Customer service complaints have hit their highest level on record, new research has found.
The Institute of Customer Service (ICS) found that the number of consumers experiencing service issues was the highest since its UK Customer Satisfaction Index began in 2008.
The ICS survey, which polled 10,000 consumers across 13 industries, found that UK firms are spending a total of £9.24bn every month to cover complaints handling.
According to the data, shortages and supply chain issues have led to a 16% rise in customer problems, typically over quality and reliability of goods and services.
It showed 17.3% of UK customers are experiencing a product or service problem – the highest level since it launched in 2008.
The best rated company for handling complaints in ICS's customer satisfaction index was infrastructure provider UK Power Networks, after strong communication and compensation payouts following storms Eunice and Franklin earlier this year.
Timpson, John Lewis Tesco Mobile, Suzuki and Marks & Spencer all also improved their scores from the last survey.
Specsavers was the biggest faller out of the top 50 companies, dropping 38 places from ninth in 47 since the last survey in July 2021.