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

Parents warned about popular squishy toy trend

Parents and grandparents need to beware of the latest toy trend. Doctors are issuing warnings about a popular kids toy that is likely in your home. We’re talking about the gel-filled squishies that are shaped like dumplings or animals.


A FedEx truck hit her car. Her claim was still denied

A FedEx delivery truck rolled through a Clermont parking lot and appeared to strike two cars. Tiffany McGhee, the owner of one of the cars said, “I called and they said, ‘Oh, we closed the claim, we denied it.’” McGhee told Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal at first FedEx only took responsibility for the damage to one car, but not hers. She was frustrated because she had been dealing with FedEx for more than a month without results, but less than two hours after Action 9 reached out to the company for answers she received an email letting her know the repairs would be covered.


‘I gotta have this fixed’: Homeowner stunned by $12,000 garage door repair bill

“I’m shaking my head, I’m going, this doesn’t sound right, but I gotta have this fixed,” said Orlando homeowner Scott Berry. A broken garage door spring at his home led to a charge of more than $12,000 by the repair company. Berry needed to get his car out of the garage the next morning, so he paid what other experts consider an outrageous price for the garage door repairs that were made.


Action 9 investigates delayed pool projects; company vows to finish jobs

“All I get is excuses, excuses, excuses next week, next week,” said Ronnie Pagan nearly two years after trying to get a pool in his backyard. At the time, Poinciana homeowner was left with a stinky muck-filled hole in the ground. He expected the job would have the job done in just a few months, but was beginning to doubt if he would ever get the backyard oasis he hoped for. After he contacted Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal, the pool company went back to and it appears they are completing the job.


Customers billed thousands of dollars for loans on work that was never done

It takes only seconds on an iPad for a contractor or medical provider to sign you up to pay the bill using a finance company called Momnt. Generally, that money goes directly to the merchant and you never touch it, but you could still be stuck owing money you never actually saw even if the work never gets done.


Orlando man gets surprise insurance bill

An Orlando man turned to Action 9 after getting a what he thought was a suspicious letter in the mail letting him know he owes money for an accidental death and dismemberment insurance policy. The problem is he didn’t remember ever signing up for that kind of insurance and he wasn’t about to send the company any money. In fact, he initially thought someone was trying to trick him into handing over banking and credit card information. Action 9 Consumer Investigator looked into it and found the letter is from a real company


Local man frustrated trying to cancel extended warranty

A local man claims he felt pressured into spending thousands of dollars for an extended warranty on his truck, then ran into all kinds of problems when he tried to cancel it. Even though he believes he took all the right steps to cancel, he turned to Action 9 when he still couldn’t get his money back.