What Are The Top 10 Consumer Complaints In New Jersey For 2011?

Complaints related to home improvements generated the largest category of complaints filed by consumers last year with the State Division of Consumer Affairs, representing 7.7% of all consumer complaints received.

The Division today released its Top 10 list of consumer complaints in 2011 to mark the start of National Consumer Protection Week. A total of 12,240 consumer complaints were filed with the Division last year.

The Top 10 consumer complaint categories in New Jersey last year, and the number of complaints for each, were as follows:

1. Home Improvements -- 937
2. Motor Vehicles -- 778
3. Credit-Debt Collection -- 243
4. Loans -- 238
5. Professional/Occupational Services -- 188
6. Internet Sales/Goods -- 166
7. Home Furnishings/Furniture -- 110
8. Wireless Phone Services -- 107
9. Insurance -- 89
10. Appliances – 82

State attorney General Jeff Chiesa says, “We encourage consumers to file complaints with us or their county consumer affairs offices whenever they suspect a business has violated their rights in the marketplace. Consumer complaints are a key tool that our investigators use to detect violators of the state Consumer Fraud Act and in identifying emerging scams targeted at consumers.”