Ombudsmen and Regulatory Bodies
Estate Agents Ombudsman
They offer an independent service for dealing with disputes with members.
Telephone: 01722 333306
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Financial Ombudsman Service
Independent service for resolving disputes between consumers and financial firms. Their remit also includes insurance disputes and the sales and marketing of pension schemes.
Telephone: 0845 0801800
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Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
They carry out independent investigations into complaints about unfair or improper actions or poor service by UK government departments and their agencies, and the NHS in England.
Telephone: 0845 0154033
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Housing Ombudsman
They will consider complaints about member organisations and deal with other housing disputes. Members include all social landlords (Housing Associations) registered in England and some private landlords and management agencies.
Telephone: 0845 7125973
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Independent Police Complaints Commission
Organisation responsible for ensuring complaints against the police are dealt with effectively.
Telephone: 08453 002 002
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Legal Services Ombudsman
This body can deal with complaints about lawyers where you are unhappy with the way the complaint was dealt with by the lawyers own professional body.
Telephone: 0845 601 0794
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Local Government Ombudsman
This organisation can investigate complaints about councils and certain other bodies.
Telephone: 020 7217 4620
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The Pensions Ombudsman
This ombudsman investigates and decides complaints and disputes about the way pension schemes are run. Complaints about the sales and marketing of pension schemes are dealt with by the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Telephone: 020 78349144
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The Removals Industry Ombudsman Scheme
Offers an independent service to resolve disputes between member companies and their clients.
Telephone: 01442 891736
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Office of the Telecommunications Ombudsman
This is an ombudsman for public communications providers and their customers. They will investigate complaints about member companies.
Telephone: 0845 0501614
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Energy Supply Ombudsman
This Ombudsman will help to resolve disputes that consumers may have with member companies.
Telephone: 0845 055 0760, or 01925 530263
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ICSTIS
ICSTIS is the premium rate service regulator for all premium rate charged telecommunications providers. They regulate services in their entirety - their content, promotion and overall operation – through a Code of Practice.
Telephone: 0800 500 212
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Energywatch
This is the independent gas and electricity watchdog, and their mission is to get the best deal for energy customers. They offer free impartial advice and can sometimes assist in disputes with suppliers. They can provide details of which supplier can offer you the cheapest gas and electricity prices in your area.
Telephone: 08459 06 07 08
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Financial Services Authority
The FSA is an independent body set up to regulate the financial services industry in the UK.
Telephone: 0845 6061234
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Financial Services Compensation Scheme
The FSCS is the UK’s statutory fund of last resort for consumers of financial services firms. They pay compensation if a firm is unable or likely to be unable to pay claims against it, generally due to the firm ceasing trading and having insufficient assets to meet the claim or being insolvent.
Telephone: 020 7892 7300
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The Law Society
This is the regulatory and representative body for solicitors in England and Wales.
Telephone: 020 7242 1222
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Office of Fair Trading
The OFT’s job is to make markets work well for consumers and to increase choice for consumers. They play a leading role in promoting and protecting consumers’ interests throughout the UK, while ensuring that businesses are fair and competitive.
Telephone: 08457 224499
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OFCOM
Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services.
Telephone: 020 7981 3040
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Office of the Telecommunications Ombudsman
Will assist in resolving disputes between its members and consumers.
Telephone 0845 050 1614
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Communications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme
This is an independent dispute resolution service for communications providers
and their customers.
Telephone: 0207 4217432
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Office of Water Services
OFWAT is the regulator for water and sewerage services in the UK.
Telephone: 0121 6251300
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Consumer Council for Water
This organisation represents the interests of water and sewerage consumers in England and Wales.
Telephone: 0845 039 2837
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The Information Commissioner’s Office
This is the UK’s independent public body set up to promote access to official information and to protect personal information.
Telephone: 01625 545 745
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The Charity Commission
This is the regulator and registrar for charities in England and Wales.
Telephone: 0845 300 0218
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Advertising Standards Authority
The ASA is an independent body set up by the advertising industry to police the rules laid down by the advertising codes. They ensure amongst other things that advertising is legal, decent, honest and truthful.
Telephone: 020 7492 2222
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Food Standards Agency
The Food Standards Agency is an independent Government department set up to protect the public’s health and consumer interests in relation to food.
Telephone: 020 72768000
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The Gambling Commission
The Commission regulates casinos, bingo, gaming machines and lotteries. In addition, from 2007 it will have responsibility for the regulation of betting and remote gambling, as well as helping to protect children and vulnerable people.
Telephone: 020 7306 6200
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The Security Industry Authority
This body exists to manage the licensing of the private security industry.
Telephone: 08702 430100
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Postwatch
This is the Wachdog for postal services and its purpose is to ensure that post offices, Parcelforce, the Royal Mail and any competing postal providers give the best service possible to their customers.
Telephone: 08456 013265
