'Fees for no service' bill tops $50m for ANZ
ANZ and ASIC have documented the total cost of compensation for customers of the bank's financial planning business, charged in part for services never provided.The bank on Friday said it agreed an enforceable undertaking with ASIC over the matter.ANZ "failed to provide documented annual reviews to more than 10,000 'Prime Access' customers over the period from 2006 to 2013," ASIC said.The total compensation paid said far is estimated at A$46.9 million.ANZ Group Executive Wealth Australia, Alexis George said in a media release: "We have apologised to those customers who did not receive an annual documented review, part of ANZ Financial Planning's Prime Access package, between 2006 and early 2013."The banks said it "fee reimbursement approach, which commenced in 2015, was accepted by ASIC and is now largely complete." As part of the enforceable undertaking, an independent expert will be appointed "to provide an assurance ANZ has delivered the documented client reviews since 2014 and has made the necessary changes to systems, controls and processes to ensure documented reviews continue to be delivered annually as required.?ANZ will also make a $3 million contribution to not-for-profit community organisations.