The Financial Ombudsman directed an insurance company to pay out over €200,000 to a professional rugby player who was initially refused compensation after his career was ended by injury.
The award was one of many decisions made by Financial Ombudsman Joe Meade in the period January - June 2007 during which his office saw a 29 per cent increase in complaints from the public compared to the same half of 2006.
The rugby player had his case settled after the insurance company was directed to make the payment after initially repudiating a claim under the IRFU payment policy.
The Ombudsman directed the company to pay the full benefit under the policy relating to the complainant's claim €190,461. He also directed the company to pay the complainant another €10,000 in compensation for the distress and expenses sustained by him.
Other decisions reached by the Ombudsman included cases where stolen ATM cards were used to withdraw large sums of money across bank counters, and a repatriation claim by the parents of a deceased tourist that was handled in an insensitive manner by the insurance company.
Of the 2,100 complaints received by the Ombudsman's office by June, 1,200 related to insurance and 900 related to credit institutions.
Since its inception in April 2005 some 8,500 complaints have been received by the office, which ensures that unresolved complaints from customers of financial service providers are investigated, mediated and adjudicated on fairly.
The Ombudsman can make compensation awards of up to €250,000 that are binding on both parties, subject only to appeal to the High Court.