Highest number of complaints last year came from 45,000 used car owners

Complaints were lodged by 45,000 used car buyers in the year to February Credit: David Cheskin/PA Wire

The highest number of complaints last year, came from used car owners who bought from independent dealers, new figures have shown.

More than half a million people in the UK complained about shoddy products worth £3.5 billion in the last year, forcing Citizens Advice to call on retailers to display consumer rights information at checkouts.

Complaints were lodged by 45,000 used car buyers in the year to February, followed by 12,000 complaints about mobile phone contract and 11,500 about repairs by an independent garage.

Other top grievances included:

  • Upholstered furniture

  • Mobile phone handsets

  • Laptops

  • Notebooks and tablet PCs

  • Women's clothing

  • General building work

  • Televisions

  • Beds and mattresses

According to Citizens Advice Bureaux, 1.6 million people sought advice online, with five times as many people visiting its website this February compared to February 2012.

Citizens Advice chief executive Gillian Guy said:

General building work scored high on the complaints list Credit: Gareth Fuller/PA Archive

According to consumer minister Jo Swinson, "significant steps" towards strengthening consumer rights and protections had been made since last year.