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ARTICLE · 07 MARCH 2013

Consumer Complaints Offer Insight Into Enforcement And Regulatory Priorities

Venable LLP
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The Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") has issued its 2012 annual report of consumer complaints from its Consumer Sentinel Network, an online database used for tracking complaints.

United StatesConsumer Protection
Jonathan Pompan
Jonathan Pompan

The Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") has issued its 2012 annual report of consumer complaints from its Consumer Sentinel Network, an online database used for tracking complaints.  The FTC received more than 2 million complaints overall, from multiple sources including its own consumer complaint hotline, other federal agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB"), several state Attorneys General, state regulatory agencies, the Better Business Bureaus, and other nongovernmental organizations. 

Federal and state law enforcement agencies can and often will use information in the database to enhance and coordinate investigations and in formulation of regulatory priorities. 

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