| Author (Corporate) | European Commission: DG Communication |
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| Series Title | Press Release |
| Series Details | IP/09/1341 (22.9.09) |
| Publication Date | 22/09/2009 |
| Content Type | News |
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There are widespread problems with the way banks inform and advise their customers according to a European Commission report on retail financial service published on 22 September 2009. Specific problems include information which in many cases is difficult to understand, opaque bank fees, problems with advice and low levels of switching. The report describes the price structures of current accounts as 'very opaque making it almost impossible for consumers to know how much they are paying and to compare different offers.' For 66% of banks surveyed, bank fees were so unclear that experts compiling the report needed additional explanatory contacts with the bank to find the real costs of an account. Austria, France, Italy and Spain score poorly on transparency and are among the most expensive countries for banking accounts. The EU market is fragmented depriving consumers of the advantage of an EU Internal Market. Only 9% of EU consumers switched current accounts for the two years 2007-2008. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1341&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
