LANSING ? Banking and credit complaints ? including identity theft ? continue to lead the annual list of top consumer complaints of 2004 released Thursday by Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox. Complaints related to Internet use came in third.

“Identity theft dominates the Top 10 list and I want to prevent identity theft by educating and empowering consumers,” Cox said. “On March 1, Michigan residents will have access to free credit reports and I encourage them to obtain this important identity theft prevention tool. Through the continuation of the Attorney General’s It’s MI Identity campaign, the office will educate consumers on how to obtain and understand their free credit reports, the importance of other identity theft prevention measures, and what to do if they are victimized.”

The Top 10 list was compiled from more than 18,400 written complaints and 84,000 telephone inquiries received from individuals and businesses. The 2004 Michigan Attorney General Top 10 consumer complaint categories were:

1. Banking and Credit Concerns: Includes disputes regarding credit reports and collections, billing and finance charges, misrepresenting the terms of credit, and identity theft complaints.

2. Telecommunications and Cable or Satellite TV: Includes telemarketing, cramming (unauthorized charges), slamming (unauthorized switch of a service provider), do not call, cell phone, and identity theft complaints.

3. Internet: A perennial top category that includes Internet purchases and auctions, failure to deliver or refund, fraudulent e-mail solicitations that may lead to identity theft or fraudulent transfer of money, and Internet service provider complaints.

4. Retail: Includes misrepresentation of rights or obligations, billing disputes, identity theft, quality of merchandise, and scanner or pricing error complaints.

5. Motor Vehicle: Includes lemon law, advertising, warranty, quality, and misrepresentation complaints.

6. Mail Order: Includes failure to deliver or refund, unsolicited merchandise, sweepstakes, and misrepresentation complaints.

7. Contractor: Home improvement contractors continue to be the cause of complaints involving quality of work, failure to deliver services or a refund, and warranty issues.

8. Gasoline/Fuel/Energy: This category includes allegations of gasoline prices grossly in excess of competitors, high utility rates, billing disputes, and contract misrepresentation complaints.

9. Small Business Service Providers: Breaking into the Top 10 for the first time, this category includes complaints by small business for unauthorized services or goods, including advertising and directory publications, unsolicited faxes, and leases for business equipment that cannot be cancelled.

10. Travel: Includes complaints related to travel clubs and travel memberships, misrepresentations, fail to deliver, failure to refund, and unsolicited faxes promoting travel opportunities.

To file a consumer complaint, click on Michigan Attorney General, or mail a letter explaining the problem to: Michigan Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division, P.O. Box 30213, Lansing, MI 48909. Consumers can also call the toll-free hotline at 1-877-S