New York’s top consumer complaints of 2023 revealed by Attorney General Letitia James

March 5, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Attorney General Letitia James announced the top consumer complaints for 2023 on Monday and expressed her commitment to combating scams and protecting New Yorkers from fraud.
Photo: Bebeto Matthews/AP

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In an effort to acknowledge National Consumer Protection Week, Attorney General Letitia James unveiled the most frequent consumer complaints received by her office in 2023 on Monday.

The list highlights a broad spectrum of concerns, from price gouging in essential goods and services to housing disputes and online banking fraud, emphasizing the diversity of challenges New York consumers face.

“With families struggling to make ends meet, consumers expect and deserve quality products and services for their hard-earned money,” James said. “As attorney general, I take my responsibility to stand up for New York consumers against fraud and abuse as a top priority.”

The top 10 consumer complaints in New York for 2023 as released by Attorney General Letitia James:

Retail Sales: Online purchases, price gouging, retail sales, defective merchandise, poor customer service, pet stores and animal breeders.
Landlord/Tenant: Security deposit releases, evictions, harassment of tenants.
Automobile: Sales, service, financing, repairs.
Credit, Banking, and Mortgages: Debt collection, credit card billing, debt settlement, payday loans, credit repair, credit reporting agencies, identity theft, banking, loan modification scams, mortgage lending and servicing.
Consumer Services: Alarm companies, dry cleaners, restaurants, movers, storage facilities, services for personal or household use.
Internet: Internet services and service providers, data privacy and security, digital media, frauds through internet manipulation.
Utilities: Wireless and residential phones, energy services and suppliers, cable and satellite.
Home Repair/Improvement: Repair issues, deceitful contractors, solar panel installations.
Travel: Airline customer service, flight cancellations and refunds.
Entertainment: Events, concerts, ticket sales.

The compilation of complaints is part of Attorney General James’ broader effort to enforce New York’s consumer protection laws, including defending rent stabilization laws, fighting discrimination in housing and combating corporate profiteering. Noteworthy actions include a lawsuit against Credit Acceptance Corporation for deceptive auto loans and efforts to recall unsafe Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

Another big complaint concerns the unlawful retention of security deposits, evictions and tenant harassment. Landlords often fail to return security deposits within the mandated 14-day period or improperly withhold funds for supposed damages without providing the required itemized receipts. Additionally, issues around rent stabilization, illegal lease terms and insufficient maintenance of security deposits in interest-bearing accounts are prevalent.

The top complaints by category include issues related to retail sales, automobile problems, and credit, banking, and mortgages, highlighting the varied nature of consumer grievances. Other notable categories include consumer services, internet services, utilities, home repair/improvement, travel and entertainment.

To assist consumers in navigating these challenges, Attorney General James offers several tips to prevent falling victim to scams, such as exercising caution in online purchases, understanding tenant rights, protecting against automobile theft and safeguarding personal information from banking scams.

She also emphasizes the importance of reporting price gouging and encourages those affected by deceptive practices to file complaints with her office.