What are consumers complaining about?
Consumer Direct is the Government-supported one-stop-shop for consumers to seek advice on complaints about the full range of goods and services. The organisation has just published its statistics for 2009 with details of the top 10 categories that are the subject of complaints.
Second hand cars purchased from independent retailers is the No 1 category and second hand cars purchased from franchise retailers is the No 7 category. Car repairs and servicing from independent garages comes in at No 6.
Problems with electronic equipment – televisions, telephones and computers – take other top categories.
Strangely the total number of calls to Consumer Direct fell by 4% last year. One might have expected the recession to have increased enquiries. Maybe the service needs to be better advertised.