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

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.


‘I really trusted them’: Senior denied travel insurance claim after getting COVID

Orlando senior, Joshula Flowers, was looking forward to a tour of Washington D.C. “I thought, with it being a bus trip, that it would be good to get the insurance,” Flowers told Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal. She booked that trip through the City of Orlando's Beardall senior center, but she got COVID shortly before the trip. So, she filed a claim with the trip insurance company, Travel Insured International. But that claim was denied. She said, “And so I really trusted them to be able to be on my side if something happened.”


Repair shop worker racked up tolls and miles on customer car

All Eric Montgomery wanted was to get his car repaired. “I dropped it off, and then I flew out of town for almost four weeks,” Montgomery explained. But he claims the repair shop added miles and racked up tolls while he was out of town. He said, “So obviously, somebody was utilizing the vehicle, you know, the way they shouldn't have been.”


‘I earned it’: Kohl’s Cash disappeared from woman’s account

A Brevard County woman spent thousands of dollars at Kohl's to help children in need. Belinda Bintemire said, “Because I feel like every child deserves to have, you know, good shoes and clothes.” But Bintemire turned to Action 9 for results when nearly $1000 in store rewards just disappeared from her account.


‘Disgusting’: Couple feels deceived by home rental listing

Bill Ellison calls it a home of filth. “I saw a rat run by the back door there,” Ellison said as he showed Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal his rental home in Leesburg. Bill Ellison and his wife Theresa were desperate to rent a new place after a fire tore through their other rental home in Eustis. Now, they fear they made a bad decision in haste. The couple rented the home from a company Action 9 has warned consumers about before called Sunbelt LLC.