The Iowa Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection Division reports complaints topped 4,000 amid a chaotic 2020 for Iowans. The department received 4,011 total complaints, a nearly 25 percent increase from the prior year. The two major factors that led to the substantial increase are the Aug. 10 derecho that damaged property across the state and items related to COVID-19. Officials received over 600 complaints regarding alleged price gouging for toilet paper, disinfectant, face coverings, food, disaster repair services. Staff note complaints related to travel, such as canceled trips or accommodations, also climbed dramatically. However, auto-related problems remained the most common form of complaint for the third consecutive year. Attorney General, Tom Miller, says, “Consumers still came to us with concerns about imposter scams, robocalls, car repairs, housing problems and other run-of-the-mill complaints. Bad actors hope they can hide while our attention is focused on other areas. They’re wrong.” Fortunately, complaints are down compared to a decade ago, thanks in large part to the Consumer Protection Division’s efforts to assist Iowans with issues before a formal complaint is filed. For more information on the most common consumer complaints in Iowa, visit the link included below.
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