The National Association of Attorneys General recently released a list of the 10 complaints consumers filed most frequently with state AGs in 2008. It includes two gripes of particular interest:

•Greedy banks that coaxed people into mortgages they knew couldn’t be paid back are evicting folks from their homes (no. 6)

•Greedy banks are raising interest rates, cutting credit limits, tacking on new fees, and otherwise overcharging for credit and debit cards (no. 4, a tie).

I certainly wasn’t shocked that a lot of people voiced those complaints, especially given the dastardly role the banking industry played in the near-collapse of the U.S. economy. But I was surprised to learn that this is the first time predatory lending and unfair credit-card practices were among the top 10 complaints since NAAG began compiling its yearly list.

Maybe it took the Great Recession for people to stand up for their rights on those two critical issues. But in many financial disputes, consumers may not know their rights under the law. In the November issue of Consumer Reports Money Adviser we explain consumers' legal rights in 11 typical clashes with retailers and service providers.

Consumer protection laws vary from state to state. Here's contact information on your state’s AG office.–Jean Pietrobono