Complaints about second hand cars bought from independent dealers have once again topped the list of complaints received by government-funded advice service Consumer Direct.
Consumer Direct advisors answered almost 1.6 million calls and emails in calendar year 2008 and logged 874,171 consumer complaint cases, up almost 7 per cent from the previous year.
In total, Consumer Direct received 47,019 complaints about second hand cars bought from independent dealers, up more than 12 per cent on the previous year. Complaints about mobile phone service agreements came second, down 10 per cent and complaints about TVs came third, up 3 per cent.
Among the top ten, complaints about women's clothing registered the highest rise, up almost 23 per cent on the previous year.
More than half of all complaints concerned goods and services bought at the traders' premises, 11 per cent resulted from internet purchases, and 10 per cent were about telephone transactions.
The data collected by Consumer Direct is used to help the OFT, local authority Trading Standards Services and other regulators build intelligence, determine priorities and focus resources.
OFT research published in April 2008 found that people in the UK experienced more than 26 million consumer problems a year causing an estimated £6.6 billion detriment.
Michele Shambrook, Operations Manager for Consumer Direct said: 'Many millions of people are losing out financially from substandard goods and services but very often consumers do have routes for redress. Finding out about your rights is the first step to claiming the refunds, repairs and replacements you may be entitled to.'
Information and advice on resolving consumer complaints is available by calling 08454 040506 or by visiting the website at http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
Complaints to Consumer Direct in 2007 2008 Percentage
calendar years 2007 and 2008 difference
07v08
Second hand cars purchased from 41,880 47,019 12.27%
independent dealers
Mobile Phones (service agreements) 34,679 31,267 -9.84%
TVs 19,744 20,313 2.88%
Mobile Phones (hardware) 17,760 20,159 13.51%
Car repairs and servicing from 15,253 16,176 6.05%
independent garages
Second hand cars purchased from 13,322 15,230 14.32%
franchise dealers
Upholstered furniture 14,024 14,530 3.61%
Women's clothing 11,732 14,390 22.66%
Internet Service Providers 13,536 14,246 5.25%
Leather furniture 11,567 12,979 12.21%
Total complaints 819,815 874,171 6.63%
NB: Information captured by Consumer Direct is provided as given by the consumer. No opinion on the truth or verification of facts has been made by the Consumer Direct service.
