YEREVAN, January 24. /ARKA/. The Armenian ombudsman’s office has received 3,221 complaints since January 2009 and over AMD 228 million has been paid to claimants, Armenian Financial Ombudswoman Piruz Sargsyan said Thursday while summarizing the results of her office’s 2012 activity.

“Some 772 of these complaints were considered, and as a result, more than AMD 228 million was paid in compensations,” she said.

She said that 64.4% of all the considered complaints were decided in favor of complainants.
Sargsyan also told journalists that the office received 1,311 complaints in 2012.

“Some 392 of them were considered – 96 were filed against banks, 284 against insurance companies, mostly on obligatory car insurance, five against car insurance bureaus, two against credit organizations and five against pawn houses,” she said.

In her words, 71.03% of the complaints received in 2012 satisfied clients’ claims, 68% of matters were settled amicably under the office’s mediation.

Compensations to clients amounted to more than AMD 111 million.

Responding to ARKA News Agency’s question, the financial ombudswoman said that compliance with her decisions is obligatory.

The office received 63.2% more complaints in 2012 than in 2011, and the number of considered claims grew 172.2%, compared with 2011, while in 2011 they grew 25% and 31% respectively, compared with 2010, and in 2010 grew 70% and 90%, compared with the previous year.

The Armenian financial ombudsman office was first in the Commonwealth of Independent States. It started functioning on January 24, 2009.

The office defends rights and interests of banks’ clients ensuring fast, effective and free consideration of their claims. The office contributes to enhancement of public confidence in the country’s financial institutions. -0----