Colorado consumers are frustrated, and not shy in making their voices heard, a new report shows.
In a statistical measure in which more is not better, Colorado residents raised their rate of griping 13 percent last year based on the volume of consumer complaints filed with the Colorado attorney general’s office.
Leading targets of consumer ire were — not surprisingly — cable- and satellite-TV providers, and get-rich-quick schemes pitched in late-night infomercials.
The AG’s office said nearly all of the businesses that were among the leaders in complaints have faced some sort of enforcement action in recent years.
Douglas County-based Dish Network and rival satellite provider DirecTV, sixth and fourth, respectively, on the top 10 complaints list for 2011, have each agreed to multimillion-dollar settlements related to charges that they engaged in deceptive sales practices. Consumers complained the companies don’t fully disclose terms and conditions on service contracts, among other issues. Dish agreed to its settlement in 2009, and DirecTV in 2010.
“Customers are our number one priority, and every day we strive to make each customer interaction a positive experience,” Dish said in a statement Monday. “We appreciate the need to address customer concerns in a timely and effective manner, and we pro-actively work with Attorneys General across the United States every year to receive and implement their suggestions.”
The company said it has a customer response team dedicated to responding to any complaints forwarded through the AG’s office.
DirecTV didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Colorado consumers lodged 7,297 complaints last year, up 13 percent from 6,462 in 2010. The volume of complaints increased 55 percent from 2009, when the AG’s office received 4,723.
“The growing number of complaints Coloradans submit to us highlights the strides we have made in informing consumers about types of fraud and how to report scams to us as well as our federal counterparts,” Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said in a statement.
The AG’s office also released data on complaints lodged during the first two months of 2012, and three of the top four companies drawing complaints were pay-TV providers DirecTV, Dish and Comcast.
Andy Vuong : 303-954-1209 or
Whom they complain about …
Top companies for complaints filed with the attorney general in 2011
1. Dalbey Education Institute, 407
2. Corporate Controllers Unit, 231
3. Heart Check America, 189
4. DirecTV, 167
5. At the Beach, 157
6. Dish Network, 107
7. National Energy Rebate Fund, 103
8. Real Talk Network, 81
9. CenturyLink, 75
10. E-470 Public Highway Authority, 65
… and what they complain about
Top industries for complaints filed in 2011
1. Financial consultants, 410
2. Utility/cable/satellite TV, 349
3. Mail fraud, 264
4. Health and medical services, 262
5. Tanning salons, 159
6. Internet shopping services, 146
7. Telephone/cellphones, 141
8. Magazine subscription agents, 127
9. Rebate offers, 108
10. Roofing, guttering contractors, 95
