SHINE REVEALS TOP 10 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS FOR 2007

Queenslanders are standing up for their consumer rights, lodging 12,561 complaints with the Office of Fair Trading during 2007, an increase of 14 per cent on 2006.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine said household electrical goods and motor vehicle dealers topped the list of most common complaints, each generating nine per cent of all complaints.

Mr Shine said other top ten complaints state-wide included real estate property management (eight per cent), holiday, entertainment and travel services (six per cent), household trader services (six per cent), real estate sales (six per cent), and sheds and water tanks (six per cent).

"The Office of Fair Trading continues to monitor real estate agents and motor dealers and will crack down on any traders doing the wrong thing," he said.

"Last year, the Office of Fair Trading investigated 390 motor dealers, resulting in a total of $41,400 in fines and $101,775 in infringement notices. One dealer was permanently disqualified from holding a licence.

"Younger people complained about computers and related hardware, as well as personal services such as gyms, hairdressers, photography, beauty clinics and modelling agencies.

"Older age groups had more complaints about holidays, entertainment and travel.

"The highest percentage of complaints in any one category was recorded in Rockhampton, where 18 per cent referred to household electrical goods.

"Brisbane consumers have been hit hard by water tank issues, making it the number one complaint category in the metropolitan area.

"A high number of complaints about accommodation services came from interstate visitors holidaying at destinations such as the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Mackay and Townsville."

Mr Shine said the Office of Fair Trading received an average of more than 40,000 calls a month from people seeking advice and information about consumer and business issues, with a similar number visiting the website each month.

"During the year the Office of Fair Trading negotiated $3 million of redress for consumers, including repairs, refunds and compensation by traders," Mr Shine said.

The top ten complaint categories across the state were:

Media contact: Troy Davies / Jamie Byron (Attorney-General's office) 3239 3478