It is estimated that over 4bn to customers who were fooled into paying for Payment Protection Insurance on a loan, mortgage or credit could be paid by banks and insurance companies. Experts previously estimated that customer who attempted to reclaim the payments could cost banks up to 1.2bn only but this new number includes the additional amount of customers who the banks will be forced to give refunds to.
A vast amount of customers have been sold PPI insurance that was not appropriate for them or no needed in their situation. Among those who were persuaded to buy policies were those with long lasting medical conditions, the self-employed and pensioners who, by definition, were ineligible for cover.
An estimate by the Financial Service Authority shows insurance brokers may have to pay up to 450m and the rest being paid by a range of PPI providers such as banks. The typical amount refundable to people who purchased individual policies is 2000 which has caused many consumers to enquire.
A variety of high street banks have already been slapped with fines from the FSA as they attempt to make examples as well as forcing them to offer refunds to all of the qualified customers. High street insurance broker ‘The Swinton Group’ have been fined 770,000 for severe failings and were made to offer a refund to over 350,000 customers while banking giants Alliance & Leicester have been fined 7m.
Financial giants are strongly opposing the plans to regulate and control the future sale of policies. The FSA aims to stop companies putting pressure on customers to buy ineffective policies. Adam Phillips of the Financial Services Consumer Panel, says “for too long banks have regarded PPI as an easy product to sell and make money without considering whether it is really right for the customer
If you think you are entitled to a PPI claim, then visit Dons LLP for the best PPI claims lawyers.
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