Quinn Direct win appeal against Ombudsman’s blanket decision

THE HIGH COURT has overturned a decision of the Financial Services Ombudsman that insurance company Quinn Direct must refund “administration” charges imposed on all affected customers over a six year period for transferring insurance.

Ms Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan yesterday ruled that Ombudsman Joe Meade, pictured, had no power to issue such a general direction in circumstances where only one customer had formally complained.

She found the Ombudsman’s power was confined, in this particular case, to directing Quinn Direct to refund only the particular customer who had complained that he had been charged the €25 administrative charge without any notification in policy documents that such a charge would be applied.