Complaints about used car dealers up 8 percent in 2009

Posted on February 1st, 2010 by News in Car Dealers, Consumer, News

Complaints about used car dealers up 8 percent in 2009

Government-funded advice service Consumer Direct has revealed that complaints about second-hand cars bought from independent dealers has topped the list of concerns for the fourth year running.

In total, Consumer Direct received 50,790 complaints about second-hand cars bought from independent dealers, up by 8% on the previous year.

Complaints about TVs came second, up 9% to 22,184 and complaints about mobile phone service agreements came third, down 29% to 22,172.

The data collected by Consumer Direct is used to help the Office of Fair Trading, local authority Trading Standards Services and other enforcement bodies to build intelligence, determine priorities and focus resources.

The high level of used car complaints was a factor in the OFT’s decision to launch a market study into second-hand car sales in May 2009. The final report from this study is due to be published in the spring.

Get a CAP Used Car Valuation for just £3.50 - What The Professionals Use

The Motor Trade Insider Guide To Buying New Cars

Search terms for the article:

  • Used car dealers top OFT consumer complaints list
    According to a report on the UK’s £24bn used car market by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) one in [...]...
  • Used cars top Consumer Direct complaints list
    Cars, mobile phones and televisions remain high on the list of complaints from consumers in the UK in 2009. Secondhand [...]...
  • 68,000 complaints may just be the tip of the iceberg
    The recent announcement by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) that they received a whopping 68,000 complaints about used cars [...]...
  • OFT to launch probe into second hand car sales
    The Office of Fair Trading is to launch a market study into the high level of complaints in the sale [...]...
  • Used car market is still top for customer complaints
    For the third year running, second-hand cars top a list of complaints received by Consumer Direct about defective goods. The [...]...
  • Used car dealers top complaints list
    Consumer complaints about used car dealers tops the list. Consumer Direct answered more than 1.5 million calls and emails from consumers in 2007 and logged 819,815 complaints on its database, up 18 per cent from the previous year. In total, Consumer Direct received 41,880 complaints about second hand cars bought from independent traders, up 18 per cent on the previous year. Complaints about mobile phone service agreements came second, up 49 per cent and complaints about TVs came third, up 14 per cent. David Sayer, Head of Governance for Consumer Direct North East said: 'The rise in complaints in 2007 reflects, in part, a growing awareness of the service among the general public as well as an increasing willingness among consumers to complain when they buy unsatisfactory goods or receive poor service. Consumers are finding that by arming themselves with information about their rights, they stand a better chance of resolving problems with shops and traders.' ...
  • Comments are closed.

    Automotive Industry News

    About MTI

    Motor Trade Insider
    Our aims:
    Build a bridge between consumers and the trade.

    Create Interesting and informative content.

    Break down barriers and create better understanding.

    Expose bad practices and rip-offs.

    Promote outstanding products and services.

    Motor Trade Insider is written by people working actively in the motor trade for people on the inside and people on the outside.

    Motor Trade Insider New Car Buying, Used Car Buying, Used Car Prices, Used Car Values UK. Car buying guide. Whether you’re buying a new car or interested in used cars or car valuation or just general information and advice on the motor trade and UK Automotive Industry.

    Valid CSS!

    Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional

    [Valid RSS]

    Bargain of the Week

    Bargain of the Week – Land Rover Discovery

    Bargain of the Week – Land Rover Discovery

    With all the boxes ticked it does make you wonder how the British government think they can keep raising the cost of car ownership to ...

    Bargain of the Week – Ferrari 355

    Its V8 engine became the first road-going Ferrari to have bypass valves built into the exhaust system letting pretty much all of its thunder explode ...

    Bargain of the Week – 2003 Range Rover 3.0 Td6 HSE

    With the recent facelifted Range Rover and Sport doing wonders for sales, forking out for a 10-plate can set you back over 50 big ones ...

    Scrappage

    Order takers stand aside – it’s time to get back to selling cars

    Order takers stand aside – it’s time to get back to selling cars

    A sales manager we spoke to who represents a franchise for a German manufacturer said that normally in the build up to a plate change ...

    Car Makers Premier League – July 2010

    with the headline figure for the month being a 13.2% decrease to 136,446 units. In July 2009 the market had showed its first increase for ...

    The scrappage scheme has ended, get over it

    The continuous changes which the car trade is undergoing means that until staff get the message that customers demand (and deserve) great service and will ...