Economy clarifies consumer associations that claiming the Independent Authority will be free

An error in the document sent to the consultative bodies set off the alarms

MADRID, 28 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Ministry of Economic Affairs has assured consumer organizations that claims addressed to the Independent Authority for the Defense of Financial Clients will be free for clients, so that the fee of 250 euros to finance the future authority will be charged only to entities financial.

On Friday, the Economy Ministry sent the bill for the creation of the Financial Client Defense Authority to the consultation bodies with the modifications made after the public hearing phase of the preliminary draft.

After having had access to the document, from Facua-Consumidores en Acción they warned that the first additional provision indicated that financial entities and clients were taxpayers of the fee payment, when in the first draft it was specified that they were only financial entities those who had to face the payment of 250 euros.

Thus, the association urged the Ministry of Economic Affairs to modify the text to exclude customers from paying the fee. Economy sources, consulted by Europa Press, explained that it was an error in the document and confirmed that the rate is paid only by entities.

The department led by Nadia Calviño has also sent a communication to the association in which it ensures that "services to users are free." "It is true that in the articles of the norm it is mistakenly stated that the fee is paid by financial institutions and customers, although we officially inform you that it is an error, as stated in the explanatory statement of the project of law," says the statement sent to Facua.

Once the ruling is detected, Economy will inform the consultative bodies to which the bill was sent so that they take it into account.

On the other hand, in its allegations to the document, Facua has collected another series of proposals and measures that it considers inappropriate, such as the maximum period of one year to claim before the Independent Authority, the fact that only resolutions for economic issues of less than 20,000 euros and that users can be sanctioned if they file a claim in which "recklessness" or "bad faith" is appreciated.

Once the consulting bodies issue their opinion, the bill must be approved by the Council of Ministers in a second round so that its parliamentary process begins, which is expected to happen during the fall.