When it comes to consumer complaints in the Sacramento region, which businesses rack up the biggest beefs?
Auto-related services and Internet shopping, according to a 2011 tally by the Better Business Bureau?s Northeast California office in West Sacramento.
Auto sales/repairs/services topped the list of 8,790 total consumer complaints logged last year in the 24-county region, while Internet shopping saw the biggest jump in complaint volume, said BBB spokeswoman Cailin Peterson.
Auto-related complaints ?consistently? rank high on the local BBB?s list, Peterson said. But last year, auto dealers ? new and used ? as well as auto repair firms all saw increases of more than 20 percent.
Why? Cars involve major expenditures, noted Peterson, but too often consumers rely on verbal agreements rather than getting a written contract for a purchase or repairs.
?Consumers always need to read their contracts carefully and get everything in writing,? she said. ?Many used cars are sold ?as is? and consumers don?t realize (that) until something major goes wrong.?
With auto repairs, consumers should get an itemized contract that lists what parts are needed, their cost, whether they?re new or used, and any guarantees, Peterson said.
Consumers can check the licensing status of a new/used car dealer with the state Department of Motor Vehicles (www.dmv.ca.gov) or an auto repair company through the state Bureau of Automotive Repair (www.bar.ca.gov).
As for online shopping, there was no clear indication of why complaints nearly doubled in one year, from 95 in 2010 to 168 last year. Peterson said it?s likely due to the overall growth of virtual storefronts and the willingness of more people to spend money online.
Most of the Internet shopping complaints were about delivery problems, such as not receiving merchandise.
Peterson noted at least one surprise in the local BBB?s annual rankings: Mortgage broker complaints dropped from No. 6 to No. 52 last year, which she attributed to new laws barring upfront fees for loan modifications.
Another drop in complaints was with cable TV/ Internet/phone installers, which decreased 25 percent.
Here are the 2011 rankings for businesses that generated the most complaints:
1. Auto dealers (new cars)
2. Auto repair services
3. Auto dealers (used cars)
4. Auto service contracts
5. Internet shopping
6. Attorneys
7. Furniture stores
8. Retail stores
9. Auto parts/supplies
10. Cable TV/Internet/phone installers.
To contact the local BBB office, call (916) 443-6843 or go to: www.necal.bbb.org.
? Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.
Call The Bee?s Claudia Buck, (916) 321-1968.
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