California Attorney General Rob Bonta has released the state's top 10 consumer complaints for 2024 in recognition of National Consumer Protection Week. The list, compiled by the California Department of Justice (DOJ), highlights the most common issues reported by consumers over the past year. Attorney General Bonta encourages Californians to report any misconduct or violations of state consumer protection laws to the DOJ through their online portal.
"California is a pillar of strong state consumer protection laws and an outspoken advocate for robust federal protections," stated Attorney General Bonta. He emphasized the importance of reporting scams and misconduct to his office, urging consumers to file complaints online.
The top consumer complaint categories for 2024 include social media platforms, online retailers, banks, contractors, landlord/tenant issues, online scams, debt collection, credit reporting, telephonic scams, and brick-and-mortar retail sales.
Attorney General Bonta highlighted several initiatives aimed at protecting Californians' financial interests. These include a $700 million multistate settlement with Johnson & Johnson over asbestos in talc products and a settlement with StubHub for failing to issue timely refunds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, legislation was sponsored to prevent medical debt from appearing on credit reports.
Last month, Bonta supported lawsuits challenging efforts to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), emphasizing its role in returning over $20 billion to Americans nationwide.
In response to increased complaints about social media account takeovers, Bonta sent a letter to Meta expressing concern and urging action. He also secured legal victories against Ashford University and University of Phoenix for misleading practices affecting students.
Efforts to protect children online continue with actions against TikTok and Meta regarding user safety and mental health impacts. Legislation like SB 976 aims to regulate addictive design features on social media platforms.
Bonta reminded Californians of their rights under data privacy laws and announced settlements with companies like DoorDash for privacy violations. The fight against various scams remains ongoing, with educational efforts targeting AI-generated scams and illegal robocalls.
Attorney General Bonta issued advisories on AI usage by businesses and healthcare entities under California law. Efforts also focus on preventing price gouging during natural disasters, with active investigations into such practices following recent fires in Los Angeles.
For more information on consumer protection tips and resources, visit https://oag.ca.gov/consumers.