The Financial Ombudsman Service received 8304 disputes in the September quarter, down 5% on the corresponding period last year and up 1% from the previous three months.

“The reduction in credit, general insurance and payment systems disputes are the main factors in the lower numbers compared with… last year,” the service says in its spring circular.

There were 2306 general insurance disputes, accounting for 27.77% of the total.

Credit issues accounted for the largest proportion – 47.92% of cases – while life insurance disputes made up 4.46%.

Some 6180 disputes progressed to the acceptance stage, where the service takes an active role resolving a problem. General insurance accounted for 1831, or 29.63%, at that stage.