Whether it is a car repair that doesn’t fix the problem or a vehicle that turns out to be a lemon – automotive issues are the No. 1 consumer complaint, according to the Consumer Federation of America.
The No. 2 most common complaint are issues with home improvements.
“These are big ticket items. They entail major investments for consumers,” says CFA’s Susan Grant. “When something goes wrong, it’s something they’re going to complain about.”
The CFA report is a comprehensive look at all of the things that consumers have complaints about. Thirty-five agencies across the United States took part in the survey, identifying complaints that were the most common and fastest growing. The report also collected real-world stories from victims.
Some of the findings are issues that Kane In Your Corner has reported on in the past, such as surprise medical billing and pet leasing.
“The common thread is that people don’t check it out first,” Grant says. “When they’re presented with a financing agreement or a lease agreement, they don’t understand what they’re getting into.”
Grant also says that consumers should beware of unusual payment requests, such as payment by gift card or being asked to send cash in the mail.