Ryanair, Rathwood and Currys have emerged as the most complained-about companies in Ireland last year, according to the latest consumer helpline report published by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), highlighting growing frustration among shoppers over delays, refunds and faulty goods.
The Irish airline Ryanair received 593 complaints, placing it at the top of the list once again. Rathwood, a Carlow-based retailer specialising in garden and outdoor furniture, recorded 565 complaints, a dramatic increase from just 24 in 2024. UK electrical retailer Currys followed closely with 445 complaints.
Rathwood acknowledged difficulties over the past year, stating it “fell short” in meeting customer expectations and is now focused on rebuilding trust. The company said the loss of its main supplier had disrupted deliveries and slowed refund processing, but it has since restructured its supply chain. It also highlighted that more than 9,000 complimentary tickets and vouchers were issued as goodwill gestures, including for its Santa Train event.
The CCPC report showed a broader rise in consumer issues linked to online shopping, which increased by 14% to 9,802 cases compared with the previous year. Complaints relating to home building and improvement projects also climbed by 12%, reaching 2,838 cases, with consumers reporting an average spend of €14,597 on problematic work.
Vehicle-related issues remained the most common source of complaints overall, accounting for 5,827 contacts to the helpline. In total, the CCPC received nearly 43,000 complaints over the year.
CCPC Director of Communications Grainne Griffin said the rise in online-related complaints reflects changing shopping habits and persistent misunderstandings about consumer rights. She noted that customers purchasing within Ireland or the EU are entitled to return goods within 14 days, provided they notify the seller within that period.
She also stressed that responsibility for resolving faulty goods lies with the seller, not the manufacturer, regardless of warranty terms. According to the CCPC, one in five complaints involved faulty goods or services, underlining the importance of awareness around consumer protections.
Follow-up research conducted by the CCPC found that 96% of consumers contacted traders after raising an issue, while 43% reached a resolution. Of those, 38% received a refund. However, 61% of respondents reported having to contact businesses five or more times before their issue was addressed, and 16% said they incurred additional costs while trying to resolve disputes.
The findings point to continued challenges in customer service standards across several sectors, despite a high level of engagement between consumers and businesses.
