news and events
Listed below are our news updates – including details of events we take part in and details of new information on this website.
For media enquiries, phone Emma Parker (020 7964 0966) or Martyn James (020 7093 5598) in our communications team (out-of-hours media enquiries on 07718 658 306).
latest news
keep covered in the cold
10 March 2010
the ombudsman features in the latest issue of Retirement Today [PDF format] – the lifestyle magazine for people approaching or enjoying retirement – focusing on cold-weather related motor-insurance claims
news updates for 2010
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec
March 2010
update on FSA and payment protection insurance (PPI)
9 March 2010
London Greek Radio
9 March 2010
Emma Parker is interviewed by Greek Radio's Maria Spyrou – to help raise awareness of the ombudsman and highlight the service's commitment to communicating with consumers in their preferred language
international women's day
8 March 2010
to mark international women's day, ombuds"women" feature in Women magazine [opens as pdf] – the lifestyle and wellbeing publication focusing on women's achievements – as part of the ombudsman's ongoing work to raise awareness of the service with younger women
You and Yours on money transfer
3 March 2010
David Cresswell from the ombudsman service talks on Radio 4 You and Yours about the role of the ombudsman in resolving complaints involving money-transfer businesses
complaints across Europe
1 March 2010
February 2010
independent assessor to retire – successor sought
26 February 2010
with Michael Barnes CBE due to retire as the ombudsman service's independent assessor in May 2010, the board of the Financial Ombudsman Service invites suitably qualified applicants to apply for the job – which involves the consideration of complaints about the level of service in individual cases
ombudsman releases latest complaints data on individual financial businesses
25 February 2010
cash machine disputes in the north east
24 February 2010
David Cresswell from the ombudsman service takes part in BBC Radio Newcastle's focus on disputes involving cash machine transactions
training for advice workers in Hartlepool
24 February 2010
our latest regional training-day for front-line advice workers takes place in Hartlepool today – as part of our outreach work with trusted advisers in the community
Belfast boilers
20 February 2010
as the latest cold snap hits Northern Ireland, David Cresswell from the ombudsman service talks to BBC Belfast's On Your Behalf about boiler insurance complaints
warning! fraudulent phone calls claiming to be from the ombudsman service ...
19 February 2010
ombudsman news - issue 83
17 February 2010
- complaints involving consumers who are in financial difficulties;
- insurance complaints concerning domestic plumbing and heating emergencies;
- Paul Kendall, head of our customer-contact division, on handling up to a million calls a year to the ombudsman’s consumer helpline; and
- chief ombudsman (interim), David Thomas, on dealing with increased numbers of complaints
[issue 83 - PDF version opens in new window]
Yr Angor
12 February 2010
coverage of the ombudsman service in Yr Angor [PDF format], the Welsh language newspaper, as part of the ombudsman's on-going campaign to raise awareness of the service with consumers in Wales
The One Show and the ombudsman
11 February 2010
BBC's The One Show talks to Emma Parker from the ombudsman service about the complaints involving continuous payment authorities
ombudsman in Lincoln
10 February 2010
the ombudsman runs a training day for front-line advice workers in Lincoln – to hear first-hand about the financial problems experienced by people living locally
on the RADAR
9 February 2010
the ombudsman features in the Royal Association of Disability And Rehabilitation (RADAR)'s New Bulletin [PDF Format] – distributed to a wide network of charities and front-line organisations providing support and advice to disabled people
Shropshire seniors
8 February 2010
the ombudsman takes part in a discussion on BBC Radio Shropshire about banking problems and older people
banks and complaints
5 February 2010
the ombudsman hosts a forum for banks to:
- talk about the types of complaints the ombudsman continues to see
- discuss how banks plan to improve the handling of customer complaints and
- reduce the number of unnecessary referrals to the ombudsman
training for advice workers in North Wales
3 February 2010
our latest regional training-day for front-line advice workers takes place in Llandudno today – as part of our outreach work with trusted advisers in the community
- gwasanaeth i bawb: cyflwyniad i’r ombwdsmon (a service for everyone ...)
boiler trouble
1 February 2010
David Cresswell from the ombudsman service talks on Radio 4 You and Yours about disputes involving boiler insurance
January 2010
ombudsman recruitment
24 January 2010
as the ombudsman service gears up for an increased caseload, suitably qualified applicants are sought [job ad in PDF format] to join the statutory panel of ombudsmen
ombudsman in Stoke-on-Trent
20 January 2010
the ombudsman talks to front-line advice workers today about the types of complaints it sees and how the ombudsman can help consumers who turn to advice agencies for support
standardising PPI complaint forms
19 January 2010
as part of its work on payment protection insurance (PPI), the ombudsman hosts a forum for consumer groups, claims-management companies and financial businesses – to discuss proposals for standardising PPI complaint forms
financial hardship in Northern Ireland
19 January 2010
David Cresswell from the ombudsman service takes part in BBC Northern Ireland's focus on debt – explaining the role of the ombudsman in resolving financial hardship disputes
warning! fraudulent emails claiming to be from the ombudsman ...
18 January 2010
training for advice workers in East London
14 January 2010
our latest regional training-day for front-line advice workers takes place at University of East London today – as part of our outreach work with trusted advisers in the community
financial ombudsman gears up for record 200,000 complaints – and freezes levy and case fee
12 January 2010
consultation opens on ombudsman's corporate plan and budget for 2010/11
new chief financial ombudsman appointed
11 January 2010
leaving your engine running while you de-ice your car?
7 January 2010
see recent case studies showing the ombudsman approach to insurance disputes involving cars stolen while left "unattended"
who uses this website?
4 January 2010
based on recent responses to our online survey:
- 39% of people were on our website for the first time and 61% were return visitors
- 49.3% were male, 50.7% female and 89.9% white
- 74% were consumers, 20% businesses and 6% researchers
- 4 out of 10 users came via a Google search