Swinton Insurance has come under investigation for breaking Welsh language laws by banning staff from speaking Welsh to customers — and admitting it.

Employees from two Swinton branches in north and mid Wales complained to Welsh Language Commissioner Mari Huws.

The Star understands managers told staff not to speak Welsh with customers on the telephone in case recordings of calls need to be monitored by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

A Swinton spokesman told the Star: “Staff are allowed to speak Welsh but when it comes to the business part of the conversation, they are required to speak in English by the FCA.”

But an FCA spokesman denied that was its policy.

He said: “That’s not right. We require that phone calls to customers are recorded but not in any particular language.”

A spokeswoman for the commissioner, who upholds Welsh language law, confirmed the company is under investigation.

Welsh language law does not require private companies to provide all services in Welsh but protects the rights of people to speak the language to each other.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (the Welsh Language Society) helped the Swinton staff register their complaints.

Society chairman Robin Farrar said: “It seems there are awful problems in the insurance industry, and the private sector more generally, in terms of stopping staff from speaking Welsh with customers.

“One of the most important powers the Welsh Language Commissioner has is the publicity and the bad name she can give to firms that behave like this.”