Press releases
10 September 2006
250,000 Callers
Consumer Direct South West celebrates its second anniversary with over 250,000 consumers!
Consumer Direct South West, the government-backed telephone and online consumer advice service for the region, is celebrating its second anniversary.
Since its launch on 15 September 2004, Consumer Direct has helped over 250,000 consumers in the South West, providing them with information about their consumer rights and advice on how to gain redress when things go wrong.
The Consumer Direct team of 27 highly trained advisers based at the regional contact centre in Camborne, Cornwall has clocked up around 25,000 hours on the phone, helping the region’s consumers save time, money and unnecessary stress.
The Consumer Direct service is managed by the Office of Fair Trading and delivered in partnership with local authority Trading Standards. Consumer Direct delivers first tier advice, allowing Trading Standards to focus on more difficult cases.
Christine Wade, Assistant Chief Executive for Consumer Advice and Trading Standards at the Office of Fair Trading said: 'Consumer Direct South West has had another very successful year, providing consumers with the information and confidence to exercise their consumer rights. The service benefits consumers, encourages businesses to raise their game, and helps the OFT and Trading Standards to focus their resources and their work.'
Across the South West, the top 10 most complained about goods and services in the last 12 months are:
|
South West Position |
Products, Service of goods |
National Position |
% of total complaints |
|
1 |
(EE) Second Hand Cars |
2 |
8.53% |
|
2 |
(AB) Home maintenance and Improvements |
1 |
7.93% |
|
3 |
(BM) Telecommunications |
4 |
6.86% |
|
4 |
(AD) Furniture |
3 |
6.22% |
|
5 |
(AL) Audio-visual |
5 |
4.90% |
|
6 |
(AN) Large Domestic Appliances |
6 |
4.84% |
|
7 |
(AM) Personal Computers, accessories, software and services |
7 |
4.36% |
|
8 |
(CA) Clothing and clothing fabric |
8 |
3.42% |
|
9 |
(EF) Car repairs and servicing |
9 |
3.10% |
|
10 |
(AC) Glazing Products and Installations |
10 |
2.37% |
|
Total complaints 66009 |
66009 |
Clive Kenyon, Consumer Direct South West Contact Centre Manager, said:
'This service across the South West is helping consumers help themselves to proper redress. Thanks to Consumer Direct, we are beginning to have a clearer idea of consumer issues that are affecting people across the region.'
Consumers across the South West of England are able to contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06, or by visiting www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.
Media contact: please call Bernice Williams and Naomi Kitchen on 01209 720 285.
