Laptop complaints rocket in 2009, according to Consumer Direct

According to Consumer Direct, an Office of Fair Trading managed consumer support service, last year complaints about mobile phone service agreements dropped, while complaints about laptops rocketed.

Consumer Direct exists to help consumers by providing advice on consumer rights and on resolving disputes over the purchase of goods or services. Last year the service responded to over 1.5 million calls and emails, which while it sounds like a lot is actually four per cent less than in 2008. At the end of each year Consumer Direct compiles a top ten list of most complained about items - giving a good overview of which products and services are causing the biggest issues for consumers.

First on the list this year was second hand cars purchased from dealers - but technology has been giving consumers its fair share of woes, with televisions taking second place, mobile phone service agreements third place, and laptops a surprise fourth. Laptops in fact recorded the biggest rise in complaints, increasing a massive 42 per cent from 12,395 complaints in 2008 to 17,611 in 2009.

Meanwhile mobile phone contract complaints were down 29 per cent, possibly due to operators cleaning up their acts a little under pressure from Ofcom for greater transparency in tariffs, pricing and advertising.