NEW YORK - In observance of National Consumer Protection Week, the NYS Consumer Protection Board (CPB) today released its “Top Ten List” of complaints and inquiries for 2009.

As was the case in 2008, problems and questions pertaining to the Do Not Call Law topped the list.  Next on the list of subjects were credit/credit cards, business policies and practices, and used car sales.

“Thousands of New Yorkers turn to the NYS Consumer Protection Board for help with a complaint or to obtain accurate, unbiased and up-to-date information”, said Mindy A. Bockstein, the CPB?s Chairperson and Executive Director.  “In these tough economic times, we have been redoubling our efforts to make sure that consumers know their rights and get their money’s worth in the marketplace.”

For the year, the CPB processed more than 16,000 consumer complaints and fielded  more than 44,000 calls to its toll-free, bi-lingual consumer hotline.

There was good news for many of those who filed a complaint - - intervention by the CPB resulted in more than $1.5 million in savings realized for consumers, including refunds, credits, avoided costs and restitution.

The following is the complete Top Ten list for 2009:

1.      Do Not Call Law
2.      Credit/Credit Cards
3.      Business Policies/Practices
4.      Automobiles - Used
5.      Merchandise/Product
6.      Banking/Lending Institutions
7.      Internet/On-Line Services
8.      Automobiles - New
9.      Insurance
10.     Home Improvement