BBB releases annual list of top consumer complaints

Ashley Grimes spent $1,500 on a car, but recently spent $5,000 on repairs.

"I had a leak in my steering wheel fluid and I had to replace my whole line," Grimes said. "I also had to replace my circuits and my wiring, basically I had to replace all of it. I had to junk it."

She is not alone.

"Think high pressure sales tactics, think misleading advertising or customers just not understanding what they are reading," said Claire Rosenzweig, chief executive officer of the NYC Better Business Bureau.

Anthony Ali works at the BBB. He said he gets close to 80 complaints a day from agitated or angry customers.

"Very angry. They have spent their hard earned money and trying to get a service or product," Ali said.

The BBB fields nearly a million consumer complaints a year.

In 2014 complaints dropped five percent, but inquiries about business jumped 25 percent.

"It is great because it means consumers are asking questions and doing their homework," Rosenzweig said.

The top complaints in North Carolina last year were related to imposter scams, followed by debt collection and complaints about banks and lenders.

Before making a purchase or choosing a service the BBB recommends visiting their website.