Consumer department handles hundreds of power complaints

NEARLY 700 complaints from the Balearics were brought to the attention of Consumer group “Facua” last year, the majority of them in relation to electricity and telephone services.

The figure is a 20 percent rise on complaints lodged during 2008 but despite the soaring dissatisfaction, only 32 cases were taken up legally. Of these, 16 disputes were with telephone companies and 6 with electricity suppliers. To a lesser extent, shoewear and clothing companies, and banks were also targetted.

Matters were more noticeable at a national level, said a spokesman for “Facua” where nearly 54'400 complaints were registered last year, more than 77 percent more than those for 2008. There were 1'193 cases which were raised legally, compared to the 765 lodged in 2008, a rise of 55.9 percent.

The majority of dissatisfaction across the country related to telephone services (26.4 percent) embracing fixed, mobile and internet access.
Banks and building societies, and other financial organisations related to house purchase also failed to escape complaint.