2007
Consumer Direct Scotland, part of the national telephone and online advice service funded by the Office of Fair Trading, received more complaints about home maintenance and improvements than for any other goods or services last year.
3rd February 2007
The figures show that Consumer Direct Scotland logged 5309 cases about home maintenance and improvements, seven per cent of the total 75,300 cases recorded in 2006 throughout Great Britain.
Complaints about furniture came second with 4312 cases, while complaints about second hand cars took the number three slot with 3682 cases.
Each case recorded by Consumer Direct is logged using one of 453 product or service codes, enabling the service to build a picture of the areas causing most concern to consumers. This and other data is then used to inform and focus the resources and work of Local Authority Trading Standards Services and the Office of Fair Trading.
Christine Cryne, Director for Consumer Direct at the Office of Fair Trading said:
’Consumers experiencing problems with shops or traders can contact Consumer Direct for clear, practical advice and information. By knowing your rights, you can demand a better level of quality and workmanship and end up saving yourself hundreds of pounds.’
Consumer Direct is managed by the Office of Fair Trading and delivered in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards Services.
People needing consumer advice can call 08454 040506
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Top Ten Complaints in Scotland in 2006
Home maintenance and Improvements
Furniture
Second Hand Cars
Telecommunications
Audio-visual
Large Domestic Appliances
Personal Computers, accessories, software and services
Glazing Products and Installations
Car repairs and servicing
Clothing and clothing fabric
NOTES
1. Consumer Direct is a telephone and online consumer advice service funded by government and managed by the Office of Fair Trading. It operates in partnership with local authority Trading Standards Services to offer consumers clear, practical and impartial advice and information.
2. Consumer Direct has around 350 trained advisers in 11 contact centres across England, Wales and Scotland.
3. The information and advice helpline is available on a single national telephone number - 08454 04 05 06 from 0800 – 1830 Monday to Friday, and 0900 – 1300 Saturday, excluding bank holidays and public holidays.
4. A Welsh-speaking Consumer Direct service is available on 08454 04 05 05. Minicom users should call 08451 28 13 84.
5. Calls to the Consumer Direct 0845 numbers are charged at no more than four pence per minute from a BT landline. Call charges from other landline providers or mobile phones may vary. Please check the rate with your phone service provider.
7. Northern Ireland has its own service called ConsumerLine (available on 08456 00 62 62) which is similar to Consumer Direct. Visit the ConsumerLine website.
MEDIA enquiries: Jean Mackenzie: 01851 822300
