45°
Home improvement complaints — 1,528 — were the second-highest of the 14,416 total that the DCA received.
“We alerted consumers to look out for price gouging before Superstorm Sandy hit and encouraged them to contact us if they saw prices jump more than 10 percent,” state Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said. “Our top priority immediately following Sandy was investigating these complaints — we confirmed that a relatively small number of businesses allegedly did gouge consumers.”
State authorities filed two dozen lawsuits against those companies — gas stations, hotels and other businesses — as a result, he said.
The Top 10 New Jersey consumer complaints for 2012:
#1 Hurricane Sandy Ripoffs: 2,164
#2 Home Improvements: 1,528
#3 Motor Vehicles: 1,349
#4 Telemarketing: 845
#5 Loans: 414
#6 Professional Services: 338
#7 Debt Collection: 304
#8 Internet Sales/Goods: 264
#9 Banks/Financial: 240
#10 Health Clubs: 214
Today’s announcement coincides with the beginning of National Consumer Protection Week.
Hackensack gas station cited in state price-gouging suit
YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: A Hackensack gas station has joined the list of businesses sued by New Jersey officials for price gouging during the Hurricane Sandy state of emergencies. READ MORE….
Price gouging suits name Lincoln Tunnel hotel, others
YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: A trio of hotels operated by a North Bergen-based company, a gas station in the township and a Comfort Suites in Mahwah are among 10 businesses smacked with price-gouging lawsuits by state authorities. READ MORE….
Christie: Lyndhurst gas station, Rt 46 motel, gouged consumers
YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: A Lyndhurst service station that hiked gas prices more than 70 cents a gallon, one in Clifton that jacked it by $1.20, and a Route 46 hotel that produced 2,000 consumer complaints are among eight businesses sued by the state of New Jersey on charges of price gouging during the Hurricane Sandy emergency. READ MORE….
Subpoenas for 65 NJ businesses in price-gouging probe
YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: Subpoenas have been issued to 65 businesses throughout New Jersey, as an investigation into more than 500 consumer complaints about price gouging heats up, state officials said this afternoon. READ MORE….
* * * * *
Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business, or suspect any other form of marketplace abuse, can file a complaint with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs at: http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ OR: 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within NJ) or 973-504-6200
Click here to follow Daily Voice Hackensack and receive free news updates.
