Customers have hit out at major companies who still use 'Covid' as the reason for their customer service woes, despite cases tumbling and draconian restrictions being lifted as of today.
England woke up to freedom today after nearly two years of crippling on-off lockdowns as all emergency Covid laws introduced to tackle the pandemic ended at midnight.
But consumers across the country have hit out at major retailers, who they claim are still using the pandemic as a catch-all excuse for slow replies to their queries.
Energy suppliers, airlines, insurance companies and the Post Office have all been singled out by customers for sending mixed messages or substandard responses.
Further data published by the UK's Institute of Customer Service last year suggested customers across the country have become fed up with firms using Covid-19 as a 'blanket excuse'.
The industry experts added in their report: 'The number of customers who have experienced a problem with an organisation is at its highest level since the UKCSI began measuring customer satisfaction in 2008.'
Many consumers of Britain's biggest brands are hit with the familiar jingle of music being played while they're placed on hold with a complaint.
Customers have hit out at major companies such as the Post Office and Co-Op who allegedly still use 'Covid' as the reason for their customer service woes, despite cases tumbling and draconian restrictions being lifted as of today
Last week drivers complained of experiencing long delays to rescues by the RAC, which together with the AA is sometimes known as Britain's 'fourth emergency service'
![Crucial public services appear to still be using coronavirus as a blanket excuse. The NHS website still says that changes to GP appointments, where many patients face an uphill battle to meet practitioners face to face, have been 'because of coronavirus'. [File image]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/02/24/17/54610195-10546595-image-a-26_1645722062542.jpg)
Crucial public services appear to still be using coronavirus as a blanket excuse. The NHS website still says that changes to GP appointments, where many patients face an uphill battle to meet practitioners face to face, have been 'because of coronavirus'. [File image]
Customers are also often told that phone lines are 'extremely busy' when trying to ring major airlines, energy suppliers and telecommunications companies at any point during the day.
Others have accused firms and the Post Office of slashing their advertised call centre hours and restricting the times they are able to call.
Electrical retailer Curry's faced the wrath of one customer who tweeted: '@Currys Stop trying to blame your lack of customer service on COVID-19 like many other corporate companies.'
A spokesperson for Currys confirmed that most of the businesses' existing safety measures and working practices would remain the same because infection rates within the community remained high.
Boris Johnson hailed a post-Covid era as he declared self-isolation laws are being axed and free tests will go from April
Another customer contacted MailOnline to say their calls to the Post Office's customer care team were left unanswered, despite the lines supposedly staying open until 8pm Monday through Friday.
The automated answer phone message then goes on to blame 'Covid' for their customer service team being unable to return calls.
It comes as companies across the country are being roundly criticised for continuing to blame the Covid pandemic - now in retreat - for slow response times or substandard services.
Last week, the RAC was slammed by furious motorists who claimed they were made to wait for up to eight hours for recovery services.
Despite its promise to rescue members within 60 minutes, one pensioner was left by the side of a 'freezing' motorway for four hours with her two dogs while a beauty therapist, 26,
