Insurance firms may face action from the Central Bank after a review of how they handle complaints found that none of the companies inspected were fully compliant with the code of protection for consumers.

Issuing its findings today, the Central Bank said the review was "disappointing", and said it was considering further enforcement action against some of the companies in the wake of the report.

The survey, which examined more than 600 complaints across 12 companies, found that none of the firms were fully compliant with the requirements of the Consumer Protection Code, with some showing a particularly low level of compliance.

According to the report, companies breached the code on a number of points including failing to provide consumers with details of an individual point of contact, forcing complainants to detail their issues to a number of different people.

The report also identified instances in all firms where they failed to acknowledge complaints in writing within five business days of it being received, and some companies did not acknowledge the complaints at all.

Six of the firms involved failed to to inform consumers they had the right to refer the matter to the Financial Services Ombudsman, or did not pass on contact details for the ombudsman.

"It is essential that consumers feel they can make a complaint and that it will not be a difficult or prolonged process," said director of Consumer Protection Bernard Sheridan.

"The Consumer Protection Code requires that a firm's complaints resolution process is fair and effective and the findings of this inspection are of particular concern considering the prescriptive nature of the rules contained within the code."