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In Elche, complaints against banks and insurers have increased by 50%

OMIC

In Elche, claims against financial institutions and insurers rise by 50% annually as a result of inadequate information provided at the time of contracting, subpar service, or simply the customer’s failure to carefully read the conditions and believing the coverage does not align with what they agreed to.

Out of almost twenty sectors examined by the Oficina Municipal de Información al Consumidor (OMIC), banks and insurance businesses were among the five most unsatisfied, with 135 and 147 complaints against them, respectively, during 2024. The office head, Torcuato Saavedra, explains some details that cause insurers to misunderstand, like the requirement that the customer cancel a service at least one month prior to the policy’s expiration date. “Unfortunately, consumers are not always well informed or we don’t read everything when signing a contract and we don’t realise it,” he says.

Battle of the numbers


They caution you that the insurer will eventually demand payment of that premium for failing to provide legal notice if you chose to return the receipt instead. Conflicts between the two parties frequently occur here, and many people end up having two insurance plans for a year “because things weren’t done properly,” the technician says. The “number wars” between insurers and the dearth of information some businesses provide to entice customers are additional causes of complaints.

There were 1,971 enquiries and 1,438 complaints filed with the OMIC last year; these numbers are declining, having decreased by almost 20% from 2023. According to Saavedra, this tendency may be explained by the fact that consumers are growing more conscious while making purchases and businesses are getting more professional.

The most criticised are telephone providers.


With a total of 265 complaints last year, telephone companies continue to dominate the complaint landscape, as they have for years. Failure to comply with sales conditions is one of the primary causes. “Because what people don’t know is that when you port your phone number, you’re transferring both your landline and mobile numbers, but internet and television services aren’t ported, and the user has to request cancellation; the company can’t.” Previously, complaints were primarily about mobile phone contracts, but now landlines have issues with related services like internet and television.

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Because of this, the office advises users to always ask for a copy and to carefully study contracts, “even if they are very tedious,”

The profile of the plaintiff


When commercial visits to homes were permitted, the elderly were the most common application profile because they felt betrayed at home. The population seeking protection from the OMIC is typically between the ages of 36 and 64, and the range has expanded with the advent of new technologies.

Internet-based purchasing


In a single year, 206 more complaints are categorised as “other goods” by this municipal agency. The office claims that the majority of these complaints centre on disagreements about internet transactions, which are likewise becoming more frequent. In order to make sure that the company they are transacting with on a marketplace is the one displayed on the screen and that it is based in Spain or the European Union, they advise customers to review the legal notice or privacy policy before making a purchase.

Festivity


In honour of World Consumer Rights Day, the OMIC and the Department of Consumer Affairs held an information booth in Plaza de Baix this Friday to provide the residents of Elche with free consumer advocacy, training, and advice.

The area’s edil, Inma Mora, accepted the work I do to address the needs and concerns of both consumers and establishments. Taking into consideration that this space, which has six professionals after being reinforced recently with two more technicians, provides consumers with pautas referring to the regulations in effect at the time of purchase or that must be followed by those products to ensure that the consumer has no issues.

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Advice Saavedra explained that the focus of this year’s attention has been on helping merchants and distributing hojas of preceptive reclamations that must have all the establishments at the customers’ disposal.


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Costa Blanca

Family rescued from house fire in Villajoyosa

Villajoyosa

Yesterday afternoon, Monday 31st March, a fire started on the bottom floor of a house near the railway bridge in Villajoyosa, forcing a family to evacuate. However, no one there needed medical care, according to municipal sources.

The local police, the Guardia Civil, firefighters from the Provincial Consortium attached to the Benidorm fire station, and an ambulance—which was eventually unnecessary—were among the emergency services sent to the scene.

Throughout the late afternoon, a large portion of the town could see the smoke column, which was coming from the Costes district.


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Costa Blanca

Benidorm emergency services rescue Brit from an estate agents sign

Benidorm TV Interview

When a 27-year-old British tourist climbed from an upper floor to an estate agency sign while on holiday in Benidorm, he became stuck and had no idea how to get out. The tourist stood impassively over the business sign a few meters above the ground, while around him, on central Calle Gambo, curious people and police officers gathered and cordoned off the immediate area. This unexpected deployment of emergency personnel included both local and national police and firefighters.

The man was left lying on the sign for a short while until a fire engine ladder finally came up to the sign and assisted him in getting out.

Police sources claim that the tourist received no punishment for the event, not even an arrest or fine. This pedestrian and commercial route, which links Plaza Triangular with Calle Martínez Alejost, returned to normal whilsts some locals used their mobile phones to record the events.


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Costa Blanca

Santa Pola Local Police intensify road checks

The Santa Pola Local Police conducted a number of control and verification operations on Sunday at several sites throughout the municipality, paying special attention to the Gran Alacant region. The police claim that these measures are a part of an effort to improve public safety and deter crimes that can disturb local residents’ quality of life.

At vehicle checkpoints, officers conduct inspections, identifying drivers and passengers, checking documents, and looking for suspicious activity. In accordance with Law 4/2015 on Citizen Security, roughly 80 vehicles were searched during these operations, about 50 were identified, and several drug possession complaints were made.

The police deployment also involved the issuance of many administrative reports for violations of the General Regulations for Vehicles and Drivers and the examination of some hunters’ guns documents. Additionally, two instances of drug-impaired driving were found, and the related reports were submitted.

According to the Local Police Headquarters, the goals of these controls are to lessen illegal activity, guarantee legal compliance, and improve the rapport between the Santa Pola community and the police. The major goals are to deter crime, find possible criminals, and, most importantly, build community trust by encouraging cooperation between law enforcement and the public.

The organisation stresses how crucial it is for the public to be aware of police presence on the streets because officers’ visibility not only helps to identify infractions but also discourages criminal activity, fostering peace and public order.

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