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NEWS RELEASE
ATTORNEY GENERAL LISTS TOP CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OF 2001 Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. revealed his Consumer Protection Division’s "Top Ten" list of industries that generated the most consumer complaints last year. Once again, auto-related industries dominated the list, with auto repair facilities, new auto dealers, used auto dealers and auto manufacturers accounting for four of the 10. "Since people rely on their automobiles in their daily lives, and problems with them can cost a lot of money, it’s not surprising to see auto-related industries in the Top 10 list each year," said Curran. New to the Top 10 list are complaints about cellular phone service and about transactions with individuals. Most of the "transactions with individuals" involved Internet auction deals that went bad, with the buyer paying but not getting the merchandise or getting merchandise that wasn’t as represented, or the seller never receiving payment. Continuing in the Top 10 are complaints about credit card companies; telephone long distance providers; new home builders; and landlords. Curran’s Consumer Protection Division received 11,290 consumer complaints in 2001. The Division’s Mediation Unit achieved a positive outcome for the consumer in 64% of the cases it mediated. The amount of money or comparable relief the Division was able to get for those consumers was a total of $2,547,572. Top 10 Consumer Complaint Industries in 2001
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