Collection agencies top list of 2009 consumer complaints
The Washington Attorney General just released the top complaint categories for 2009 and for the first time, collection agencies take the top spot.
By law, if you owe money, there are certain things a collection agency cannot do:
• No calls before 7:30 a.m.
• No calls after 9 p.m.
• No profanity
• No threats of violence
• No threats of arrest
But last year, the Attorney General's consumer resource centers took in hundreds of complaints about violations. Collection agencies set a record, with 1,671 complaints, knocking the wireless and telecommunications industries off the top spot for the first time in at least ten years.
Retail sales came in third, followed by cable networks and programming and auto sales.
The Better Business Bureau is also out with it's top complaints list for 2009.
The BBB's top five:
• Cell phone service and supplies
• Computers, software and service
• Internet services
• Internet shopping and
• Software publishers and developers
For more information:
Full BBB Top Complaint List
Full AG Top 20 List
FTC Rules on Collection Agencies
Washington State Rules on Collection Agencies
By law, if you owe money, there are certain things a collection agency cannot do:
• No calls before 7:30 a.m.
• No calls after 9 p.m.
• No profanity
• No threats of violence
• No threats of arrest
But last year, the Attorney General's consumer resource centers took in hundreds of complaints about violations. Collection agencies set a record, with 1,671 complaints, knocking the wireless and telecommunications industries off the top spot for the first time in at least ten years.
Retail sales came in third, followed by cable networks and programming and auto sales.
The Better Business Bureau is also out with it's top complaints list for 2009.
The BBB's top five:
• Cell phone service and supplies
• Computers, software and service
• Internet services
• Internet shopping and
• Software publishers and developers
For more information:
Full BBB Top Complaint List
Full AG Top 20 List
FTC Rules on Collection Agencies
Washington State Rules on Collection Agencies