Today, banks are constantly under fire for the way they manage business with the general populace. Overcharging for illusive fees and growing concealed costs are a continual practice of the unethical banking industry these days. Though many banks are reprimanded for these systems, they seem unwilling to correct their avarice conduct and conduct themselves in a respectable manner. Adding to this already plentiful lot of consumer consternation is the banking and lending institutions neglect for settlement of bogus Payment Protection Insurance claims.
Though the court has ruled against the banks, ordering them to restitute consumers who were coaxed into purchasing these insurance policies, the banks have used whatever underhanded tactic available at hand to avoid any repayment. One such tactic is a loophole that was found in the Financial Services Authority's regulations on PPI reclaiming. Banks were turning down many consumer applications for reclaim because this loophole allowed them to virtually disregard any complaint which had already been reviewed and rejected. Once a complaint had been rejected, consumers could take their case to the Financial Ombudsman Service; however the claimant must have filed said complaint within six months.
Banks and lending institutions have sold PPI policies in the past without the knowledge of the borrower; these policies being inclusive in loans and hidden well within small print on official forms. Banks and lenders have used this underhanded tactic to sell Payment Protection Insurance as they could produce higher profits by selling these policies to borrowers at a higher expense. This practice is now illegal and PPI policies may not be sold at the time of the loan agreement being taken out. Past borrowers were encouraged to take out these policies though they were all but worthless to the borrower. Unfortunately, numbers of unsuspecting borrowers were victimized by banks and lending institutions and told that they needed PPI before their loan or mortgage would be accepted.
Now that these nefarious tactics have been well documented, compensation claims have and still are rising and expected to cost banks and financial institutions billions. Banks have set aside the capital to ensure that they are able to restitute consumers who were bamboozled into purchasing these worthless policies as they continue to use underhanded delay tactics. Fortunately for consumers, the FSA revised their regulations in regard to PPI claims making the rule retroactive, meaning that those who were victimized would be eligible to receive justified refunds on the premiums they have already paid, plus any included interest. In the cause and effect of it, millions of customers have submitted their PPI claims to their banks and many more will surely follow.
The Financial Ombudsman Service have taken to employing more staff to help with the onslaught of raising claims, which has risen by a 1/3 thus far, and also to deal with banks who are rustling those adjudicators who handle payments for protection insurance complaints. Since this scandal came to light, the FOS ordered banks and lending institutions to award compensation in a timely manner. However, many banks failed to meet the deadline the FSO set, and they are now considering placing additional penalties and fines against these banks and lenders. It seems that banking and lending institutions have the "us against them" mentality when it comes to doing business. Though many examples exist that this mentality is prevalent within the banking industry, one need look no farther than the PPI scandal.
PPI compensation claims have been filed in record numbers this January 2012. This may prove the to be the strongest year for Mis-sold PPI Claims statistics.
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