Referring a Complaint to the Ombudsman
How to take a refused claim to the Financial Ombudsman Service yourself, free, and what makes a submission land well.
The Financial Ombudsman Service is free to consumers and you do not need a claims company to use it. You can refer a complaint about a regulated firm within six months of its final response letter.
This guide covers what the Ombudsman needs, how to structure a submission so the argument is easy to follow, what evidence carries weight, and how long it currently takes. Follow it and you will not need us, which is the intention.
More resources
Chargeback Request — Letter Template
A ready-to-send letter asking your bank to raise a chargeback, with the wording that gets it logged properly first time.
Section 75 Claim — Letter Template
A letter putting a Section 75 claim to your credit card provider, setting out eligibility, breach and the amount claimed.
Evidence Checklist for Money Claims
Everything worth gathering before you claim, organised by claim type, so you only have to do it once.