52% of claims filed with Fidrec against banks, finance firms

More than half the claims filed with the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre (Fidrec) for the year ended June 30 were against banks and finance companies.

During the period, Fidrec received 1,097 claims, down from 1,227 the year before. It was the third straight year that the number of total claims surpassed the 1,000 mark.

Of the claims received, 52 per cent were filed against banks and finance companies, 26 per cent against life insurers and 13 per cent against general insurers, said Fidrec in its annual report released yesterday.

People who were aged 51 years and older continued to form the largest group, with 51 per cent of total claims. The median claim amount was $8,808, while the largest claim amount stood at $1.62 million.

Among the claims filed against banks and finance companies, 42 per cent related to unauthorised transactions, frauds and scams, while 31 per cent involved inappropriate advice, misrepresentation or disclosure issues, said Fidrec.

Among the claims filed against life insurers, 41 per cent were disputes over inappropriate advice, misrepresentation or disclosure issues, and 22 per cent were disputes on liability.

The majority of the claims (72 per cent) against general insurers were mostly related to disputes on liability.

The restrictions brought about by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic resulted in Fidrec concluding 82 per cent of its claims within six months, which was lower than the 89 per cent the previous year.

The centre resolved 862 claims in the first stage of mediation without having to proceed to the second stage of adjudication - representing 76 per cent of cases handled in the period.

Of the cases concluded at mediation, 48 per cent involved a settlement. The remaining 52 per cent did not see any settlement.

Meanwhile, 271 cases proceeded to adjudication, including cases brought forward from the year before.

Number of claims filed with the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre (Fidrec) for the year ended June 30

1,227

Number of claims filed with Fidrec for the same period in the previous year

Fidrec chief executive Eunice Chua said the Covid-19 pandemic meant more consumers transacting online, which led to a surge in claims for "unauthorised transactions, frauds and scams".

She added that these claims took over "market conduct" as the top claim against banks and financial institutions for the period.

Moreover, Fidrec also saw more investments-related claims than in previous years, likely because of volatile markets and the heightened financial stress.

The centre has announced that it will launch a new portal by early next month that is expected to increase efficiency.

The new portal will have online claim-filing linked with MyInfo, as well as portals for consumers and financial institutions to upload documents and receive updates, to name a few features.

Fidrec is a not-for-profit company that specialises in the resolution of consumer financial disputes through mediation and adjudication.

THE BUSINESS TIMES