(WFRV) – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) reported that it handled over 11,000 consumer complaints in 2024, resulting in more than $23 million returned to residents through results and legal actions.
The agency reports its commitment to consumer protection was highlighted by DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski, who encouraged anyone facing issues to utilize their resources.
I am proud of the team’s hard work and dedication in serving Wisconsin consumers, and encourage anyone facing consumer issues in Wisconsin to access DATCP’s free online resources or contact our Consumer Protection Hotline. They are here as a resource.
Randy Romanski, DATCP Secretary
Other major categories included telemarketing, home improvement, identity theft, and telecommunications. Notably, a settlement against Milwaukee’s Berrada Properties Management returned about $850,000 to tenants for violating landlord-tenant laws.
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The release highlights the most common complaint category was landlord-tenant disputes, with 2,252 complaints filed.
DATCP also received many complaints related to medical services, motor vehicle repair, and travel. The agency mediates disputes and educates the public on their rights, with a focus on preventing scams and identity theft.
Wisconsin’s Top 10 Consumer Complaints of 2024:
- Landlord-Tenant Issues: 2,525
The most common disputes between landlords and tenants reported to DATCP include failure to maintain the premises, security deposit returns, unauthorized entry, mold and infestation, inadequate disclosures, and unsatisfactory service. - Telemarketing: 1,513
Issues include phishing and spoofing, imposter scams, robocalls, harassment, and Do Not Call Registry violations. - Home Improvement: 664
Top concerns include quality of work, delays in performance, failure to provide services and materials, failure to honor warranties, deceptive and misleading representations, and failure to disclose lien rights. - Identity Theft: 618
The top issue in this category remains online account takeovers, with many of the complaints involving compromised Facebook accounts. - Telecommunications: 527
Consumers reported issues about billing disputes, customer dissatisfaction, agreed-upon terms not being followed, deceptive and misleading representations, refund and adjustment policies, and denial of cancellation requests. - Medical Services: 439
The top issue in this category was medical billing disputes. - Motor Vehicle Repair: 341
The most common issues cited in these complaints were inadequate disclosures, prize notice mailers, and untrue, deceptive, and misleading representations. - Medical Vehicle Sales: 297
The most common issues cited in these complaints were inadequate disclosures, prize notice mailers, and untrue, deceptive, and misleading representations. - Travel: 244
The most common issues revolved around airlines, hotels and lodging, auto rentals, and travel service bundles, with common consumer complaints including billing disputes, refund and adjustment policies, failure to provide services, failure to return deposits, and unsatisfactory service. - Motor Vehicle Accessories: 141
Refunds, failure to deliver products, and deceptive and misleading representations were the top issues reported by consumers.
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For more information or to file a complaint, visit DACP’s Consumer Protection website or call their hotline at 800-422-7128.
