Consumer complaints on the rise

14 April 2009
| By Liam Egan |
image
image
expand image

Consumer complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) related to financial planning and managed investments are soaring in number, according to its latest statistics.

Recent FOS statistics reveal complaints over financial planning rose 114 per cent in the second half of last year over the corresponding 2007 half-year, from 173 in the 2007 half to 370 in the 2008 second half.

At the same time, complaints over managed investments increased by 168 per cent, albeit off a low base, from 70 in the 2007 second half to 188 in the 2008 second half.

Complaints over life insurance increased by 31 per cent in the comparative periods, from 201 in the 2007 second half to 263 in the 2008 second half.

Across all categories, including stockbroking, FOS received nearly 1,000 new complaints in the 2008 second half, close to double the number in the 2007 second half.

Alison Maynard, ombudsman for investments, life insurance and superannuation, said the strongly rising trend is continuing apace in 2009, as its "soon to be published" statistics for the quarter will reveal.

AUTHOR

Recommended for you

sub-bgsidebar subscription

Never miss the latest developments in Super Review! Anytime, Anywhere!

Grant Banner

From my perspective, 40- 50% of people are likely going to be deeply unhappy about how long they actually live. ...

1 year 4 months ago
Kevin Gorman

Super director remuneration ...

1 year 4 months ago
Anthony Asher

No doubt true, but most of it is still because over 45’s have been upgrading their houses with 30 year mortgages. Money ...

1 year 4 months ago

Australia’s largest superannuation fund has confirmed all members who had funds stolen during the recent cyber fraud crime have been reimbursed. ...

4 days 10 hours ago

As institutional investors grapple with shifting sentiment towards US equities and fresh uncertainty surrounding tariffs, Australia’s Aware Super is sticking to a discipl...

4 days 11 hours ago

Market volatility continued to weigh on fund returns last month, with persistent uncertainty making it difficult to pinpoint how returns will fare in April. ...

4 days 11 hours ago

TOP PERFORMING FUNDS

ACS FIXED INT - AUSTRALIA/GLOBAL BOND