From Adam Putnam: Top 9 Consumer Complaints for 2013

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on Monday released the top nine consumer complaints filed during 2013.

Were here to help consumers, said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. Floridians can call our 1-800-HELP-FLA consumer hotline to file a complaint, as well as find information about registered businesses and professionals and learn how to protect themselves from fraud and scams.

Said Putnam, consumers filed 47,226 complaints with the departments consumer assistance center in 2013. The top nine most common complaints from Jan. 1 through Dec. 20, were these:

1. Do Not Call 18,862

2. Telemarketing 3,626

3. Fuel 2,708

4. Communications 2,339

5. Landlord/Tenant 1,719

6. Real Estate Broker/Salesperson 1,572

7. Cable 1,483

8. Credit/Banking 1,482

9. MV Sales/Accessories 1,466.

Complaints about violators of Do Not Call has topped the list for four consecutive years. This year saw an increase of more 1,000 complaints growing from 17,772 in 2012 to 18,862 in 2013. The increase in complaints is consistent with the increase in subscribers to the Florida Do Not Call list.

For complaints filed against businesses regulated by the department, trained staff work to resolve the dispute through mediation and evaluate the business for compliance with statutory provisions. As a result of the departments efforts, more than $3,477,000 was recovered on behalf of Florida consumers this year.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the states clearinghouse for consumer complaints, protection and information. The consumer assistance center is staffed with trained analysts who are able to file complaints on behalf of the consumer, respond to questions about programs and regulations under the departments purview, provide information on a wide variety of topics or direct callers to the appropriate government agency.

The departments consumer assistance center answered nearly 200,000 calls and more than 7,300 emails in 2013. In addition, the consumer assistance center analysts responded to nearly 7,000 online chats through the departments online chat option available at www.freshfromflorida.com.

Consumers who believe fraud has taken place can contact the departments consumer protection and information hotline at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or, for Spanish speakers, 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832).