Using the Financial Ombudsman

dipsy2006

Hello - I just wondered if anyone had gone the route of complaining to the Financial Ombudsman instead of going to court. I have got to the stage of sending off my Letter Before Action and received a reply to say that they still refuse to pay up. However, I cannot afford the cost of putting in the small claim to the courts at the moment and read on the Financial Ombudsman website that you can complain to them direct, free and they will deal with the complaint.

Has anyone else tried it this way?

Dipsy x

Edinburghlass_2

Yes they have as you can see and there are a few in the Success Stories who have gone via the FO but generally done their whole claim through the FO. As you have come this far I would carry on and have a look at the post in the Reclaim Help Thread, link in my signature, and see if you can get any exemption from fees should going to court become necessary.

jinkssick

Abbey National are starting to become a nightmare. After 4 weeks wait for a decision, (I waited hoping theyll give me the money) they send me another saying 'thanks for being patient and to wait another 4 weeks'. :mad:

Talked to the Financial Ombudsman today and they said I could go with them or should I just opt for the MoneyClaim court, because I want to get my money before the decision in April, which probably mean I will get less?

mathy_2

hi jinkssick, you can claim up to £100,000 in compinsation through the Financial Ombudsman where as the courts you would just get the amount you are going for plus the fees. Because you contacted the Financial Ombudsman, you have already charged abbey £360.

markj1

Antonia Senior wrote this piece if last saturday's Times Money section. She seems to be saying that all you need do is to download the letter on the Financial Ombudsman Service website and to complain to the FOS if the bank does not pay up. Saves all the expense and hassle I've been going through.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/money/article1461905.ece

Can it really be so simple?

Edinburghlass_2

You can ask the FO to handle your claim, as you can see from the previous posts but it will take longer and I don't think its simply a case of downloading the letter and then complaining to FOS if the bank doesn't pay up.

molly1959

Hi

New on here does any one know if you can claim back charges on a secured loan i got into difficulty with and was charged horrendous charges, i am going to try and claim charges bak off hsbc also is there any one who can help you do this, as i am at present looking after my terminally ill dad and want to spend all my time with him cause he has only got very short time.

Thanks Molly

Edinburghlass_2

I'll pop your thread into one about the Financial Ombudsman as they can do your reclaim for you.

amy

has anyone used th FO service.. i'm thinking of asking them to do it for me and wonder has anyone else used them how long did it take.. was it straight forward and did the banks still take it to the court process??? thanks.

amy

whats the largest amount claimed back from a single account??
and do the FO have a limit to claim back as does small claims?? thanks