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Second-hand cars still top customer complaints list
But mobile phones and ISPs are gaining fast
Figures from Complaints Direct put second-hand cars as the most complained about product in 2007, though mobile phone contracts came a close second, and mobile phone handsets managed a notable number four.
Overall, complaints to the government-run service were up 18 per cent on 2006, with more than 800,000 lodged. Almost 42,000 of those were about second-hand cars purchased from independent dealers - franchised dealers only managed 13,000 complaints, putting them at number 10.
Combining the figures on mobile phone handsets and their contracts gives a total of 52,439. While this is still topped by the total complaints about second-hand cars, the mobile-phone business is still a relative newcomer to pissing off customers, and the 49 per cent increase in complaints about mobile contracts shows they're committed to beating the car dealers next year.
Internet service providers also saw huge gains, up 43 per cent from 2006, but topping out at 13,536 they're still a long way off the leaders. ®
The league table in full:
Complaint Types Number of Number of % increase complaints complaints 2006 2007 1 (EE02) Second hand 35392 41880 + 18% cars purchased from independent dealers 2 (BM03) Mobile Phones 23338 34679 + 49% (service agreements) 3 (AL03) TVs 17337 19744 + 14% 4 (BM02) Mobile Phones 16338 17760 + 9% (hardware) 5 (CZ99) Personal Goods 13153 16976 + 29% and Services (Other) 6 (AB99) General 15355 15598 + 2% building work (other) 7 (EF02) Car repairs and 13686 15253 + 11% servicing from independent garage 8 (AD05) Upholstered 13549 14024 + 4% furniture 9 (FJ01) Internet 9436 13536 + 43% Service Providers 10 (EE01) Second hand 11957 13322 + 11% cars purchased from franchise dealer Total Complaints 2007 695463 819815 + 18%