Banking: ATMs account for most gripes

ATMs accounted for 23 percent of complaints to the office of banking ombud Clive Pillay last year, its annual report released yesterday shows. “ATM-related complaints dominated the case load, with more than 1 800 complaints, up from 1 100 in the previous year.” Pillay said the increase was ironically attributed to banks stepping up security measures to prevent electronic banking fraud. “Criminals are returning to the easier pickings of automatic tellers. That said, the office investigated about 200 more internet banking complaints than in 2012.” Last year the ombud’s office dealt with 4 950 cases, from mobile banking and credit cards, to ATMs, home loans and car finance. More than 1 900 cases were found in favour of the consumer, with about R16 million recovered from the banks. – Sapa