Auto And Health Insurance Top Consumer Issues In Mass.

April 01--The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation Undersecretary Barbara Anthony was joined today by leaders from the Attorney General's Office, U.S. Postal Inspectors Office and the Better Business Bureau to announce each agency's top five consumer issues of 2012.

Mortgage issues, auto-repair problems, health and home insurance concerns, home improvement contractors, and foreign lottery scams and fraud led the list as key issues last year. Officials also offered tips to consumers to avoid similar issues in the future.

The top issue for consumers contacting the Office of Consumer Affairs and its agencies in 2012 was auto insurance-related questions and complaints. More than 10,000 people contacted the Office and the Division of Insurance with questions about denial of claims, adjusters, claim delays and more, officials said.

More than 7,700 people called OCA and DOI about health insurance issues, the second-highest number of 2012, with continuation of care being the predominant reason for calls to the DOI in the area of health insurance.

Consumers also called about the lemon law and home improvement contractors, which made the top five list.

The AG's Office said the chief consumer issue it hears about is unsolicited loan modification and foreclosure assistance. Consumers contacted by a loan modification program are encouraged to contact the Attorney General's Office at 617-727-8400 to see if there are any complaints. Additionally, the HomeCorps program or a HUD-approved counselor can assist consumers at no cost, said Attorney General Martha Coakley.

The Better Business Bureau had home-related issues as three of its top consumer complaints of 2012. Among the most popular complaints issued by consumers were ones about general, residential and home improvement contractors, home improvements and movers, officials said. Mortgages and used car dealers took the top two spots on the BBB's list.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service's top five list included foreign lottery scams, fake checks, work at home scams, telemarketing fraud and cross-border fraud.

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