FCA complaints data Oct 2013

[Amethyst]

The FCA publishes data on complaints and redress for the first half of 2013

_{Published: Today}
Consumer complaints reported by financial services firms fell by 500,000 between the second half of 2012 and the first half of 2013. Data published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) showed 2.9 million complaints were made in the first half of 2013, compared to 3.4 million consumer complaints reported by firms in the previous six months.
The FCA found 51% of the complaints reported in the first half of 2013 were upheld, with £2.55 billion of redress paid to consumers. 92% of the complaints reported in the first half of 2013 were closed in eight weeks, the highest percentage since this data was first published in 2006.
Martin Wheatley the FCA’s chief executive, said:
“We expect firms to put their customers at the heart of their business – an important part of this is the way they handle customer complaints. Publishing complaints data is a powerful tool that helps encourage competition between firms to improve their service to customers; and help consumers assess their relationships with banks and other providers.”
In line with its objective of securing an appropriate degree of protection for consumers, the FCA requires all firms to report data on consumer complaints to us. Firms that receive at least 500 complaints in a six month period must also publish this data on their websites.
Complaints

The five most complained about firms received a total of 1.3 million complaints in the first half of 2013.

• Barclays Bank Plc – opened 370,733 complaints (a fall of 11% since the second half of 2012). Of these 90% were closed in eight weeks, and 62% of closed complaints were upheld by the firm.
• Lloyds TSB Bank Plc – opened 253,735 complaints (a fall of 27% since the second half of 2012). Of these, 90% were closed in eight weeks, and 62% of closed complaints were upheld by the firm.
• MBNA Limited – opened 237,103 complaints (a fall of 12% since the second half of 2012). Of these, 93% were closed in eight weeks, and 36% of closed complaints were upheld by the firm.
• Bank of Scotland Plc – opened 222,249 complaints (a fall of 34% since the second half of 2012). Of these, 97% were closed in eight weeks, and 45% of closed complaints were upheld by the firm.
• Santander UK Plc - opened 198,736 complaints (a fall of 16% since the second half of 2012). Of these, 83% were closed in eight weeks, and 43% of closed complaints were upheld by the firm.

The most complained about products, in terms of complaints reported between January and June 2013 were:

• Payment protection insurance (PPI) – 1,786,626 complaints opened (61% of new complaints).
• Other general insurance – 313,860 complaints opened (11% of new complaints).
• Current accounts - 280,711 complaints opened (10% of new complaints).
• Credit cards – 164,134 complaints opened (6% of new complaints).
• Savings (including cash ISAs) and other banking products – 97,733 complaints opened (3% of new complaints).

Redress

Firms reported payments of £2.55 billion to consumers in the first half of 2013. Compensation for general insurance and pure protection products (which includes PPI compensation) accounted for £2.4 billion of the total, followed by £54 million for investment products and £52 million for banking products, including current accounts, credit cards and savings products.



Comparison of complaints received for different product types
× Comparison of complaints received for different product types


This table shows data for the most complained about firms for each type of product.

H2 2012	H1 2013	H2 2012	H1 2013	H2 2012	H1 2013	H2 2012	H1 2013	H2 2012	H1 2013
Santander UK Plc125, 451	Santander UK Plc120,914	Santander UK Plc14,080	Santander UK Plc13,749	Barclays Bank Plc286,919	Barclays Bank Plc285,062	Santander UK Plc1,689	Santander UK Plc2,050	Lloyds TSB Bank Plc2,009	Lloyds TSB Bank Plc3,092
Barclays Bank Plc118,031	Barclays Bank Plc78,330	Bank of Scotland Plc8,628	Bank of Scotland Plc11,624	MBNA Limited234,633	MBNA Limited224,093	HSBC Bank Plc2,432	HSBC Bank Plc2,002	Santander UK Plc2,236	Santander UK Plc1,972
National Westminster Bank Plc81,519	National Westminster Bank Plc65,764	Barclays Bank Plc5,257	Barclays Bank Plc4,082	Lloyds TSB Bank Plc312,668	Lloyds TSB Bank Plc217,447	Barclays Bank Plc1,944	Barclays Bank Plc1,569	Barclays Bank Plc2,151	Barclays Bank Plc1,690
HSBC Bank Plc64,050	HSBC Bank Plc57,924	HSBC Bank Plc4,359	HSBC Bank Plc3,465	Bank of Scotland Plc291,096	Bank of Scotland Plc174,206	Bank of Scotland Plc1,344	Bank of Scotland Plc1,186	Bank of Scotland Plc1,659	Bank of Scotland Plc1,621
Bank of Scotland Plc36,185	Bank of Scotland Plc33,612	National Westminster Bank Plc3,711	National Westminster Bank Plc3,349	HSBC Bank Plc111,185	HSBC Bank Plc121,505	Lloyds TSB Bank Plc1,242	Lloyds TSB Bank Plc950	HSBC Bank Plc1,695	HSBC Bank Plc1,425

Close

Notes for Editors

1. The latest complaints data, including information on individual firms, types of product, case handling and redress.
2. Firms report their data based on their own financial year end. H1 includes data reported in the first half of 2013, H2 includes data reported in the second half of 2012.
3. ‘Decumulation’ describes the conversion of pension assets accumulated during working life into pension income to be spent during retirement.
4. On the 1 April 2013 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) became responsible for the conduct supervision of all regulated financial firms and the prudential supervision of those not supervised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).
5. The FCA has an overarching strategic objective of ensuring the relevant markets function well. To support this it has three operational objectives: to secure an appropriate degree of protection for consumers; to protect and enhance the integrity of the UK financial system; and to promote effective competition in the interests of consumers
6. You can find more information about the FCA, as well as how it is different to the PRA, on our website.

[Angry Cat]

Re: FCA complaints data Oct 2013

http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/10/18/an...de=aol_1261245