Consumer complaints about banking services and investments growing rapidly
TORONTO, June 9 /CNW/ - Complaints about the financial industry have
reached record levels, according to new figures released today by the
Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI).
OBSI looked into 990 banking and investment consumer complaints in 2009,
representing a 48 % increase over 2008 and a more than tripling of the
number of case files in just three years. OBSI also processed over
12,400 individual inquiries from consumers and small businesses in 2009.
As in recent years, OBSI saw more investment cases (599) than banking
cases (391). Investment complaints continue to drive much of the overall
increase in complaint volumes OBSI deals with. While banking sector
complaints were up 21%, investment complaints were up a staggering 73%.
"The global economic crisis, coupled with sharp declines in financial
markets, gave rise to much of the increase in complaints we saw," said
Douglas Melville, Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments.
"However, despite the improvement in the markets over the last year,
complaint volumes remain high. We expect this to continue."
OBSI looks into complaints about most banking and investment products
and services including: debit and credit cards; mortgages; stocks,
mutual funds, income trusts, bonds and GICs; loans and credit; fraud;
investment advice; unauthorized trading; fees and rates; transaction
errors; misrepresentation; and accounts sent to collections. Where a
complaint has merit, OBSI may recommend compensation up to a maximum of
$350,000.
"On the banking side, many of the complaints we saw dealt with mortgage
prepayment penalties, rates on lines of credit, or fraud," said
Melville. "On the investment side, the vast majority of cases were
related to the suitability of investment advice. Investment advisors
need to fulfill their "know your client" obligations as well as explain
the risks and characteristics of the products they are recommending."
In 2009, consumers received compensation in 28% of cases reviewed by
OBSI. The rate of compensation was 20% for banking complaints and 35%
for investment complaints.
The Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI) is the
national independent dispute resolution service for consumers and small
businesses with a complaint they can't resolve with their banking
services or investment firm. As a free alternative to the legal system,
we work informally and confidentially to find fair outcomes to disputes
about banking and investment products and services.
For more information visit
http://www.obsi.ca