Posted: 03.11.2010

Violations of the No-Call law continue to be the #1 consumer complaint on Wisconsin ’s Top 10 list, a position they have held since the law was enacted in 2003.  Consumers filed 2,187 complaints about No Call in 2009.  

“Consumers closely guard their right to say no to telemarketing. The No Call list currently contains more than 2 million numbers, almost half of which are cell phone numbers,” says Secretary Rod Nilsestuen of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).  

Landlord/tenant issues are #2 with 1,650 complaints.  Security deposit issues and impermissible lease provisions make up the largest portion of these complaints.  

Telecommunications is #3 with 1,434 complaints.  “Make sure you look at your phone bill carefully and question any charge you don’t understand,” says Janet Jenkins, Administrator of DATCP’s Division of Trade and Consumer Protection.  

Issues with satellite dish services make the list for the second year in a row, moving up to #4 with 1,259 complaints.  Bill ing issues and misrepresentations about cost are the primary problems reported.  

Home improvement is #5 with 909 complaints.  Consumers can lose tens of thousands of dollars on home improvements.  Jenkins says, “Make sure everything you want and agree on is in writing; insist on receiving lien waivers when payments are made; and give Consumer Protection a call to check whether there are any complaints about a contractor you are thinking of using.”   

Motor vehicle sales have returned to the list at the #6 spot with 487 complaints.  Sales misrepresentations about used vehicles was the primary complaint reported by consumers. 

Credit cards are the #7 complaint.  “Make sure to read the fine print to determine if and when your credit card issuer can change the interest rate, billing period or other provisions of your agreement,” Nilsestuen says. “In addition, review the privacy notice that tells you how to opt out of having your credit card company share your information.”  

Rounding out the Top 10 are motor vehicle repair, travel/tourism, and internet service providers.  

“Most consumers filing complaints about travel or tourism report they paid for all or a part of the trip price, only to have the company go out of business or cancel the trip,” says Nilsestuen.  “In many cases, consumers get no trip and no refund.”  

Making certain that the business is reputable is the best way to avoid these problems.  

Phishing and spoofing almost made the Top 10 list of consumer problems for the first time, coming in at #11.  Identity thieves use phone calls, email, regular mail, and internet sites to cast for consumers’ personal and financial information.  Thieves try to lure unsuspecting victims by going "phishing”.  Letters that appear to be from the IRS and emails or websites that promise to obtain loans, grants or employment are a few examples of phishing.  Don’t trust your caller ID, since it can be made to show a fake name and number, a practice called spoofing.

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