For the third consecutive year, Manulife Mutual Funds has been named the best in Canada for customer service among its competitors, according to a survey by Environics Research Group.

“These survey results confirm Manulife’s customer focus and strong commitment to understanding what our clients want,” said Guy Vaillant, vice president operations, individual wealth management, in a news release.

The 2003-2004 Environics survey measured customer service agents of 15 mutual fund companies on various attributes, including professionalism, wait time, plus overall value-added service to clients. It also measured the departments as a whole on client service efficiency.

The survey was conducted between April 2003 and March 2004 and the results of 4,345 telephone calls to client services departments by advisors and brokers were combined to develop an overall ranking. Manulife ranked highest overall at 88.1%.