Banks and super funds response to COVID-19 hit customers resulted in fewer than expected complaints, AFCA says.
But the Australian Financial Complaints Authority is on alert for when JobKeeper is wound down at the end of the month.
Figures released on the anniversary of the declaration of the pandemic show there 11,482 COVID-related complaints about financial products or services. That was 15% – or one in seven – of all complaints over that March-February period.
The one-stop-shop for consumers and small businesses in dispute with a financial institute said two-thirds of the complaints came during the first six months.
Scam-related complaints to the ombudsman jumped 23% in the second half of 2020.
“While not seeking to downplay the challenges people have faced, and continue to face, this was fewer complaints than we thought might arise from the pandemic,” AFCA’s Chief Operating Officer Justin Untersteiner said.
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