Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 12 November 2014
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions
Role and Remit: Financial Services Ombudsman
4:50 pm
Mr. William Prasifka:
That is right, 25% have been settled after the complaint was made to us. When other jurisdictions release their figures for the full year, they roll the cases settled after the complaint was made into the percentage upheld. That would mean that the percentage upheld would go from 22% to 47%. In some respects, the financial providers have an advantage over the consumer because they know us and have a record, many of the larger ones would have very extensive dealings with us and if a complaint was made, they would have a very good idea if it would be upheld. In these circumstances they have been settling cases. Sometimes they settle at a very advanced stage. In future reports we plan to try to set it out more clearly.