The number of businesses entering the claims management market has risen by 60% in the past year, new figures show, while the industry’s regulator said solicitors were responsible for malpractice in personal injury claims-handling.

The Claims Management Regulator’s 2009 impact assessment revealed that 2,885 businesses were authorised as claims managers this year, up from 1,778 in July 2008.

In the past year, 293 businesses voluntarily suspended their authorisation, 93 had their authorisation terminated by the regulator and seven are currently suspended. Claims management revenues grew to £361m, up from £280m in 2008.

Personal injury was by far the largest sector for claims-handlers, with 2,232 firms operating in this field, and a combined annual turnover of £287m. However, the report also noted a ‘major new market’ in claims relating to consumer credit contracts, whereby claims firms argue on behalf of consumers that credit agreements are deficient and not enforceable.

The report noted that ‘malpractice in respect of personal injury cases is now predominantly the responsibility of solicitors’. It cited previous research by the Solicitors Regulation Authority which showed that many solicitors do not comply with their duty under the referral code to ensure that claims have not been gathered in a way that breaches their conduct rules, for example by cold calling.

The report said that, while much progress has been made on eliminating hospital advertising and incorrect use of the term ‘no win, no fee’ by claims managers, new problems were now emerging. Misleading advertising is being replaced by ‘misleading information being given [by claims managers] in sales calls’, the report said.

Kevin Rousell, head of Claims Management Regulation, said: ‘Solicitors are not unlike the claims management companies themselves. The majority of firms are trying to comply [with the referral code], others are not very good at what they do and can’t comply, while a few are attempting to get around the rules.’

He added: ‘Solicitors should be intelligent [purchasers] of claims, not victims. There is no excuse for hidden referral arrangements – transparency is all – because the solicitor’s role is to give best advice. Solicitors cannot be constrained by hidden contract terms.’

SRA chief executive Antony Townsend said solicitors must be confident that clients are not being misled and may face disciplinary action if they do not follow SRA guidance on referrals.