UK financial services firms are underperforming when it comes to complaints handling, despite their growing belief that customers are satisfied with their performance.

That is according to new research by regulatory and complaints handling firm, Huntswood.

Huntswood’s Complaints Outlook 2019 built on its 2016 report to provide a picture of complaints handling performance across the UK.

It combined research from financial services and utilities firms with survey responses from over 5,500 consumers.

The nationally representative survey was carried out by Huntswood’s research partners, YouGov. 

Since the release of the 2016 report, the complaints landscape has evolved as firms have taken positive steps forward. 

Regulatory standards are now viewed as the minimum when it comes to meeting customer expectations and ensuring the fair and equitable treatment of vulnerable customers has come a long way for the majority of firms. 

However, the research revealed a “widening perception gap” between businesses and customers – 60% of firms believed that their customers were satisfied with the way their complaints are handled, while the reality was that only 22% of customers actually reported being satisfied.

When asked 71% of customers said they were currently dissatisfied with the empathy of the staff member they interacted with and 70% are dissatisfied with the knowledge of the staff member they interacted with.

Resolution times also remained an issue, with 43% of firms believing they were resolving complaints at the first point of contact, yet just 20% of customers claimed their complaint was resolved immediately.

Complaints Outlook 2019 also revealed a disconnect between the perceived importance of complaints handling by businesses and a lack of focus on building required professional skills.

This was highlighted by the fact that, despite 62% admitting that their employees do not complete professional complaint handling training programmes or qualifications, 81% of the firms interviewed believed their staff were “appropriately equipped and empowered to deal with customers in vulnerable circumstances”.

Also, 50% of firms believed they were creating advocates in at least half of all cases, but just 38% of customers surveyed had a positive complaints experience and shared it with friends and family.

Huntswood says this ‘perception gap’ should be treated as a warning to financial services firms, with 84% of customers adding that they would change provider as a result of a poor complaints experience.

Paul Scott, chief commercial Officer at Huntswood, said: “Firms are increasingly recognising the value that can be derived from the complaints journey. 

“However, despite this, our research shows that there are discrepancies between  how financial services companies believe they are handling complaints and the actual reality for customers.

“Complaints are an unavoidable part of business, so it’s critical that they are handled well and that customers feel valued throughout.

“Firms should therefore be looking to create an effective complaints handling operation, underpinned by a robust strategy which focuses on providing the best possible outcomes for customers.

“Doing so can deliver enormous benefits, such as deeper relationships with existing customers and an increase in new relationships from customer advocacy.”