How long is the Ombudsman queue?

GaryBC

Hi guys

Following the excellent guidelines here I am currently chasing a claim for miss-sold PPI insurance. I have got as far as an FSA Adjudicator finding in my favour but, as the company is still resisting settling, the Adjudicator has passed my case on to the Ombudsman.

My question is this: how long can I expect to wait before; a) my case finds its way to the head of the queue and ends up in someone's in-tray for processing and, b) how long might it take for the Ombudsman to review my case and issue a 'verdict'?

I realise that this is probably asking how long a piece of string is! But I would also expect that the Ombudsman has some sort of target in place for how long a case can languish in the queue, and then how long it should take to turn it round once it gets to the front.

This case has been rumbling along for over a year now and it would be nice to know roughly how much longer I can expect to wait. (I'm making the presumption here - rightly or wrongly - that the Ombudsman is unlikely to go against the findings of the Adjudicator. I'd like also to hear if anyone has any experience of if that is likely!) My case was passed to the Ombudsman in June.

Thanks,
Gary

dunstonh

A referral to the ombudsman can typically take up to 2 years. I have one which is currently sitting at 20 months.

I'm making the presumption here - rightly or wrongly - that the Ombudsman is unlikely to go against the findings of the Adjudicator. I'd like also to hear if anyone has any experience of if that is likely

Statistically, the ombudsman go with the adjudicator most of the time. Its only where the adjudicator wasn't really qualified enough and made an incorrect assumption or an error that they tend to get overturned.

GaryBC

dunstonh wrote: »

A referral to the ombudsman can typically take up to 2 years. I have one which is currently sitting at 20 months.



Statistically, the ombudsman go with the adjudicator most of the time. Its only where the adjudicator wasn't really qualified enough and made an incorrect assumption or an error that they tend to get overturned.

Good grief - two years?!?!

I was hoping I was going to hear, "the Ombudsman strive to get all cases completed with 6 - 8 weeks" or something like that!!

Is there any way of getting an assessment from them as to where my particular case is in the porridge? A website maybe where I can enter my case ref? (Like tracking a DHS parcel delivery!)

dunstonh

Is there any way of getting an assessment from them as to where my particular case is in the porridge? A website maybe where I can enter my case ref? (Like tracking a DHS parcel delivery!)

no. Just periodic chaser emails and telephone calls.

magpiecottage

dunstonh wrote: »

Its only where the adjudicator wasn't really qualified enough and made an incorrect assumption or an error that they tend to get overturned.

I have seen an ombudsman make a really bizarre decision, overturning a qualified adjudicator!

-SDW-

My adjudicators decision was overturned by ombusman ..for mppi with halifax..however ombusmans decision was after the review and adjudicators was before,dont know if that had anything to do with though...i also have one last complaint in with FOS re my wifes credit card which was also passed on to the ombusman after adjudicator said no...:beer:

GaryBC

magpiecottage wrote: »

I have seen an ombudsman make a really bizarre decision, overturning a qualified adjudicator!

This isn't filling me with confidence guys!!

GaryBC

-SDW- wrote: »

My adjudicators decision was overturned by ombusman ..for mppi with halifax..however ombusmans decision was after the review and adjudicators was before,dont know if that had anything to do with though...i also have one last complaint in with FOS re my wifes credit card which was also passed on to the ombusman after adjudicator said no...:beer:

Hmm... don't understand I'm afraid - why would an adjudicator make a ruling before hearing all the evidence?!?! (As I say, I don't understand.)

My case is a PPI claim which has been passed up to the Ombudsman because the company who sold me the PPI are refusing to accept the Adjudicator's decision (which was in my favour). I guess they're doing nothing other than making a last-ditch appeal to The Top rather than pay me back the ten grand in premium I've paid up to now and 'lose' £130 a month for the next 18 years!!

Looking on the bright side. Every month which goes by and it's not settled could be an additional £130 they owe me!! (Ever the optimist, me!!:D)

Bangton

The FOS would refer to the company who sold you the PPI and ask that they prepare the case for them to review. Typically this takes 8 weeks and sometimes further info is needed so the 2 liaise with each other. You could contact the FOS to see if someone has been allocated the case yet? I had a complaint with them that took 4 months start to finish which I didn't think was too bad

-SDW-

GaryBC wrote: »

Hmm... don't understand I'm afraid - why would an adjudicator make a ruling before hearing all the evidence?!?! (As I say, I don't understand.)

My case is a PPI claim which has been passed up to the Ombudsman because the company who sold me the PPI are refusing to accept the Adjudicator's decision (which was in my favour). I guess they're doing nothing other than making a last-ditch appeal to The Top rather than pay me back the ten grand in premium I've paid up to now and 'lose' £130 a month for the next 18 years!!

Looking on the bright side. Every month which goes by and it's not settled could be an additional £130 they owe me!! (Ever the optimist, me!!:D)

sorry.. i mean the judicial review..the adjudicator said no , i asked for the ombudsman to look at case and he said yes

GaryBC

Bangton wrote: »

The FOS would refer to the company who sold you the PPI and ask that they prepare the case for them to review. Typically this takes 8 weeks and sometimes further info is needed so the 2 liaise with each other. You could contact the FOS to see if someone has been allocated the case yet? I had a complaint with them that took 4 months start to finish which I didn't think was too bad

After posting this thread I dug further into the FOS website and found a contact page - which I used to ask pretty much that. I'll give it a week or so and ask again.

And no, 4 month's isn't bad.

Here's another (but related) question. While trawling their website I came across a whole set of guidelines - within which I found a reference to something to the effect, "if a 'knock-on' effect of the miss-selling was further financial hardship that may not have occurred otherwise" - a document titled "DISP App 3.9.2" on page http://fsahandbook.info/FSA/html/handbook/DISP/App/3/9.

Now I don't recall "extraneous factors" were ever discussed in my initial dealings with the Adjudicator but buying this PPI would have definitely been contributory factor to us currently being in a Debt Management Plan with Payplan!

Is this what is meant by that clause? If so, and it's not too late, can it be added?