Internet and housing issues among top 10 consumer complaints received by NY AG in 2021

NEW YORK (WKBW) – New York Attorney General Letitia James has released a list of the top 10 consumer complaints received by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in 2021.

Most of the complaints received were about internet-related issues and landlord-tenant disputes ranked second on the list.

You can find the full list below:

AG James offered the following advice to protect you from future scams:

the Internet

• Do not use the same password for multiple accounts. Cybercriminals use passwords stolen from one company for other online accounts. Earlier this year, Attorney General James announced that a thorough investigation by his office identified more than 1.1 million online accounts compromised in cyber-credential stuffing attacks on just 17 well-known companies. [lnks.gd]. New Yorkers can protect themselves with the following safeguards:
• Never reuse passwords. While reusing login credentials can be convenient, it also puts consumers at risk. A password manager on a phone or computer can keep track of passwords, automatically filling them in when they log in to a website or app.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): 2FA can provide an additional layer of security by requiring anyone logging into an account to provide another identifier, such as a one-time code sent via text or email .
• Regularly check your online accounts for unauthorized transactions and immediately contact your online service (or credit card company, if applicable) if you see anything suspicious.
• Register with a breach notification service, such as Have I been pwned [lnks.gd]which will send a notification if an account associated with your email address or phone number has been hacked.

Owner/tenant

• Your landlord must return your security deposit within 14 days of your departure. If your landlord takes money from the damage deposit, they must provide an itemized receipt outlining the damage and its cost. If your landlord doesn’t give you this receipt within 14 days of moving out, they must return your entire security deposit to you, whether or not there is damage. If your landlord fails to comply, you may be entitled to up to twice the amount of the security deposit.
• If you are having difficulty paying your rent, please contact your local Department of Social Services. To find offices statewide, see https://otda.ny.gov/workingfamilies/dss.asp [lnks.gd]. New York residents can call 311 and inquire about rental assistance programs. More resources are available here: https://ag.ny.gov/coronavirus/tenants-rights#pay-rent [lnks.gd]

Retail sales

• If you see unreasonably excessive prices for COVID-19 home testing kits or other vital and necessary health, safety and well-being goods, we encourage you to report it to my office immediately.
• Free COVID-19 test kits are available from the US government at www.covidtests.gov [lnks.gd].

Consumer related services

Car

• Beware of deceptive sales tactics when buying or leasing a car. Prices for new and used automobiles continue to climb, driven by factors such as strong demand and global shortages of semiconductors, which are an essential component of new automobiles. Do not sign any documents and never leave the dealership with a car until you have carefully reviewed all of your documents. Don’t sign a blank document that doesn’t have any numbers or words filled in.
• Make sure what you sign is what the seller told you and that you are not being charged for accessories or additional products you did not request, such as warranties, tire protection and wheels and wine engraving. Ask the seller or finance manager what fees or charges you don’t understand and if they’re required by law.

Credit

• If you have a collection debt, debt collectors are required to provide you with key information about the origin and history of your debt within five days of their first contact with you. You also have the right to dispute the debt, and once you have done so, the collector must stop all attempts to collect from you until they provide information to support their claim to the debt.
• Collection agents cannot harass you and must respect limits on how and how often they contact you. For example, they cannot call you more than seven times in a seven-day period and cannot call you between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. You have the right to tell debt collectors not to contact you by email, text or any other means of communication, and you can tell them not to contact you at all.
• As of April 7, 2022, creditors can no longer sue you or threaten to sue you for debts older than three years. Before April 7, creditors cannot sue you or threaten to sue you for debts that are more than six years old, or even less, depending on where the company or person you owed the debt is located.

Utilities

Home repair/improvement

• Many of our homes have suffered wear and tear from the pandemic. Before entering into a contract, shop around for estimates, check with the Better Business Bureau, vendors and neighbors for references.
• Know your rights: You have three days after signing a renovation contract to terminate it.

health clubs

Furniture/Appliances

• Always ask about a furniture or appliance retailer’s return policy before making a purchase. Some online retailers require customers to pay for return shipping, which can make it cost prohibitive for people to return bulky furniture or appliances.