Consumer 1136

New car tax rules will hit residual values

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.'

In-car facilities

Annual motoring costs hit £5,000

Secret tax adds £200 to cost of running family cars