Top consumer complaints of 2006
Health care most miffed the state's consumers last year, according to a list released today by the N.C. Attorney General's office.
More than 5,000 consumers filed complaints with the AG's consumer protection office last year about health insurance, doctors, dentists, hospitals, pharmacies, nursing homes, health products and services. That was more than double the number of consumers who complaints about the second worst offender on the AG's list: Telemarketers.
Also notable among the top 10 are lenders and creditors, debt collectors and identity thieves, home furnishing businesses and contractors.
Here's the breakdown of the AG's top 10 list for offenders in 2006:
1. Health Care: Saw 5,035 complaints.
2. Do Not Call/Telemarketing: Saw 2,025 complaints, many about unwanted calls or faxes pitching vacations, satellite TV service, debt consolidation and mortgage loans.
3. Lending/Credit: 1,985 complaints, including woes about mortgage lenders, banks, payday lenders, credit unions, pawn brokers and refund anticipation loans.
4. Debt Collection and Identity Theft: 1,599 complaints, often about threatening or frequent calls from collectors.
5. Home Furnishings: 1,342 complaints, many from out-of-state consumers who placed phone orders for furniture with N.C. retailers, a number of which went belly up without filling orders.
6. Motor Vehicles: 1,282 complaints about car repair, towing and car purchases.
7. Telecommunications: 1,199 complaints about phones and other communication devices - mostly cell phones.
8. Telemarketing Fraud: 1,175 complaints about scams involving fake lottery tickets, loans, grants and sweepstakes.
9. Home Repair and Construction: 853 complaints about contractors and scammers.
10. Internet Service and Sales: 779 complaints, many about problems with billing for Internet service.