better, we'd like to help you avoid problems by learning to watch out for common consumer pitfalls."
For the fifth year in a row, health care complaints topped the list with 4,371 complaints, a slight increase over 2008. Complaints about lending, the second leading source of complaints, were up more than 1,000 compared to 2008. And at number three, telemarketing fraud increased by more than 2,400 complaints over the previous year.
"Hard times can be boom times for scammers, especially those promising help with debts, loan modifications and lower credit card rates. We're cracking down on these scams, but consumers have got to keep up their guard," Cooper warned.
Complaints about Do Not Call violators, collections and credit, health clubs, motor vehicles, home furnishings, telecommunications and home repair rounded out the top ten. Health club complaints made their way back into the top ten for the first time since 2005, likely due to an increase in gyms closing their doors.
- Health Care - 4,357
- Lending - 3,357
- Telemarketing Fraud - 3,008
- Do Not Call - 2,534
- Credit and Collections - 1,819
- Health Clubs & Gym Memberships - 1,720
- Motor Vehicles - 1,489
- Home Furnishings - 1,248
- Telecommunications - 942
- Home Repair - 769
Cooper offered the following tips to help North Carolinians avoid scams and bad deals:
- If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Say "no" to high-pressure sales pitches. If the offer is "only good today", walk away. Always read contracts carefully and never sign a document that you don't understand or that has blanks to be filled in later.
Be wary of unsolicited offers. Never give out your Social Security Number, credit card or bank account number or other personal information to anyone you don't know who calls or emails you. - North Carolina law makes it illegal to collect advance fees for some types of work, such as foreclosure assistance and debt settlement help. If an advance payment is required for other kinds of transactions, use a credit card if possible. This gives you some protection if your order doesn't arrive.
- Do business with companies you know or which are recommended to you. Check companies out with the Attorney General's Office or the Better Business Bureau before making major purchases.
- Join the Do Not Call registry to cut down on unwanted telemarketing calls. To sign up, call 1-888-382-1222 from the number you wish to register or by visit www.donotcall.gov. Once you're on the list, report Do No Call violators to the Attorney General's Office.
- To protect yourself from identity theft, check your credit report regularly. You're entitled to one free credit report per year from each nationwide credit bureau. To access your free credit reports, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.
- Cooper encourages consumers to visit www.ncdoj.gov for more consumer tips and tools. He shared the information about top complaint sources as part of National Consumer Protection Week, which this year focuses on educating consumers of all ages.
- North Carolina consumers who have a problem with a business can file a complaint with the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. To file a complaint, call 1-877-5-NO-SCAM toll-free within North Carolina or submit a complaint online. Once a consumer files a written complaint, our office can try to help resolve the situation. In cases where there is a pattern of illegal business practices, the Attorney General may also take action to enforce the law on behalf of all North Carolina consumers.
