Natalie Ceeney, FOS chief executive and chief ombudsman
Chief executive of the Financial Ombudman Service Natalie Ceeney has dismissed suggestions that more people are making fraudulent claims.
Speaking in the Ombudsman monthly newsletter, Ms Ceeney said she had not seen a rise in these type of claims.
She said: "I've noticed more talk of 'fraudulent claims' with some reports that people are claiming for policies they never actually had.
"But I'm not seeing much that suggests consumers are now more likely to make a speculative claim now than in the past. We have the legal power to dismiss complaints made by consumers who are being 'frivolous and vexatious'. We take this power seriously- and we use it."
The perception of compensation culture came from financial businesses and advertising by claims management companies, she said.
Ms Ceeney said: "I would argue that the answer lies partly with financial businesses themselves. Faced with considerable evidence of bad practice - and hefty costs to put it right - its tempting to deflect some responsibility back onto the consumer.
"Add to this the ever-present advertising by claims management companies-which bolsters the idea that people will willingly 'have a go' and the picture is complete."
This especially applied to claims relating to payment protection insurance where claims management companies have been particularly rife. Latest figures from the Ombudsman show 65 per cent of complaints related to PPI.
