Tennessee Attorney General’s Office Division of Consumer Affairs Announces 2025 Top Ten Consumer Complaint Categories

Tennessee Attorney General's Office Division of Consumer Affairs Announces 2025 Top Ten Consumer Complaint Categories

In honor of National Consumer Protection Week, the Tennessee Attorney General's Office Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) announces the top ten complaint categories for 2025. In addition, DCA helped Tennessee consumers recover more than $3.6 million in cash, merchandise and services in 2025 through its voluntary mediation program.

Last year alone, DCA received 9,938 formal consumer complaints and worked to route each to the appropriate agency or mediate disputes directly between consumers and businesses. The division's informal mediation process provides a free, good-faith pathway to resolve disagreements involving purchases of products or services for personal or household use.

"Our goal is simple-help Tennesseans resolve disputes and protect their hard-earned money," said Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, praising his office's Division of Consumer Affairs. "In 2025, that work translated into real results for thousands of families across the state."

Top Consumer Complaint Categories in 2025

1. Home Improvements/Repairs & Home Warranties (760 complaints)

For the second consecutive year, this category ranked first. Complaints commonly involved incomplete work, poor workmanship, structural damage, and warranty coverage disputes.

2. Internet Sales (743 complaints) ↑

Rising from #4 in 2024, consumers reported undelivered products, refund issues, and concerns tied to online and social media advertisements.

3. Debtor/Creditor Issues (644 complaints) ↑

Complaints involved debt collection, payday lending, credit repair, and account management concerns.

4. Motor Vehicle - Repairs & Warranties (617 complaints) ↑

Consumers cited long repair delays, unavailable parts, and warranty disagreements.

5. Landlord/Tenant Disputes (602 complaints) ↓

Issues included security deposit disputes, property conditions, and maintenance responsiveness.

6. Personal & Professional Services (600 complaints) ↓

Complaints ranged from dissatisfaction with service quality to billing disputes and unredeemed gift certificates.

7. Motor Vehicle - Used Sales & Advertising (592 complaints) ↑

Consumers reported misrepresentation of vehicle condition, title issues, and misleading advertisements.

8. Health Services & Products (590 complaints) ↓

Common concerns included billing inaccuracies and misquoted service costs.

9. Timeshares/Vacation Clubs (532 complaints) ↑

Complaints frequently involved high-pressure sales tactics, contract misrepresentation, and resale scams.

10. Motor Vehicle - Lease/Towing/Rental/Parking (377 complaints) ↓

This category included disputes over vehicle leases, towing, rentals, and parking fees.

Beyond Complaint Resolution: Educating and Empowering Consumers

In addition to mediation, DCA conducted 44 educational outreach events statewide in 2025, including 35 presentations at senior centers. The division also provides free consumer education materials to help Tennesseans avoid scams, make informed purchasing decisions, and understand their rights.

Consumers can file a complaint or access educational resources online at:

https://www.tn.gov/consumer

Community groups interested in requesting a free consumer protection presentation may contact: [email protected]