Big picture
In total, 219 businesses feature in the complaints data for the six months to 31 December 2017 (2H17), a drop of 11% when compared to the previous six-month period (1H17).
A total of 165,406 new complaints were received, representing a drop of 3% when compared to 1H17 (170,083).
Of this figure, 92,231 were about payment protection insurance (PPI), an increase of 3% when compared to 1H17 (89,513).
Advice
Advice companies showed a downward trend in complaints across the board.
Sesame had the highest number (88) of new complaints for an advice company. This was a drop from 1H17 when 100 complaints were made against the network.
SJP was the second most complained about advice company, with 58 new complaints being lodged in the second half of the year. This also was a drop from the 1H17 when 71 new complaints were made against the company to the FOS.
Openwork received the third highest amount of new complaints with 50, compared to 61 in 1H17, followed by Hargreaves at 46 new complaints, compared to 50 in 1H17.
Insurers
When looking at complaints relating to life, pensions and decumulation, Prudential received the most new complaints with 236. This was a drop from 261 in the first half of 2017.
Aviva Life and Pensions was the second most complained about with 185 new complaints. This figure went against the easing trend and showed a rise in complaints from 147 in the first half of 2017.
Phoenix Life came in third with 117 new complaints, compared to 141 in 1H17, followed closely by Royal London with 112, a drop from 135 in 1H17.
Banks
Banks retained their position at the top of the list of the most complaints related to investments.
They were also the institutions with the most new complaints. As a proportion of complaints, investments were dwarfed by banking and credit and payment protection insurance (PPI) complaints.
Barclays received the most investment complaints with 337. This was a rise from 1H17 when 305 investment complaints were made against the bank.
Lloyds came in second with 177, compared to 201 in 1H17, followed by Santander with 171, a drop from 213 in 1H17.
