Britain’s biggest bugbears – revealed

Calls from unknown numbers, running out of mobile phone data and public transport running late are amongst the biggest frustrations of modern life for the British public
A typical adult in the UK will complain three times per day, on average
Nearly half of Brits admit to enjoying having a whinge and a moan

Adverts without a ‘skip’ button, someone nabbing the social media username you wanted and tangled earphones have been named among the biggest inconveniences of modern life, according to O2. Calls from unknown numbers, running out of phone battery or data and a cracked screen were also among the woes causing the British public daily anguish.

The study, exploring the top 40 things which get on the nerves of the nation, found public transport continues to be a bugbear for many, while issues with mobile phones are also a frequent frustration. Not having enough leg room on a journey, websites with contact forms instead of email addresses and bars or shops which no longer accept cash payments also featured on the list.

The study was commissioned by O2 to launch their new Unlimited Data tariffs, which give customers limitless mobile phone data, and found this to be within the top 10 biggest frustrations for the British public, where more than one third have run out of data, doing so once every four months.

A spokesperson for O2 said: “Modern life is frustrating – it’s usually the small, seemingly insignificant things which – over time – all add up to an even bigger frustration. These small things tend to have a knock-on effect for the day ahead – another reason why they can be so annoying.

“A late train might make you late for a meeting or your phone running out of battery could mean you can’t reply to an important message. It’s why we want to make things just that little bit easier and give our customers the option of having unlimited data, so they have one less thing to worry about.”

During a typical day, adults will complain an average of three times, and nearly half admitted to enjoying a whinge or moan over the inconveniences modern life throws at them.

It also emerged 35 per cent reckon the British public has a regular whine because it’s easier to find problems than solutions, and nearly a quarter reckon complaints come from those who enjoy the attention. Meanwhile, three in four agreed it’s a typically British trait to have a moan or a groan about things.

The study of 2,000 adults, conducted via OnePoll, found partners are the ones typically on the receiving end of a complaint, followed by friends and work colleagues. Nearly two-thirds of people even get annoyed with themselves when complaining about modern nuisances.

Also featuring on the list of modern grievances was your mobile phone running out of storage space and apps which almost, but don’t quite, do what you need them to do.

Nearly half of those polled would feel lost if they ran out of data, and four in ten wished they had more each month. Binging on YouTube videos, browsing social media and using a mobile as a SatNav are among the biggest culprits for consuming those precious gigabytes.

Top 40 modern inconveniences:

Intermittent WiFi connection
Calls from unknown numbers
Forgetting passwords
Running out of phone battery
Late trains / buses
Paying extra for luggage on a flight
When your computer needs to ‘update’ seemingly every morning
Not being able to find the end of the sticky tape
Running out of mobile phone data
Not having enough leg room on a journey
Adverts with no ‘skip’ button on YouTube videos
Videos you’re watching via a streaming service (such as Netflix) on TV that are buffering
Having a runny nose
When you crack your mobile phone screen
Autocorrect on your phone
When your phone runs out of space
Bars or shops that no longer accept cash payments
Websites with no email address
Not being able to fast forward live TV
Getting spaghetti Bolognese on a white top
No space on the tube
Tangled earphones
Mobile phone updates
Forgetting your raincoat when it starts raining
A bag of crisps which has been squashed and turned into crumbs
Your takeaway taking more than 30 minutes to arrive
Getting the wrong order with your supermarket online shop
‘Average speed’ speed cameras
Someone already taking the username you want for a social media account
Apps that almost, but not quite, do what you need
People who call you, when you asked for a text or vice versa
When you straighten your hair and it rains
Answerphone messages
Having a dietary requirement like being coeliac or vegan
When the air conditioning takes too long to cool or heat your car
Not being able to pay-at-pump when you’re in a rush
Forgetting to charge your wireless headphones
Never knowing if you can trust your car reversing sensors
People who don’t pick up to withheld numbers
Living outside the delivery radius of the nearest Chinese restaurant

For more information on O2’s new Unlimited Data tariffs, including pricing and available handsets, visit http://www.o2.co.uk/unlimited-tariffs.