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Top 10 consumer complaints in Colorado in 2015

Posted at 8:52 PM, Mar 08, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-09 09:58:29-05

Colorado attorney general Cynthia Coffman has released the top ten consumer complaints of 2015.

Consumers filed 9,520 complaints and inquiries with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office last year.

The Top 10 Consumer Complaints List looks like this:

  1. Debt Collection Agencies
  2. Mortgage/Foreclosure related businesses
  3. Fraudulent/Unwanted phone calls
  4. Utilities (cable, telecom, satellite)
  5. Fraudulent/Unwanted e-mails
  6. Auto sales and financing
  7. Shopping services (internet)
  8. Telephone (cell phones and equipment)
  9. Medical testing companies
  10. Contractors (roofing)   

Among the companies subject to recent enforcement for deceptive business practices are Verizon Wireless and Caribbean Cruise Lines.

In addition to legitimate businesses on the list, Coffman says there are a number of scams on the list as well. This time of year, IRS scams are particularly prevalent and troubling.

"They were threatening legal action and potentially, also, jail time," said Larry Kerecman, who got a call from an IRS scammer just last week. “I was rather surprised to hear a very forcefully worded message saying that I had a problem with the IRS and needed to make immediate payment."

"Unfortunately, the IRS scam is successful enough that it comes back year after year," said Coffman. "It's really important to us to follow trends and to know those industries where we see consumers having the most issues."

The AG’s office settled or got judgements for consumers amounting to $50 million in restitution and penalties last year alone.

 

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