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New research has found that there has been a sharp increase in the number of complaints from banks' financial advice – people feel like they are being missold a range of products from ISAs to mortgages.

Comparing the first six months of 2006 and the last six months of 2008, research from Which? indicates that complaints to banks increased by 32%, from 760,000 to 1,003,000.

Which? even found that the percentage of complaints upheld by banks has fallen from 49% to 38% – so banks are turning away more complaints as they increase.

Phil Jones, personal finance campaigner at Which?, says: "It's a poor reflection on the industry that there are so many unhappy customers out there. Financial firms simply aren't treating consumers well enough and things must change if the industry is to rebuild its reputation.

"Consumers need more information about which firms are being complained about and why, so they can make more informed choices when shopping around for financial products."

There is absolutely no doubt that taking financial advice from a bank is inferior to taking advice from a whole of market adviser. A bank can only tell you about its products and cannot advise on anything else apart from its limited range. But with a whole of market adviser, you will be able to see everything there is on offer in the UK mortgage, savings and insurance markets.

A professional adviser advises fully. They are impartial, they will not 'sell' you a product and they will, by law, give you the fairest and most honest assessment of your situation that they can. If you don't fit a product, they won't try and squeeze you in.

If you are someone with debt problems, with a low income and without anywhere to turn, do not leave your fate to a bank. Talk to someone who will be able to give you advice, not a sales pitch that ends with the sale of a bad financial product – take advice to a professional adviser.

SOURCE: Which? 03/09/09

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