Complaints about used car dealers up 8 percent in 2009

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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.