What had been the largest client tales of 2022? The vacation meltdown by Southwest Airways was an enormous occasion however occurred too late within the 12 months to make a full influence on ConsumerAffairs readers.
After we seemed again on the tales that drew essentially the most consideration from readers this 12 months we discovered essentially the most curiosity in scams and class-action settlements that doled out tens of millions of {dollars} in money.
Our story in March reporting that “The ‘Zelle rip-off’ is spreading shortly throughout the U.S.,” was primary with readers. We continued to report on completely different variations of the scheme all year long and it’ll little question be a subject for tales in 2023.
Criminals love the peer-to-peer cost app as a result of the cash can’t be traced and it is rather less apparent than asking for cost with Goal reward playing cards.
In October, once we requested “Are you a T-Cellular, Subaru, AT&T, Chrysler, DirecTV, GEICO, Avis buyer? They could have some cash for you,” readers responded with an awesome “sure.” It was the quantity two story for the 12 months.
A few of the settlements had been enormous however the funds to particular person shoppers received’t be. We reported that 76 million T-Cellular clients whose private information was uncovered final 12 months will get a part of a $350 million settlement.
Quite a lot of curiosity in tax issues
The third and fourth-place tales lined taxes. Readers confirmed a whole lot of curiosity once we reported “IRS needs taxpayers to prepare for adjustments and has constructed a brand new instrument chest to assist out.” The tax company has constructed out a brand new set of instruments that it says can’t solely make tax returns simpler however may also assist taxpayers strategy the upcoming tax season with a newfound tax prep swagger.
“IRS boosts commonplace deduction for 2023 tax 12 months to account for inflation” drew the fourth-most consideration in 2022. Single taxpayers and married people submitting individually will see a $900 enhance, with their commonplace deduction rising to $13,850 for 2023. For heads of households, the usual deduction shall be $20,800 for the tax 12 months 2023, up $1,400 from the quantity for the tax 12 months 2022.
One other class motion settlement story got here in at quantity 5 in 2022. In early December we reported “Shoppers will share in Experian’s $22.5 million class motion settlement.” It seems the credit score company despatched false details about shoppers to 3rd events.
Scams
The sixth and seventh most-read articles warned readers about scams. In August, once we requested “Discover an unordered bundle in your doorstep? You is likely to be a sufferer of a ‘brushing’ rip-off,” it was most likely the primary many had heard about this new scheme.
Quantity seven on the record was the Federal Commerce Fee’s (FTC) high 10 scams of the 12 months. Demonstrating how criminals have shifted gears from only a decade or two in the past, id theft was primary and imposter scams got here in second.
“There’s a pile of cash ready for shoppers as a part of class motion settlements concerning child components and margaritas,” we wrote in November. It was the eighth most-popular story of the 12 months.
Rising crime was a serious client story of 2022 as shoplifting price each Walmart and Goal a whole lot of tens of millions of {dollars}, prices each stated will in the end be handed on to shoppers. After we reported in July that “Starbucks responds to rising crime by closing 16 shops,” readers made it the quantity 9 story of the 12 months.
Rounding out the highest 10 is, “Social Safety Administration adjustments full retirement age to 67,” a narrative we revealed in February. The motion is estimated to have an effect on about 70 million Individuals and is the largest change since 1982, when recipients noticed a 7.4% enhance in advantages.
