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The Financial Ombudsman Service,

 At Your Service.

Have the piece of mind knowing that you are backed by the FOS (Financial Ombudsman Service). Key facts about the Financial Ombudsman Service: They were set up by law to help settle individual disputes between consumers and financial firms. They can consider complaints about a wide range of financial matters, from insurance and mortgages to savings and investments.

They are not a regulator ('watchdog') or a trade body or a consumer champion. There role is to settle disputes, without taking sides. They are completely independent, just as a judge would be if you took your complaint to court instead of coming to them. There service is free to consumers. You must complain to the firm first, before they can look at your case. Although they aim to resolve the majority of complaints within six months, some cases can take longer, especially mortgage endowment cases, which they are currently receiving in very large numbers. You do not have to accept any decision they make, you are always free to go to court instead. But if you accept an ombudsman's decision, it is binding on both you and the firm. They cannot give personal advice about financial matters or debt problems.

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