Financial Ombudsman increases award limit to £350,000
From 1 April 2019, the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) can make awards against regulated firms of up to £350,000, which represents an increase of 133%. The following award…
From 1 April 2019, the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) can make awards against regulated firms of up to £350,000, which represents an increase of 133%. The following award…
The APPG on Fair Business Banking launched their highly anticipated dispute resolution report on 11 July 2018. The report, authored by Kevin Hollinrake MP and undertaken by the Centre…
Ali Akram and Jaron Dosanjh attended Parliament on LEXLAW’s behalf at the New City Agenda Event, Tuesday 10th July 2018, Committee Room 14, House of Commons
We have today submitted evidence on the ineffectiveness of existing arrangements for dispute arbitration and settlement between SMEs and banks to the Treasury Committee‘s SME Finance Inquiry. Re:…
RBS says it will expand its redress scheme to include appeals with independent third- party oversight for consequential losses suffered due to misconduct by its Global Restructuring Group (GRG).
UK Parliament unanimously condemned RBS’s Global Restructuring Group (GRG) for its systemic mistreatment of SMEs, describing it as a parasitic unit engaged in asset stripping and aggressive litigation tactics. MPs highlighted GRG’s role in artificially distressing viable businesses, undervaluing assets, and employing harsh recovery strategies during 2008-2013, leading to widespread financial harm. The FCA’s delayed and redacted report faced heavy criticism, with calls for transparent accountability, a Financial Services Tribunal, whistleblower protections, and full release of investigations.
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) saw a 92% rise in new complaints in 2012/2013, with 258 cases related to interest rate hedging products (IRHPs) like swaps. However, the FOS can only handle complaints from microenterprises, excluding many small businesses. The FOS also has a £150,000 compensation cap, often insufficient for these claims. The FSA rejected setting up a special scheme for wider IRHP complaints, leaving the FOS as a last resort after bank reviews.
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is preparing for an unprecedented workload in 2013/2014, driven mainly by 245,000 payment protection insurance (PPI) mis-selling cases. To handle this, FOS plans to increase staff significantly, including 1,000 new case workers and more ombudsmen. It will also raise individual case fees and increase the overall levy to support this expanded operation. Contact Lexlaw for advice on managing claims involving FOS processes and addressing complex financial disputes.
A Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) decision does not prevent claimants from pursuing further court action for additional compensation beyond the FOS award. In Clark v In Focus, the High Court ruled that the Ombudsman’s ruling is not legally binding and does not merge causes of action. This is important for bank swaps mis-selling victims who accepted FOS awards but seek further claims. Contact Lexlaw for expert advice on continuing litigation beyond FOS resolutions.