The power to settle financial complaints.
The power to settle financial complaints.
The ombudsman is pleased to be working in partnership with Network News – the networking forum for BME (Black Minority Ethnic) graduates and young professionals in the UK. The aim is to raise awareness of the ombudsman service's impartial role in settling financial disputes.
The ombudsman also featured in the official guide to Black History Month 2008 where ombudsman, Juliana Campbell, was interviewed [pdf opens in new window] about the role of the service and how consumers should feel confident in making their voice heard.
If you've fallen out with your bank, insurance company or finance firm, the ombudsman's tips on complaining may help to make sure your complaint is taken seriously.
The ombudsman service was set up by law as a free service for consumers. It looks at a wide-range of financial disputes, from store-cards and stock-broking to insurance and mortgages.
In the lead-up to Black History Month in October 2009, the ombudsman service is planning to take part in community events across the UK, as well as hosting events in our East London HQ. If you would like the ombudsman to take part in an event you are organising, please email liasion.team@financial-ombudsman.org.uk.
Research over the last year indicates that awareness of the ombudsman service among Black African and Caribbean consumers is around half the level of other ethnic groups.
Our work with the Asian community – where levels of awareness of the ombudsman were lower than average – has recently led to a two-fold increase in the proportion of Asian consumers using the ombudsman.