But it wasn't just Vodafone that had an increase in complaints on the last quarter, the ombudsman said. Most large service providers had an increase in complaints too. But the ombudsman did not reveal those figures in its findings.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) today pushed for Australian regulators to adopt tough new regulations for the telco industry. It said the complaints statistics showed 2010-11 was destined to be the worst financial year on record for Australian telecommunications customers.

"The industry will point the finger at Vodafone and say, yet again, that there is no problem. The truth of the matter is that complaints about customer service and complaint-handling issues continue to climb across the board," ACCAN chief executive Teresa Corbin said.

"The ACMA [Australian Communication and Media Authority] announced a major inquiry in March last year called Reconnecting the Customer, to address customer service and complaint-handling issues that were spiralling out of control back in 2008. Now – right when the ACMA is set to release its recommendations from the inquiry – the industry produces its highest number of complaints in a quarter.

"This disastrous result at such a critical time would be laughable if the impact of this industry's inability to get it right didn't affect so many millions of Australians every single day. Communication services are vital and every telco customer in Australia has a horror story about dealing with telco providers – no matter who you have a service with."