Consumer Advocate 

The Attorney General’s Office works every day to protect Ohio families from unfair and deceptive business practices and scams. The office accepts and handles consumer complaints through an informal dispute-resolution process to assist consumers and businesses in reaching a mutual agreement to resolve issues. In 2018, the office received 22,877 complaints.

The 10 most common types of complaints reported to the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section involved:

1. Used-car sales (approximately 4,140 complaints);
2. Shopping online and in stores (approximately 1,280);
3. Professional services, travel agencies (approximately 1,250);
4. Cable or cable bundling (approximately 720);
5. Wireless phone service (approximately 650);
6. Motor-vehicle repairs (approximately 610);
7. Identity Theft Unit, requests for assistance (approximately 560);
8. Collection calls (approximately 510);
9. Rental issues and landlords ( 490);
10. Medical billing (420).

The Consumer Protection Section tracks complaints in several general categories for reporting purposes; in 2018, the top overall categories were:

1. Motor vehicles;
2. Professional Services;
3. Utilities, Phone, Internet, TV;
4. Shopping, Food or Beverages;
5. Home or Property Improvement;
6. Collections, Credit Reporting or Financial Services;
7. Non Consumer Protection Act, Other;
8. Identity Theft Unit.

Consumer complaints generally are handled through the office’s dispute-resolution process, with specialists working with the consumer and the business to reach a resolution. Complaint resolution might involve, for example, a refund for the consumer or an adjustment of charges or services. In 2018, more than $3.5 million – up from the previous year – was adjusted or recovered for consumers through this process, according to complaint information.

The office also takes complaints from small businesses and nonprofit organizations. In 2018, the office logged more than 580 complaints from small businesses or nonprofits and provided dispute resolution similar to that offered to consumers.

Consumers who believe they have been treated unfairly or been the victim of identity theft should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at 800-282-0515 or visit www.OhioProtects.org.