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Arbiter's Decisions

You can search for decisions delivered by the Arbiter for Financial Services and judgements delivered by the Court of Appeal (Civil, Inferior) for those decisions that have been appealed.

You may refine your search as wanted by the name of the financial services provider, the language of the decision, the decision year, decision date from/to, the sector, decision outcome, and whether the decision has been appealed or not. If you select by sector (e.g. 'Banking'), you may filter down your choice by selecting issue (e.g. 'Charges') and/or product (e.g. 'Cards'). Please browse the drop-down filters on the left-hand side.

The database of Arbiter's decisions is updated periodically. In accordance with the OAFS policy, complainants' names in such decisions are pseudonymised (the actual names are replaced by unrelated alphabetical references).

The remit of the Arbiter for Financial Services is to investigate and adjudicate complaints lodged by eligible complainants (individuals and micro-enterprises) against financial services providers who are licensed or authorised by the Maltese financial services regulator. When cases are referred to the Arbiter and a decision is issued, such a decision is binding on both parties.

Either party can request the Arbiter for clarification or correction to any computation, clerical, typographical, or similar errors within 15 days from the delivery of a decision. Decisions may be upheld in full, partially upheld, or rejected, and may be appealed by any of the parties.

As to the Court of Appeal (Civil, Inferior) judgements, we refer to the Court Services Agency's eCourts website (https://ecourts.gov.mt/onlineservices/) for the relevant case reference numbers and appeal judgements. Information about appealed decisions on our website is updated periodically. However, such information should always be cross-checked with the eCourts website as we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to its completeness, accuracy or reliability.

Please get in touch with us through our “Contact us” page if you come across any broken links or other incorrect information.Thank you.

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ASF case reference:
ASF 024/2020
Sector:
Banking / Financial Institutions
Language:
Maltese
Financial Services Provider:
HSBC Bank Malta plc
Category Issue:
General admin/customer service
Product/Service:
Cards
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
03/11/2020
Outcome:
Partially Upheld by Arbiter
Reason:
N/A
Appeal Court reference:
Not Appealed
ASF case reference:
ASF 065/2019
Sector:
Insurance
Language:
Maltese
Financial Services Provider:
Mapfre MSV Life plc
Category Issue:
Value at maturity
Product/Service:
Life-related
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
03/11/2020
Outcome:
Partially Upheld by Arbiter
Reason:
N/A
Appeal Court reference:
Not Appealed
ASF case reference:
ASF 031/2020
Sector:
Insurance
Language:
English
Financial Services Provider:
Riverstone Insurance (Malta) Limited (formerly Argo Global SE)
Category Issue:
Rejection of claim
Product/Service:
Home (Building & Contents)-related
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
21/10/2020
Outcome:
Not Upheld
Reason:
Merit (Case not proven)
Appeal Court reference:
Not Appealed
ASF case reference:
ASF 003/2020
Sector:
Insurance
Language:
Maltese
Financial Services Provider:
GasanMamo Insurance Limited
Category Issue:
Rejection of claim
Product/Service:
Travel-related
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
21/10/2020
Outcome:
Not Upheld
Reason:
Merit (Other)
Appeal Court reference:
Not Appealed
ASF case reference:
ASF 145/2018
Sector:
Investments
Language:
Maltese
Financial Services Provider:
MeDirect Bank (Malta) P.l.c
Category Issue:
Misselling / Suitability
Product/Service:
Miscellaneous (securities and funds)
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
21/10/2020
Outcome:
Not Upheld
Reason:
Merit (Other)
Appeal Court reference:
74/2020
ASF case reference:
ASF 095/2019
Sector:
Insurance
Language:
Maltese
Financial Services Provider:
Mapfre MSV Life plc
Category Issue:
Rejection of claim
Product/Service:
Life-related
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
21/10/2020
Outcome:
Partially Upheld by Arbiter
Reason:
N/A
Appeal Court reference:
076/2020
ASF case reference:
ASF 056/2019
Sector:
Insurance
Language:
English
Financial Services Provider:
Axeria Insurance Limited(formerly Axeria Assistance Limited)
Category Issue:
Rejection of claim
Product/Service:
Health-related
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
21/10/2020
Outcome:
Upheld by Arbiter
Reason:
N/A
Appeal Court reference:
Not Appealed
ASF case reference:
ASF 054/2019
Sector:
Investments
Language:
English
Financial Services Provider:
Hollingsworth International Financial Services Limited
Category Issue:
Misselling / Suitability
Product/Service:
Complex/Professional/Experienced/Structured investments
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
16/09/2020
Outcome:
Not Upheld
Reason:
Merit (Case not proven)
Appeal Court reference:
Not Appealed
ASF case reference:
ASF 041/2019
Sector:
Investments
Language:
Maltese
Financial Services Provider:
THE TIMELESS URANIUM FUND SICAV PLC
Category Issue:
Administration/Management/Custody
Product/Service:
Complex/Professional/Experienced/Structured investments
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
16/09/2020
Outcome:
Upheld by Arbiter
Reason:
N/A
Appeal Court reference:
Not Appealed
ASF case reference:
ASF 071/2019
Sector:
Banking / Financial Institutions
Language:
English
Financial Services Provider:
HSBC Bank Malta plc
Category Issue:
Opening/Closure
Product/Service:
Savings/Current/Term Account
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
15/09/2020
Outcome:
Not Upheld
Reason:
Merit (Other)
Appeal Court reference:
Not Appealed
ASF case reference:
ASF 163/2018
Sector:
Investments
Language:
Maltese
Financial Services Provider:
Curmi & Partners Ltd
Category Issue:
Misselling / Suitability
Product/Service:
Complex/Professional/Experienced/Structured investments
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
15/09/2020
Outcome:
Upheld by Arbiter
Reason:
N/A
Appeal Court reference:
063/2020
ASF case reference:
ASF 129/2018
Sector:
Investments
Language:
English
Financial Services Provider:
STM Malta Pension Services Limited (formerly STM Malta Trust and Company Management Limited)
Category Issue:
Administration/Management/Custody
Product/Service:
Pensions-related
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
15/09/2020
Outcome:
Partially Upheld by Arbiter
Reason:
N/A
Appeal Court reference:
064/2020
ASF case reference:
ASF 002/2017
Sector:
Investments
Language:
English
Financial Services Provider:
STM Malta Pension Services Limited (formerly STM Malta Trust and Company Management Limited)
Category Issue:
Administration/Management/Custody
Product/Service:
Pensions-related
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
15/09/2020
Outcome:
Partially Upheld by Arbiter
Reason:
N/A
Appeal Court reference:
062/2020
ASF case reference:
ASF 033/2020
Sector:
Insurance
Language:
English
Financial Services Provider:
Building Block Insurance PCC Limited
Category Issue:
General admin/customer service
Product/Service:
Pet-related
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
15/09/2020
Outcome:
Upheld by Arbiter
Reason:
N/A
Appeal Court reference:
Not Appealed
ASF case reference:
ASF 111/2017
Sector:
Investments
Language:
English
Financial Services Provider:
Custom House Global Fund Services Limited
Category Issue:
Administration/Management/Custody
Product/Service:
Pensions-related
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
15/09/2020
Outcome:
Partially Upheld by Arbiter
Reason:
N/A
Appeal Court reference:
Not Appealed
ASF case reference:
ASF 064/2019
Sector:
Insurance
Language:
English
Financial Services Provider:
Building Block Insurance PCC Limited
Category Issue:
General admin/customer service
Product/Service:
Pet-related
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
15/09/2020
Outcome:
Upheld by Arbiter
Reason:
N/A
Appeal Court reference:
Not Appealed
ASF case reference:
ASF 126/2018
Sector:
Investments
Language:
English
Financial Services Provider:
XNT LTD.
Category Issue:
Misselling / Suitability
Product/Service:
Complex/Professional/Experienced/Structured investments
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
15/09/2020
Outcome:
Upheld by Arbiter
Reason:
N/A
Appeal Court reference:
Not Appealed
ASF case reference:
ASF 023/2019
Sector:
Insurance
Language:
English
Financial Services Provider:
Axeria Insurance Limited(formerly Axeria Assistance Limited)
Category Issue:
Rejection of claim
Product/Service:
Health-related
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
15/09/2020
Outcome:
Upheld by Arbiter
Reason:
N/A
Appeal Court reference:
Not Appealed
ASF case reference:
ASF 077/2019
Sector:
Banking / Financial Institutions
Language:
Maltese
Financial Services Provider:
Bank of Valletta plc
Category Issue:
General admin/customer service
Product/Service:
Savings/Current/Term Account
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
15/09/2020
Outcome:
Upheld by Arbiter
Reason:
N/A
Appeal Court reference:
Not Appealed
ASF case reference:
ASF 039/2018
Sector:
Investments
Language:
English
Financial Services Provider:
Sovereign Pension Services Limited
Category Issue:
Administration/Management/Custody
Product/Service:
Pensions-related
Date of Arbiter's Decision:
15/09/2020
Outcome:
Partially Upheld by Arbiter
Reason:
N/A
Appeal Court reference:
Not Appealed