Wasden’s consumer protection division collects nearly 4 times its budget in restitution to Idaho consumers

Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden reports that his Consumer Protection Division recovered more than $2.96 million in restitution for Idaho consumers in fiscal year 2016, nearly four times the division’s budget. The division received 791 complaints, mediated 603, recorded 12,861 consumer-related contacts, and completed 22 enforcement actions. Wasden said this is the 24 ^th consecutive year that the division has recovered more for Idahoans than the Legislature appropriated to run the division.

“Idaho’s consumer laws protect consumers, businesses and the marketplace from unfair or deceptive acts and practices, as well as unreasonable restraints of trade,” Wasden said in a letter to Idahoans that opens the annual consumer protection division report. “My office seeks to fulfill this charge efficiently and economically through consumer education, mediation of consumer complaints, and where appropriate, enforcement actions.”

Complaints about motor vehicles were the most common topic in the 791 consumer complaints the division received over the course of the year. Also ranking high were complaints about health care, landlord-tenant issues, loans and mortgage lenders, and construction contractors. The number of complaints was down from 829 the previous year. The full report is online here .