Jeff Deal, WFTV.com

Jeff Deal, WFTV.com

Action 9 consumer investigative reporter

Action 9 consumer investigative reporter Jeff Deal joined the Channel 9 Eyewitness News team in 2006. After 17 years covering some of the biggest stories in central Florida for WFTV, Deal was promoted to Action 9 consumer investigator in 2023. He’s just the second investigator to head the Action 9 team since its creation in 1991. Even before he joined Action 9, Deal had a passion for helping consumers. One of his consumer investigations uncovered shocking business practices at a parking lot near Port Canaveral, where the owner was joyriding in customers’ cars while they were away on cruises. The business closed down and the story garnered worldwide attention, earning WFTV the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award. Deal has also been honored with a National Headliner Award and other regional awards during his journalism career. His main priority is to help consumers protect their families and their wallets by shedding light on scams, rip-offs and questionable business practices. Deal and the Action 9 team have already helped consumers recover tens of thousands of dollars, and they continue to work to hold those responsible for the losses accountable. He enjoys life in Central Florida with his wife Beth and their son. As a graduate of Texas Christian University, Jeff is a fan of Horned Frog sports and is now excited to have UCF and TCU in the same conference. If you have a consumer complaint that you would like Deal and the Action 9 team to look into, you can email action9@wftv.com and jeff.deal@wftv.com.

Latest Headlines by Jeff Deal

Action 9 investigates air duct company claiming to have A+ Rating

An Orange County man wanted to get his air ducts cleaned, but he claims after agreeing to a payment plan, the company he hired tricked him into paying nearly a thousand dollars all at once. That customer who asked us to just use his first name, Bill, told Action 9 he found the company using a Google search and said, “Like, they just wanted to take the money and run.” Action 9 also found the company he hired claims to have an A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau, but that isn’t true.


Kia EV problem leaves customer frustrated

Vanessa Salazar of Apopka wanted a larger vehicle to transport her family. She fell in love with the Kia EV9. “We loved it. We thought it felt great,” Salazar told Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal. But four months into her lease, it had a problem. It went into the shop in January and hasn’t come back out.


Action 9: Boat builder accused of taking money and not delivering boats

There are more complaints rolling in about a boat builder Action 9 has reported on in the past. “He said it’d be done in two or three months,” Don Haven from Montverde told Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal. Haven was talking about the boat builder, Jeff Love, from Volusia County. Haven claims he paid Jeff Love big money for a new boat more than two years ago but Love still hasn’t delivered the boat.


Not Lovin’ It. McDonald’s customers have mobile app complaints

“My favorite is their Big Mac meal. That’s always been my favorite,” said life-long McDonald’s customer Margie Tyson. But she isn’t loving her recent experiences with the McDonald’s mobile app. She claims the app charged her for mobile orders, but when she showed up, her orders had been canceled and neither her local McDonald’s restaurant, nor the app would refund her money.


Gag order issued in ‘Granite Gangster’ case

Action 9 is following new developments in the case of the local businessman who used the name Granite Gangster on social media.  The State Attorney’s Office filed new charges in April against Charles “Chuck” Ogden for organized scheme to defraud and contracting without a license. The judge in the case also recently issued a gag order. 


Planning a visit to Epic Universe? See how much it costs:

With central Florida buzzing about tomorrow's grand opening of Epic Universe maybe you're thinking about checking it out sometime soon. So, we wanted to look at how much it would cost and how you get your hands on tickets.