Financial Services Ombudsman

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2014

Tuesday, 18 February 2014

Questions (220)

John Halligan

Question:

220. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to a case in which a bank (details supplied) in County Waterford is refusing to acknowledge receipt of or to apply a TRS payment to a mortgage holder's account even though the Revenue Commissioners' TRS section has confirmed to the mortgage holder that the payment was made to the bank on the person's behalf; if his attention has been drawn to any similar instances; the action he and his Department will take in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8227/14]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

Firstly, I must confirm to the Deputy that it is not appropriate for me to comment on or become involved in an individual borrower's dispute with a financial service provider.

On the issue more generally, if a customer has made a formal complaint to the financial service provider in question and is not satisfied with the outcome, then the matter should be referred to the Financial Services Ombudsman.

The Financial Services Ombudsman investigates, in an impartial and independent manner, complaints from individual customers and small businesses who have unresolved disputes with financial service providers which are either regulated by the Central Bank or, are subject to the terms of the Consumer Credit Act 1995.  All personal customers, unincorporated bodies, charities, clubs, partnerships, trusts, and limited companies with a turnover of €3,000,000 or less can complain to the Ombudsman.

Investigations by the Financial Services Ombudsman are free of charge to the customer.