Attorneys Have Their Hands Full with Consumer Complaint Boom

Lawsuits against businesses based on consumer complaints surged last year and continue to grow in 2025

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Class-action settlements alone hit nearly $40 billion in 2024, marking the third consecutive, record-setting year in the category. Private TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) claims have also exploded: Filings in January 2025 soared 268% year over year, with first-half TCPA class actions rising 44% from 2024. Meanwhile, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaint database a proxy for consumer dissatisfaction - registered over 1.29 million complaints in Q1 2025, a 169% increase from Q1 2024.

California courtrooms are as busy as anywhere with such cases. And the complaints come from a diverse array of categories, many of which are clearly a sign of the times.

This year, California Attorney General Rob Bonta released the "Top 10 Consumer Complaints" and highlighted ongoing efforts to protect California consumers. The list included the top consumer complaint categories the California Department of Justice (DOJ) has received in the last calendar year.

"California is a pillar of strong state consumer protection laws and an outspoken advocate for robust federal protections," said Bonta. "Whether protecting our kids online, stopping egregious bank fees or cracking down on illegal price gouging, as the People's Attorney, I am committed to going to the mat for California consumers."