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Attorney General Clark Releases Top Ten Consumer Complaints of 2025 In Recognition of Consumer Protection Week

Category Consumer Information Press Releases March 2, 2026 Office Helped Save and Recover More Than $1.4 Million for Consumers Last Year

Attorney General Charity Clark kicked off National Consumer Protection Week by announcing the top ten consumer complaints reported in 2025 to her office’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP).

In 2025, CAP responded to 7,607 consumer inquiries and provided mediation services for 1,126 consumer complaints, resolving 587 of these complaints. Vehicle-related disputes, home improvement projects, and retail transactions again topped the list for the fourth year in a row, collectively representing 58 percent of the top complaints filed in 2025.

Attorney General Clark also today released CAP’s 2025 Annual Report, highlighting $1,448,298 in savings and recoveries for consumers and an additional $250,000 in recoveries for the State of Vermont.

“This Consumer Protection Week, I want to remind Vermonters of the free services that my office’s Consumer Assistance Program provides,” said Attorney General Clark. “Affordability remains a persistent challenge in our state, and the staff and students of the Consumer Assistance Program work hard to help save you money through scam education, complaint mediation, small business assistance, and more.”

CAP is a program based at the University of Vermont in partnership with the Attorney General’s Office that has been serving Vermonters for over four decades. The program’s primary goal is to address consumer problems in Vermont, which it does through its mediation service, outreach, and education. Staff, with the help of service-learning students, manage informal inquiries, provide referrals to resources, and engage in mediation of consumer complaints.

This year, like last, the top complaints reported to CAP were related to vehicles and home improvement. To address the issue of home improvement, the legislature created a home improvement specialist position. In 2025, the home improvement specialist assisted Vermont homeowners to achieve more than $400,000 in reported savings or recoveries. Since joining CAP in 2024, the specialist has assisted Vermont homeowners in recovering or saving more than $1.2 million.

Fuel-related complaints again ranked fourth in 2025, with CAP receiving 91 complaints. Through its free mediation service, CAP helped recoup more than $39,000 for Vermonters with propane and other heating fuel disputes. The program’s service is especially critical during the winter months when CAP prioritizes assisting with delayed deliveries of heating fuel, putting heat back into homes. In 2025, CAP supported 21 households with no- or low-heat situations, resolving 86 percent of heating fuel complaints.

Vermonters experiencing consumer problems should contact CAP for help. CAP can help address consumer concerns before, during, and after problems arise, and complaints filed with CAP are used to identify trends in consumer problems. CAP data is reviewed by the Vermont Legislature when considering consumer protection laws, for enforcement by the Attorney General’s Office, and for consumer education and outreach. Vermonters may reach CAP by calling 1-800-649-2424 or visiting ago.vermont.gov/cap.

A copy of the CAP 2025 Annual Report, including the Top 10 Complaints of 2025, is available on our website.

CONTACT: Amelia Vath, Senior Advisor to the Attorney General, 802-828-3171