Members of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division will take a two-week break from new consumer complaints so it can catch up on a backlog of paperwork.

The division, which handles complaints and inquiries about scams, needs to get up to speed on the number of cases it has — a figure that has increased 22 percent in the past year.

Consumers in the meantime can still file complaints, but they won't be processed until Nov. 24, the Attorney General's Office said.

"Suspending complaints intake was a difficult decision, but necessary in order to adequately address in excess of 2,000 currently pending consumer cases," said spokesman Phil Sisneros. "We are addressing this backlog now so we can help consumers with new complaints more efficiently."

The move comes as the division has fewer staff members, and the economy is troubled, which the office said leads to people watching their expenses more closely.

The division has 10 consumer advocates, eight attorneys, two paralegals and two investigators. Two consumer advocate positions have gone unfilled in the past year.

Ongoing consumer litigation is not affected, the office said.

Between now and Nov. 24, consumers can also file complaints with the Better Business Bureau.

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.