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Buying a car is not always as smooth as clockwork. (photo by Kenneth Lu CC-BY)

Consumer Direct is a UK government-funded service which offers information and advice on consumer issues. It is funded by the Office of Fair Trading.

In 2008 they received 874,171 complaints by email and telephone on all types of consumer issues. But what was top of the list? Problems with cars and mobile phones featured strongly among the most popular topics. At the top with 47,019 complaints were independent second-hand car dealers and their vehicles. They were at the number 1 spot in 2007 as well. Car repairs and poor servicing garages came in at number 5, and second-hand cars purchased from franchise dealers at number 6.

In the second and forth position came complaints about service contracts for mobile phones and hardware issues with mobile phones.

In third place were complaints about televisions. Other issues were the topics of upholstered furniture (7), women’s clothing (8), internet service providers (9), and leather furniture (10)

These topics were based on consumer complaints and not independently checked by Consumer Direct.

Visit Consumer Direct for free, valuable advice on consumer issues.

Looking across the Atlantic, in the United States and Canada, the Better Business Bureau received 891,540 complaints about businesses in 2008. The two organisations cannot be compared like with like as their functions are different. However, there are many things in common in their top ten. Their top three were the mobile phone industry, new car dealers and the banks. Used car dealers also featured at number 8.