The top consumer complaint in Idaho in 2009, according to Attorney General Lawrence Wasden: Mortgage modification fraud. "We received reports of outrageous fraud," Wasden said at a news conference this morning. "Some of these operators took advantage of desperate homeowners by charging hundreds, or even thousands of dollars in upfront fees, while taking no action to modify the mortgage." Wasden said his Consumer Protection Division has pursued several enforcement actions against deceptive loan modification companies, investigated hundreds of complaints and filed lawsuits. He encouraged Idahoans who are in trouble with their mortgages to talk to their lenders right away. "Things don't get better with time in a foreclosure situation," Wasden said.

Here is the rest of Wasden's top-10 list of types of consumer complaints in 2009:
2. Cable/satellite television
3. Motor vehicles
4. Mortgage lenders/loans
5. Internet
6. Banking services other than loans
7. Collection agencies
8. Landlord/tenant
9. Construction/remodel
10. Educational institution or programs

Consumer complaints to the Attorney General's office were up 11 percent in 2009, Wasden said. The consumer protection division brought in $44 million for Idaho consumers and the state, while spending just $833,000 on operations, he said.

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