Photo ©AP Photo/Daniel Hulshizer

81 percent of people in the survey felt companies in Australia are not doing anything extra to keep their business or are taking their business for granted (compared to 44 per cent in the Netherlands).

Australia came in behind the US, France, Canada and India in the survey.

Only 2 percent reported that service here usually exceeds their expectations, and the majority would spend an average of 8 percent more for exceptional customer service.

''Australians have a laid-back attitude and this might be translating to some businesses having a similar attitude,'' said Christine Wakefield, vice-president of American Express World Service Australia, which commissioned the survey.

Wakefield adds ''the barometer clearly said customers want superior service and it's certainly not being provided''.

In tough times, it is more cost-effective to keep customers than attract new ones, says Brett Whitford of the Customer Service Institute of Australia.

Do you ever find yourself waiting for the sales assistant who doesn’t end her personal phone call? Or get the waiter whose eyes glaze over when you ask to change something in your meal? What do you think of service in Australia? Have your say below!