Time deadlines from date of final response letter to contacting Ombudsman

Springtime

Hi there everyone,
my bank says i had 6 months from the date on their final response letter to take my complaint to the ombudsman. How strict is this?
Thanks
Springtime

dazza12

Very strict. FOS will not consider a complaint outside this time without a very good reason. Usually these are limited to incapacity through illness or the death of a close relative.

dunstonh

The FOS are very strict on the 6 month rule. You need very good reasons for them to overturn it. Not just for the 6 months but the whole period of the delay.

Typically you would need a direct family bereavement or being incapacitated for the majority of the period.

cing0

Operationally, the facts are that the FOS are not strict within months over the 6m deadline. However, the respondent may object once the case is converted saying it is out of time.
The FOS don't screen against the dates on the 2nd page of the complaint form at first possibly as there could be complaint dialogue that takes place after the final word has been issued which extends this.

magpiecottage

cing0 wrote: »

Operationally, the facts are that the FOS are not strict within months over the 6m deadline. However, the respondent may object once the case is converted saying it is out of time.
The FOS don't screen against the dates on the 2nd page of the complaint form at first possibly as there could be complaint dialogue that takes place after the final word has been issued which extends this.

Not quite correct.

FOS will only apply the six month time limit (or any other limit) if the firm asks it to.

Ongoing correspondence is not normally accepted as a reason for an extension unless the complainant was led to believe it would.

I once saw a case where a later letter said the complainant had "six months from the date of this letter", which did. However, in another case a complainant argued the toss with me for seven months before going to FOS and the timebar was successfully enforced.

dunstonh

Operationally, the facts are that the FOS are not strict within months over the 6m deadline.

They are strict on the reasons if you are looking for a reason to overturn the timebar when it is being enforced. Most firms would ask for the timebar to be enforced.

magpiecottage

dunstonh wrote: »

Most firms would ask for the timebar to be enforced.

They would be daft not to!