Complaints up 20 per cent

COMPLAINTS to the ombudswoman in Spain rose by 20 per cent in 2012.

Most of them were regarding mortgages, evictions, unemployment and social benefits.

The ombudsman’s department, led by Soledad Becerril, has launched 400 investigations and issued 600 resolutions and suggestions in 2012.

Some of them will have a profound impact, such as preventing evictions, preparing a report regarding State Protected Houses which stand empty, or alerts regarding risky financial products.

Banks will also come under scrutiny this year for selling preferred stocks and subordinated debts without sufficient information thanks to another report from the ombudswoman.

In 2012, a report recommended that overspending on public works should be considered a crime.

Other suggestions included specific treatment for terrorism victims, a report on emergency care in Spain, another on the white slave trade and one on the state of prisons. The results of many of the reports will be released this year.