Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has released the list of the top 10 consumer complaints for 2024, coinciding with National Consumer Protection Week. The California Department of Justice (DOJ) compiled this list based on complaints received 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 website.

“California is a pillar of strong state consumer protection laws and an outspoken advocate for robust federal protections,” stated Attorney General Bonta. He urged residents to report scams or misconduct, emphasizing his commitment to protecting consumers from various issues such as online safety for children, bank fees, and illegal price gouging.

The top complaint categories 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 safeguarding consumers' financial interests. These efforts include a $700 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson regarding asbestos in talc products and actions against StubHub for failing to issue timely refunds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Legislation was also sponsored to protect Californians’ financial future by banning medical debt from credit reports.

In response to increased complaints about social media account takeovers and lockouts on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, Bonta sent a letter to Meta urging immediate action to address these issues.

Efforts were also made in education sectors where Bonta secured judgments against Ashford University for misleading students and reached a settlement with the University of Phoenix over recruitment tactics targeting military students.

Bonta's office continued its focus on children's online safety by filing lawsuits against TikTok and Meta related to potential harms posed by these platforms. Legislative support was given to measures controlling social media's influence on young users.

Data privacy rights remain a priority with reminders issued about opting out of personal data sales under California law. Settlements were reached with companies like DoorDash over privacy violations involving customer information.

The DOJ has been active in combating various scams including AI-generated frauds and robocalls while issuing advisories concerning artificial intelligence usage in business practices.

In light of natural disasters like the Los Angeles Fires, price gouging became another area of focus. Investigations have led to charges against real estate agents and landlords accused of exploiting disaster conditions for profit.

For more information on consumer protection tips and resources, individuals are directed to visit the DOJ’s official website.