FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
March 6, 2018
Steve Marshall
For More Information, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
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ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL ANNOUNCES TOP ALABAMA CONSUMER
COMPLAINTS DURING 2017
March 4-10 is National Consumer Protection Week
(MONTGOMERY) -Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the top five complaints from
Alabama consumers received by his office’s Consumer Interest Division over the last year. The
total number of consumer complaints rose slightly from 2,779 in 2016 to 2,967 in 2017.
“While National Consumer Protection Week is a time to remind everyone to be on guard
against scams and fraud, my office is focused on consumer protection year-round,” said
Attorney General Steve Marshall. “My Consumer Interest Division staff work hard each day to
help consumers resolve disputes with businesses as well as investigate incidences of fraud. Not
every case necessarily involves illegal activity, however, my office is always available to assist
consumers with questions about potential scams and unscrupulous business practices.”
The Attorney General’s Consumer Interest Division received 2,967 consumer complaints during
2017 with the top five as follows: 1. Automobiles, 2. Internet Purchases, 3. Landlord/Tenant
Disputes, 4. Home Repair, and 5. Debt Collection.
Attorney General Marshall’s office maintains a consumer protection hotline, 1-800-392-5658, to
take reports of fraudulent activity and to provide information and tools to equip consumers to
protect themselves. Alabamians may also file a complaint online at
http://ago.alabama.gov/ConsumerComplaint.
The Attorney General’s Consumer Interest Division cannot serve as an individual’s private
attorney or provide consumers with legal advice. However, in many instances, the Attorney
General’s Office has been successful in mediating complaints to the mutual satisfaction and
benefit of the consumer and the business. If circumstances warrant, the Attorney General may
initiate legal action, either civil or criminal, to represent the interests of the State of Alabama
and to enforce the various laws designed to protect consumers from con artists and
unscrupulous practices by businesses.
Information on National Consumer Protection Week is also available by visiting the Federal
Trade Commission’s web site: http://www.ncpw.gov/.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
