RYANAIR, EIR AND Sky were the most-complained about companies in the first half of the year.

The new report by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said a total of 20,526 consumers contacted its helpline, mostly by phone, email and webform from January to June.

Some 4,724 queries related to faulty goods and services.

The CCPC’s free online Money Tools, which help compare different bank accounts and loan options, were used 352,655 times.

Consumers reported spending an average of €6,400 on the product or service they had an issue with.

Ryanair, Eir and Sky were the companies people most commonly had issues with.

Some 4,419 consumers contacted the helpline about an online purchase, with 17% of purchases coming from businesses outside of the EU – an increase of 9% compared the same period in 2024.

The CCPC recommends buying from businesses based in Ireland or other EU countries, where Irish consumer rights are strong.

Overall, the CCPC helpline was contacted about goods and services with a reported collective value of €56 million. The highest average spend was on vehicles and transport (€18,716), as well as home building and improvements (€13,443). 

Grainne Griffin, CCPC Director of Communications, said: “Buying a car or a home are two of life’s most significant financial decisions. Making the wrong choice can be very expensive.”

The CCPC is calling for the government to create an online car history portal.

This would allow consumers to check important information about a car’s mileage, past accidents, safety recalls, and import status before buying a used car.

It’s also calling for more transparency in the homebuying process, arguing that necessary information about a property should be made available earlier in the process.