The recently established financial services arbiter has started accepting complaints, however, they should be filed in Maltese, it has insisted.

In a statement sent in English and Maltese, as is the usual practice in Malta, the Arbiter for Financial Services this week informed the public that complaints could start being lodged with its office.

As of this month, complaints are being handled by this new specialised, independent institution instead of the Malta Financial Services Authority.

The office, established by law, is headed by lawyer and former Labour candidate Reno Borg, and its competence will be to award up to €250,000 in compensation for cases dating back to 2004.

Non-Maltese speakers can still submit complaints in English. However, although they will be accepted, the office reserves the right to request a translation

However, “the Office of the Arbiter insists that complaints should be made in Maltese”. When contacted, chair of the management and administration board Geoffrey Bezzina said the office had made this request as all tribunal proceedings were conducted in Maltese.

Non-Maltese speakers could still submit complaints in English, he added. However, although they would be accepted and registered, the office reserved the right to request a Maltese translation.

Mr Bezzina said that, where possible, complaints filed with the office would first go for mediation with the aim of reaching a compromise. If an agreement was reached, the complaint would end there and not appear before the arbiter.

The complaint form is available from www.financial-arbiter.org.mt, 8007 2366 or from the Financial Services offices in St Calcedonius Square, Floriana.

Complaints submitted through a letter and not the prescribed form will also be accepted, and they need to be registered with the office against a payment of €25.

The office noted, meanwhile, that “frivolous or vexatious” cases would be refused by the arbiter in accordance with the law.