The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) saw a sharp rise in consumer queries last year, with nearly 45,000 people reaching out to its National Consumer Helpline.

This marks an increase of over 5,000 contacts compared to 2023—a 13% jump.

Issues related to vehicles and transport were the most common reason for complaints, with almost 5,500 consumers raising concerns about car purchases and related transactions.

Telecommunications and home building & improvements were the next most frequently reported sectors.

Consumers who contacted the helpline had spent an average of €6,013 on the goods or services they sought help with, highlighting the significant financial stakes involved.

According to CCPC spokeswoman Grainne Griffin, “Our helpline reports shine a light on the challenges faced day to day by consumers; these aren’t trivial, and neither are the costs involved.

“The average cost quoted by a consumer calling our helpline was just over six thousand euros. This is driven by very high costs related to second-hand cars and home improvements.”

One of the key issues raised was the difficulty in obtaining redress for faulty goods and services, with nearly 9,500 people reporting such problems.

Additionally, over 2,000 consumers sought guidance on contract cancellations.

Griffin expressed concern that consumers facing high-value disputes have limited legal recourse: “Unfortunately for those consumers, they will not be able to use the small claims process to resolve their issue, because the small claims court only deals with cases up to €2,000.

“This limit urgently needs to be addressed.”

Car-related complaints remained a dominant issue, prompting renewed calls for consumer protections in the sector.

Griffin stated, “Vehicles and transport topped the list of sectors yet again, with over five thousand people contacting us about issues buying cars.

“We have recently called on the Minister for Transport to introduce an online car history portal, gathering information from insurers and the NCT and making it free to the public.

“This would help car buyers avoid unsafe, crashed or clocked cars.”

With consumer complaints on the rise and the financial stakes higher than ever, the CCPC continues to advocate for stronger consumer protections and improvements in dispute resolution mechanisms.