Who's trying it on?

Who's trying it on?

The above was the heading on the monthly newsletter from the Financial Ombudsman Service, and it makes interesting reading. 

In short it was taking about the endless ads on TV and the irritating unsolicited phone calls and texts offering help with PPI claims. A policy type we never sold by the way! 

The Chief Executive and Chief Ombudsman (it's same person, Natalie Ceeney) gave some interesting figures that seem to dismiss all the hype about our society turning into a compensation culture.

Her view is that, 

“I’m not seeing much that suggests consumers are more likely to make a speculative claim now than in the past” 

All I can say is that if you feel aggravated please don’t fester on it, make your complaint, this is the only way we will speed up the process and make change happen. Most importantly if you are going to complain always write to the party you are complaining about first. The Ombudsman service will not do a thing except acknowledge your letter or e-mail until the party you are complaining to, is given the right of reply first.

On Insurance claims excluding the PPI ones in the last quarter the number of claims resolved in favour  of the consumer for contents was 25%, commercial property insurance 35%, buildings insurance 49%, car and motorcycle 48%. There are a load of other areas from debt counselling (63%) to spread betting (68%) all of which most of us didn’t think the Ombudsman was involved in. 

I am a big fan of the Ombudsman Service because it does take an objective view and helps the end consumer.