Treating complainants fairly

Part

DISP Dispute Resolution: Complaints

Chapter

Treating complainants fairly

Printed on: 03/07/2024

Rulebook at: 06/04/2010

DISP 1

Treating complainants fairly

DISP 1.1

Purpose and application

01/11/2007

Purpose

DISP 1.1.1

This chapter contains rules and guidance on how respondents should deal promptly and fairly with complaints in respect of business carried on from establishments in the United Kingdom or by certain branches of firms in the EEA. It is also relevant to those who may wish to make a complaint or refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

01/11/2007

Background

DISP 1.1.2

Details of how this chapter applies to each type of respondent are set out below. For this purpose, respondents include:

(1) persons carrying on regulated activities (firms) or providing payment services (payment service providers) and which are covered by the Compulsory Jurisdiction;

(2) persons covered by the Consumer Credit Jurisdiction (licensees); and

(3) persons who have opted in to the Voluntary Jurisdiction (VJ participants).

01/11/2009

Application to firms

DISP 1.1.3

(1) This chapter applies to a firm in respect of complaints from eligible complainants concerning activities carried on from an establishment maintained by it or its appointed representative in the United Kingdom.

(2) For complaints relating to the MiFID business of a firm, the complaints handling rules and the complaints record rule:

(a) apply to complaints from retail clients and do not apply to complaints from eligible complainants who are not retail clients;

(b) also apply in respect of activities carried on from a branch of a UK firm in another EEA State; and

(3) The complaints data publication rules do not apply in respect of activities carried on from a branch of an EEA firm in the United Kingdom.

06/04/2010

DISP 1.1.4

Where a firm has outsourced activities to a third party processor, DISP 1.1.3 R does not apply to the third party processor when acting as such, but applies to the firm which is taking responsibility for the acts and omissions of the third party processor in respect of the outsourced activities.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.1.5

This chapter does not apply to:

(1) [deleted]

(2) a credit union; and

(3) an authorised professional firm in respect of expressions of dissatisfaction about its non-mainstream regulated activities

06/04/2008

DISP 1.1.6

Analogous obligations relevant to credit unions are set out in CRED 17.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.1.7

This chapter applies to the Society, members of the Society and managing agents, subject to the Lloyd's complaint rules.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.1.8

An insurance intermediary, that is not also an insurer, must have in place and operate appropriate and effective procedures for registering and responding to complaints from a person who is not an eligible complainant.

[Note: article 10 of the Insurance Mediation Directive]

01/11/2007

DISP 1.1.9

A complaint about pre-commencement investment business which was regulated by a recognised professional body will be handled under the arrangements of that professional body and is outside the scope of this sourcebook

01/11/2007

DISP 1.1.10

In relation to a firm's obligations under this chapter, references to a complaint also include an expression of dissatisfaction which is capable of becoming a relevant new complaint or[deleted] a relevant transitional complaint.

01/11/2007

Application to payment service providers

DISP 1.1.10A

This chapter (except the complaints record rule, the complaints reporting rules and the complaints data publication rules) applies to payment service providers in respect of complaints from eligible complainants concerning activities carried on from an establishment maintained by it or its agent in the United Kingdom.

06/04/2010

DISP 1.1.10B

(1) In this sourcebook, the term payment service provider does not include full credit institutions or e-money firms (which are covered by this sourcebook as firms), but it does include small e-money issuers.

(2) Although payment service providers are not required to comply with the complaints record rule, it is in their interest to retain records of complaints so that these can be used to assist the Financial Ombudsman Service should this be necessary.

01/11/2009

FSAVC Review

DISP 1.1.11

Where the subject matter of a complaint is subject to a review directly or indirectly under the terms of the policy statement for the review of specific categories of FSAVC business issued by the FSA on 28 February 2000, the complaints resolution rules, the complaints time limit rules, the complaints record rule, the complaints reporting rules and the complaints data publication rules will apply only if the complaint is about the outcome of the review.

06/04/2010

Exemptions for firms and payment service providers

DISP 1.1.12

(1) A firm or payment service provider falling within the Compulsory Jurisdiction which does not conduct business with eligible complainants and has no reasonable likelihood of doing so, can, by written notification to the FSA , claim exemption from the rules relating to the funding of the Financial Ombudsman Service, and from the remainder of this chapter.

(2) Notwithstanding (1), the complaints handling rules and complaints record rule will continue to apply in respect of complaints concerning MiFID business.

(3) The exemption takes effect from the date on which the written notice is received by the FSA and will cease to apply when the conditions relating to the exemption no longer apply.

01/11/2009

DISP 1.1.13

SUP 15.6 refers to and contains requirements regarding the steps that firms must take to ensure that information provided to the FSA is accurate and complete. Those requirements apply to information submitted to the FSA under this chapter.

01/11/2007

Application to licensees and VJ participants

DISP 1.1.14

This chapter (except the complaints record rule, the complaints reporting rules and the complaints data publication rules) applies to licensees for complaints from eligible complainants.

06/04/2010

DISP 1.1.15

This chapter (except the complaints record rule, the complaints reporting rules and the complaints data publication rules) applies to VJ participants for complaints from eligible complainants as part of the standard terms.

06/04/2010

DISP 1.1.16

Although licensees and VJ participants are not required to comply with the complaints record rule, it is in their interest to retain records of complaints so that these can be used to assist the Financial Ombudsman Service should it be necessary.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.1.17

In relation to the Consumer Credit Jurisdiction only, FOS Ltd may dispense with, or modify, the application of the rules in this chapter to licensees where it considers it appropriate to do so and is satisfied that:

(1) compliance by the licensee with the rules would be unduly burdensome or would not achieve the purpose for which the rules were made; and

(2) it would not result in undue risk to the persons whose interests the rules were intended to protect.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.1.18

This power is intended to deal with exceptional circumstances, for example, where it is not possible for a licensee to meet the specified time limits, and any dispensation or modification is likely to be rare.

01/11/2007

Outsourcing of complaint handling

DISP 1.1.19

(1) This chapter does not prevent:

(a) the use by a respondent of a third party administrator to handle or resolve complaints (or both); or

(b) two or more respondents arranging a one-stop shop for handling or resolving complaints (or both) under a service level agreement.

(2) These arrangements do not affect respondents' obligations as set out in DISP or the provisions relating to outsourcing by a firm set out in SYSC 8 and SYSC 13.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.1.20

Further guidance on the application of this chapter is set out in the table in DISP 1 Annex 2.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.2

Consumer awareness rules

01/11/2007

Publishing and providing summary details

DISP 1.2.1

To aid consumer awareness of the protections offered by the provisions in this chapter, respondents must:

(1) publish appropriate summary details of their internal process for dealing with complaints promptly and fairly;

(2) refer eligible complainants to the availability of these summary details :

(a) in relation to a payment service, in the information on out-of-court complaint and redress procedures required to be provided or made available under regulations 36(2)(e) (Information required prior to the conclusion of a single payment service contract) or 40 (Prior general information for framework contracts) of the Payment Services Regulations; or

(b) otherwise, in writing at, or immediately after, the point of sale; and

(3) provide such summary details in writing to eligible complainants:

(a) on request; and

(b) when acknowledging a complaint.

01/11/2009

DISP 1.2.2

Where the activity does not involve a sale, the obligation in DISP 1.2.1R (2)(b) shall apply at, or immediately after, the point when contact is first made with an eligible complainant.

01/11/2009

Content of summary details

DISP 1.2.3

These summary details should cover at least:

(1) how the respondent fulfils its obligation to handle and seek to resolve relevant complaints; and

(2) that, if the complaint is not resolved, the complainant may be entitled to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.2.4

The summary details may be set out in a leaflet, and their availability may be referred to in contractual documentation.

01/11/2007

Financial Ombudsman Service logo

DISP 1.2.5

Respondents may also display or reproduce the Financial Ombudsman Service logo (under licence) in:

(1) branches and sales offices to which eligible complainants have access; or

(2) marketing literature or correspondence directed at eligible complainants;

provided it is done in a way which is not misleading.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.3

Complaints handling rules

01/11/2007

DISP 1.3.1

Effective and transparent procedures for the reasonable and prompt handling of complaints must be established, implemented and maintained by:

(1) a respondent; and

(2) a branch of a UK firm in another EEA State.

[Note: article 10 of the MiFID implementing Directive]

01/11/2007

DISP 1.3.2

These procedures should:

(1) allow complaints to be made by any reasonable means; and

(2) recognise complaints as requiring resolution.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.3.3

In respect of complaints that do not relate to MiFID business, a respondent must put in place appropriate management controls and take reasonable steps to ensure that in handling complaints it identifies and remedies any recurring or systemic problems, for example, by:

(1) analysing the causes of individual complaints so as to identify root causes common to types of complaint;

(2) considering whether such root causes may also affect other processes or products, including those not directly complained of; and

(3) correcting, where reasonable to do so, such root causes.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.3.4

A firm should use the information it gains from dealing with complaints that relate to MiFID business in accordance with this chapter to inform its compliance with its obligations to monitor the adequacy and effectiveness of its measures and procedures to detect and minimise any risk of compliance failures (SYSC 6.1).

01/11/2007

DISP 1.3.5

A firm should have regard to Principle 6 (Customers' interests) when it identifies problems, root causes or compliance failures and consider whether it ought to act on its own initiative with regard to the position of customers who may have suffered detriment from, or been potentially disadvantaged by such factors, but who have not complained.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.4

Complaints resolution rules

01/11/2007

DISP 1.4.1

Once a complaint has been received by a respondent, it must:

(1) investigate the complaint competently, diligently and impartially;

(2) assess fairly, consistently and promptly:

(a) the subject matter of the complaint;

(b) whether the complaint should be upheld;

(d) if appropriate, whether it has reasonable grounds to be satisfied that another respondent may be solely or jointly responsible for the matter alleged in the complaint;

taking into account all relevant factors;

(3) offer redress or remedial action when it decides this is appropriate;

(4) explain to the complainant promptly and, in a way that is fair, clear and not misleading, its assessment of the complaint, its decision on it, and any offer of remedial action or redress; and

(5) comply promptly with any offer of remedial action or redress accepted by the complainant.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.4.2

Factors that may be relevant in the assessment of a complaint under DISP 1.4.1R (2), include the following:

(1) all the evidence available and the particular circumstances of the complaint;

(2) similarities with other complaints received by the respondent;

(3) relevant guidance published by the FSA , other relevant regulators, the Financial Ombudsman Service or former schemes; and

(4) appropriate analysis of decisions by the Financial Ombudsman Service concerning similar complaints received by the respondent.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.4.3

The respondent should aim to resolve complaints at the earliest possible opportunity, minimising the number of unresolved complaints which need to be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.4.4

Where a complaint against a respondent is referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service, the respondent must cooperate fully with the Financial Ombudsman Service and comply promptly with any settlements or awards made by it.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.4.5

DISP App 1 contains guidance to respondents on the approach to assessing financial loss and appropriate redress where a respondent upholds a complaint concerning the sale of an endowment policy for the purposes of repaying a mortgage.

06/04/2008

DISP 1.5

Complaints resolved by close of the next business day

01/11/2007

DISP 1.5.1

The following rules do not apply to a complaint that is resolved by a respondent by close of business on the business day following its receipt:

(1) the complaints time limit rules;

(2) the complaints forwarding rules;

(3) the complaints reporting rules;

(4) the complaints record rule, if the complaint does not relate to MiFID business; and

(5) the complaints data publication rules.

06/04/2010

DISP 1.5.2

Complaints falling within this section are still subject to the complaint resolution rules.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.5.3

For the purposes of this section:

(1) a complaint received on any day other than a business day, or after close of business on a business day, may be treated as received on the next business day; and

(2) a complaint is resolved where the complainant has indicated acceptance of a response from the respondent, with neither the response nor acceptance having to be in writing

01/11/2007

DISP 1.6

Complaints time limit rules

01/11/2007

Keeping the complainant informed

DISP 1.6.1

On receipt of a complaint, a respondent must:

(1) send the complainant a prompt written acknowledgement providing early reassurance that it has received the complaint and is dealing with it; and

(2) ensure the complainant is kept informed thereafter of the progress of the measures being taken for the complaint's resolution.

01/11/2007

Final or other response within eight weeks

DISP 1.6.2

The respondent must, by the end of eight weeks after its receipt of the complaint, send the complainant:

(1) a final response; or

(2) a written response which:

(a) explains why it is not in a position to make a final response and indicates when it expects to be able to provide one;

(b) informs the complainant that he may now refer the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service; and

01/11/2007

DISP 1.6.3

Respondents are not obliged to comply with the requirements in DISP 1.6.2 R where they are able to rely on any of the following rules:

(1) the complainant's written acceptance rule (DISP 1.6.4 R);

(2) the rules for respondents with two-stage complaints procedures (DISP 1.6.5 R); or

(3) the complaints forwarding rules (DISP 1.7).

01/11/2007

Complainant's written acceptance

DISP 1.6.4

DISP 1.6.2 R does not apply if the complainant has already indicated in writing acceptance of a response by the respondent, provided that the response:

(1) informed the complainant how to pursue his complaint with the respondent if he remains dissatisfied; and

(2) referred to the ultimate availability of the Financial Ombudsman Service if he remains dissatisfied with the respondent's response.

06/07/2008

Respondents with two-stage complaints procedures

DISP 1.6.5

If, within eight weeks of receiving a complaint, the respondent sends the complainant a written response which:

(1) offers redress or remedial action (whether or not it accepts the complaint) or rejects the complaint and gives reasons for doing so;

(2) informs the complainant how to pursue his complaint with the respondent if he remains dissatisfied;

(3) refers to the ultimate availability of the Financial Ombudsman Service if he remains dissatisfied with the respondent's response; and

(4) indicates it will regard the complaint as closed if it does not receive a reply within eight weeks;

the respondent is not obliged to continue to comply with DISP 1.6.2 R unless the complainant indicates that he remains dissatisfied, in which case, the obligation to comply with DISP 1.6.2 R resumes.

06/03/2008

DISP 1.6.6

If the complainant takes more than a week to reply to a written response of the kind described in DISP 1.6.5 R, the additional time in excess of a week will not count for the purposes of the time limits in DISP 1.6.2 R or the complaints reporting rules.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.6.6A

The information regarding the Financial Ombudsman Service required to be provided in responses sent under the complaints time limit rules (DISP 1.6.2 R, DISP 1.6.4 R and DISP 1.6.5 R) should be set out prominently within the text of those responses.

06/07/2008

Speed and quality of response

DISP 1.6.7

It is expected that within eight weeks of their receipt, almost all complaints to a respondent will have been substantively addressed by it through a final response or response as described in DISP 1.6.4 R or DISP 1.6.5 R.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.6.8

When assessing a respondent's response to a complaint, the FSA may have regard to a number of factors, including, the quality of response, as against the complaints resolution rules, as well as the speed with which it was made.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.7

Complaints forwarding rules

01/11/2007

DISP 1.7.1

A respondent that has reasonable grounds to be satisfied that another respondent may be solely or jointly responsible for the matter alleged in a complaint may forward the complaint, or the relevant part of it, in writing to that other respondent, provided it:

(1) does so promptly;

(2) informs the complainant promptly in a final response of why the complaint has been forwarded by it to the other respondent, and of the other respondent's contact details; and

(3) where jointly responsible for the fault alleged in the complaint, it complies with its own obligations under this chapter in respect of that part of the complaint it has not forwarded.

01/11/2007

Dealing with a forwarded complaint

DISP 1.7.2

When a respondent receives a complaint that has been forwarded to it under DISP 1.7.1 R, the complaint is treated for the purposes of DISP as if made directly to that respondent, and as if received by it when the forwarded complaint was received.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.7.3

On receiving a forwarded complaint, the standard time limits will apply from the date on which the respondent receives the forwarded complaint.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.8

Complaints time barring rule

01/11/2007

DISP 1.8.1

If a respondent receives a complaint which is outside the time limits for referral to the Financial Ombudsman Service (see DISP 2.8) it may reject the complaint without considering the merits, but must explain this to the complainant in a final response in accordance with DISP 1.6.2 R and indicate that the Ombudsman may waive the time limits in exceptional circumstances.

06/04/2008

DISP 1.9

Complaints record rule

01/11/2007

DISP 1.9.1

A firm, including, in the case of MiFID business, a branch of a UK firm in another EEA state, must keep a record of each complaint received and the measures taken for its resolution, and retain that record for:

(1) at least five years where the complaint relates to MiFID business; and

(2) three years for all other complaints;

from the date the complaint was received.

[Note: article 10 of the MiFID implementing Directive]

01/11/2007

DISP 1.10

Complaints reporting rules

01/11/2007

DISP 1.10.1

Twice a year a firm must provide the FSA with a complete report concerning complaints received from eligible complainants. The report must be set out in the format in DISP 1 Annex 1.

01/11/2007

Forwarded complaints

DISP 1.10.1A

A firm must not include in the report a complaint that has been forwarded in its entirety to another respondent under the complaints forwarding rules.

01/08/2009

DISP 1.10.1B

Where a firm has forwarded to another respondent only part of a complaint or where two respondents may be jointly responsible for a complaint, then the complaint should be reported by both firms.

01/08/2009

Joint reports

DISP 1.10.1C

Firms that are part of a group may submit a joint report to the FSA . The joint report must contain the information required from all firms concerned and clearly indicate the firms on whose behalf the report is submitted. The requirement to provide a report, and the responsibility for the report, remains with each firm in the group.

14/12/2007

DISP 1.10.1D

Not all the firms in the group need to submit the report jointly. Firms should only consider submitting a joint report if it is logical to do so, for example, where the firms have a common central complaints handling team and the same accounting reference date.

14/12/2007

Information requirements

DISP 1.10.2

DISP 1 Annex 1 requires (for the relevant reporting period) information about:

(1) the total number of complaints received by the firm;

(2) the total number of complaints closed by the firm:

(a) within four weeks or less of receipt;

(b) more than four weeks and up to eight weeks of receipt; and

(3) the total number of complaints:

(a) upheld by the firm in the reporting period; and

(b) outstanding at the beginning of the reporting period; and

(4) the total amount of redress paid in respect of complaints during the reporting period.

01/08/2009

DISP 1.10.3

For the purpose of DISP 1.10.2 R, when completing the return, the firm should take into account the following matters.

(1) If a complaint could fall into more than one category, the complaint should be recorded in the category which the firm considers to form the main part of the complaint.

(2) Under DISP 1.10.2R (3)(a), a firm should report any complaint to which it has given a response which upholds the complaint, even if any redress offered is disputed by the complainant. For this purpose, 'response' includes a response under the complainant's written acceptance rule (DISP 1.6.4 R), the two stage complaints procedures rule (DISP 1.6.5 R) (unless a final response was sent later) and a final response. Where a complaint is upheld in part or where the firm does not have enough information to make a decision yet chooses to make a goodwill payment to the complainant, a firm should treat the complaint as upheld for reporting purposes. However, where a firm rejects a complaint, yet chooses to make a goodwill payment to the complainant, the complaint should be recorded as 'rejected'.

(3) If a firm reports on the amount of redress paid under DISP 1.10.2R (4), redress should be interpreted to include an amount paid, or cost borne, by the firm, where a cash value can be readily identified, and should include:

(a) amounts paid for distress and inconvenience;

(b) a free transfer out to another provider which transfer would normally be paid for;

(d) interest on delayed settlements;

(e) waiver of an excess on an insurance policy; and

(f) payments to put the consumer back into the position the consumer should have been in had the act or omission not occurred.

(4) If a firm reports on the amount of redress paid under DISP 1.10.2R (4), the redress should not, however, include repayments or refunds of premiums which had been taken in error (for example where a firm had been taking, by direct debit, twice the actual premium amount due under a policy). The refund of the overcharge would not count as redress.

01/08/2009

DISP 1.10.4

The relevant reporting periods are:

(1) the six months immediately following a firm's accounting reference date; and

(2) the six months immediately preceding a firm's accounting reference date.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.10.5

Reports are to be submitted to the FSA within 30 business days of the end of the relevant reporting periods through, and in the electronic format specified in, the FSA Complaints Reporting System or the appropriate section of the FSA website.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.10.6

If a firm is unable to submit a report in electronic format because of a systems failure of any kind, the firm must notify the FSA , in writing and without delay, of that systems failure.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.10.7

A closed complaint is a complaint where:

(1) the firm has sent a final response; or

(2) the complainant has indicated in writing acceptance of the firm's earlier response under DISP 1.6.4 R; or

(3) for a firm which operates a two-stage complaints procedure, the complainant has not indicated that he remains dissatisfied within eight weeks of the response sent by the firm under DISP 1.6.5 R.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.10.8

If a complaint is reported as closed under DISP 1.10.2R (2) because the complainant has not replied to the firm within eight weeks of a written response which meets the requirements in DISP 1.6.5 R, the firm may treat the date of that response as the date when the complaint was closed for the purposes of the reporting requirements in DISP 1.10.2R (2).

01/11/2007

Notification of contact point for complainants

DISP 1.10.9

For the purpose of inclusion in the public record maintained by the FSA, a firm must:

(1) provide the FSA, at the time of its authorisation, with details of a single contact point within the firm for complainants; and

(2) notify the FSA of any subsequent change in those details when convenient and, at the latest, in the firm's next report under the complaints reporting rules.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.10A

Complaints data publication rules

06/04/2010

Obligation to publish summary of complaints data

DISP 1.10A.1

(1) Where, in accordance with DISP 1.10.1 R, a firm submits a report to the FSA reporting 500 or more complaints, it must publish a summary of the complaints data contained in that report (the complaints data summary).

(2) Where, in accordance with DISP 1.10.1C R, a firm submits a joint report on behalf of itself and other firms within a group and that report reports 500 or more complaints, it must publish a summary of the complaints data contained in the joint report (the complaints data summary).

06/04/2010

Format of publication

DISP 1.10A.2

The complaints data summary required by DISP 1.10A.1 R must be published in the format set out in DISP 1 Annex 1B R.

06/04/2010

Time limits for publication

DISP 1.10A.3

(1) Where the firm's relevant reporting period (as defined in DISP 1.10.4 R) ends between 1 January and 30 June, the firm must publish the complaints data summary no later than 31 August of the same year.

(2) Where the firm's relevant reporting period (as defined in DISP 1.10.4 R) ends between 1 July and 31 December, the firm must publish the complaints data summary no later than 28 February of the following year.

06/04/2010

Confirmation of publication

DISP 1.10A.4

A firm must immediately confirm to the FSA , in an email submitted to complaintsdatasummary@fsa.gov.uk, that the complaints data summary accurately reflects the report submitted to the FSA , that the summary has been published and where it has been published.

06/04/2010

Publication on behalf of the firm

DISP 1.10A.5

A firm will be taken to have complied with DISP 1.10A.1R (1) or (2) if within the relevant time limit set out in DISP 1.10A.3 R the firm:

(1) ensures that another person publishes the complaints data summary on its behalf; and

(2) publishes details of where this summary is published.

06/04/2010

Joint reports: provision of information to third party on request

DISP 1.10A.6

Any firm covered by a joint report, other than the firm that submitted the joint report, must provide details of where the complaints data summary is published to any person who requests them.

06/04/2010

Mode and content of publication

DISP 1.10A.7

Firms may choose how they publish the complaints data summary. However, the summary should be readily available. For this reason, the FSA recommends that firms should publish the summary on their websites.

06/04/2010

DISP 1.10A.8

(1) The FSA recommends that firms should publish additional information alongside their complaints data summaries in order to relate the number of complaints to the scale of the firm's relevant business. Firms are recommended to publish the relevant standard metrics set out in the table at DISP 1 Annex 1A G with the summaries. Where the complaints data summary relates to a joint report the metrics should cover all the firms included in the joint report.

(2) If the recommended metrics do not accurately reflect the scale of the firm's relevant business, the FSA recommends that the firm should publish metrics which best reflect the scale of its business based on the number of its customers or accounts or policies. Firms may also publish other metrics where they consider that these would better reflect the scale of their business.

(3) Firms may also publish other information to aid understanding, for example details of their internal processes for dealing with complaints.

06/04/2010

DISP 1.11

The Society of Lloyd's

01/11/2007

Complaints handling procedures

DISP 1.11.1

The Society must establish and maintain appropriate and effective procedures for handling complaints by policyholders against members of the Society which comply with this chapter.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.11.2

A member of the Society must, in complying with this chapter, ensure that the arrangements which the member maintains are compatible with the Lloyd's complaint procedures, so that, taken as a whole, the requirements of this sourcebook are met.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.11.3

The Society must take reasonable steps to ensure that complaints by policyholders against members of the Society are dealt with under the Lloyd's complaint procedures and that members comply with the requirements of those procedures.

01/11/2007

Referral to the Financial Ombudsman Service

DISP 1.11.4

A complaint by a policyholder against a member of the Society may not be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service until after the Lloyd's complaint procedures have been completed or until after the end of eight weeks from receipt of the complaint, whichever is the earlier.

01/11/2007

Exemptions for members

DISP 1.11.5

(1) A notification claiming exemption under DISP 1.1.12 R from the complaints reporting rules and the rules relating to the funding of the Financial Ombudsman Service must be given to the FSA by the Society on behalf of any member eligible for an exemption.

(2) The Society must notify the FSA if the conditions relating to such an exemption no longer apply to a member who is exempt.

01/11/2007

Complaints reporting rule

DISP 1.11.6

The report to be sent to the FSA under the complaints reporting rules must be provided by the Society and must cover all complaints by policyholders against members falling within the scope of the complaints reporting rules.

01/11/2007

Obligation to publish summary of complaints data

DISP 1.11.6A

Where, in accordance with DISP 1.11.6 R, the Society submits a report to the FSA reporting 500 or more complaints, it must publish a summary of the complaints data contained in that report (the complaints data summary).

06/04/2010

Format of publication

DISP 1.11.6B

The Society must publish the complaints data summary in the format set out in the complaints publication form in DISP 1 Annex 1B R omitting details as to the firms and brands/trading names covered by the summary.

06/04/2010

Time limits for publication

DISP 1.11.6C

The deadlines for publication of the Society's complaints data summaries are:

(1) 28 February for the summary of its report relating to the reporting period ending on 31 December of the previous year; and

(2) 31 August for the summary of its report relating to the reporting period ending on 30 June of the same year.

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Confirmation of publication

DISP 1.11.6D

The Society must immediately confirm to the FSA , in an email submitted to complaintsdatasummary@fsa.gov.uk, that the complaints data summary accurately reflects the report submitted to the FSA , that the summary has been published and where it has been published.

06/04/2010

Mode and content of publication

DISP 1.11.6E

The Society may choose how it publishes the complaints data summary. However, the complaints data summary should be readily available. For this reason, the FSA recommends that the Society publishes the summary on its website. The Society may publish further information with the complaints data summary to aid understanding.

06/04/2010

Application to members

DISP 1.11.7

Each member of the Society is individually subject to the rules in this chapter as a result of the insurance market direction given in DISP 2.5.4 G under section 316 of the Act (Direction by Authority).

01/11/2007

DISP 1.11.8

However, the Society operates a two-tier internal complaints handling procedure, currently set out in the "Code for Underwriting agents: UK Personal Lines Claims and Complaints Handling". Under this procedure, complaints by policyholders against members of the Society are considered by the managing agent and then, if necessary, by the Society's in-house Complaints Department. This procedure (and any procedure that may replace it) will be subject to the requirements in this chapter.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.11.9

Members will individually comply with this chapter if and only if all complaints by policyholders against members are dealt with under the Lloyd's complaints procedures. Accordingly, certain of the obligations under this chapter, for example the obligation to report on complaints received and the obligation to pay fees under the rules relating to the funding of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FEES 5), must be complied with by the Society on behalf of members. Managing agents will not have to make a separate report to the FSA on complaints reported under the complaints reporting rules sent by the Society.

01/11/2007

Complaints about the activities of members' advisers

DISP 1.11.10

A members' adviser must establish and maintain effective arrangements for handling any complaint from a member of the Society regarding advice given to the member in connection with the acquiring or disposing of syndicate participation.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.11.11

Complaints from members of the Society regarding the activities of members' advisers, which cannot be resolved by the members' adviser, cannot be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

01/11/2007

Complaints from members or former members

DISP 1.11.12

The Financial Ombudsman Service is not able to deal with the complaints listed in DISP 1.11.13 R and separate rules and guidance are therefore required.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.11.13

The Society must establish and maintain appropriate and effective arrangements for handling any complaint from a member or a former member about:

(1) regulated activities carried on by the Society;

(2) the Society's regulatory functions carried on by the Society, the Council or those to whom the Council delegates authority to carry out such functions;

(3) advice given by an underwriting agent to a person to become, continue or cease to be, a member of a particular syndicate; and

(4) the management by a managing agent of the underwriting capacity of a syndicate on which the complainant participates or has participated.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.11.14

The Society must maintain by byelaw one or more appropriate effective schemes for the resolution of disputes between an individual member or a former member who was an individual member and:

(1) his underwriting agent; or

(2) the Society.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.11.15

For the purposes of DISP 1.11.13 R "individual member" includes a member which is a limited liability partnership or a body corporate whose members consist only of, or of the nominees for, a single natural person or a group of connected persons.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.11.16

The schemes to which DISP 1.11.13 R currently refers are the Lloyd's Arbitration Scheme and the Lloyd's Members' Ombudsman respectively, but the Society may maintain other independent dispute resolution schemes in addition to, or instead of, either of these schemes.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.11.17

The schemes referred to in DISP 1.11.13 R should be operationally independent of the Society.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.11.18

An individual member or former member who was an individual member should not have access to the schemes referred to in DISP 1.11.13 R unless the complaints arrangements maintained by the Society have failed to resolve the complaint to his satisfaction within eight weeks of receiving it.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.11.19

The Society should give the FSA adequate notice of all proposed changes to the byelaws relating to the schemes referred to in DISP 1.11.13 R.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.11.20

When considering what is required to ensure the operational independence of the schemes referred to in DISP 1.11.13 R, or proposed changes in such schemes, the Society should take account of similar arrangements operated by the Financial Ombudsman Service.

01/11/2007

DISP 1.11.21

A contravention of DISP 1.11.13 R or DISP 1.11.14 R does not give rise to a right of action by a private person under section 150 of the Act (Actions for damages) and each of those rules is specified under section 150(2) of the Act as a provision giving rise to no such right of action.

01/11/2007

DISP 1 Annex 1

Complaints return form

01/12/2004

Complaints return form
This annex consists only of one or more forms. Forms are to be found through the following address:

Complaints return form - DISP 1 Annex 1 R

06/04/2010

DISP 1 Annex 1A

Recommended metrics

06/04/2010

This table belongs to DISP 1.10A.8 G

Type of business

Contextualised new complaint numbers

Recommended metrics

Banking and loans

Complaints per 1,000 accounts

The tariff base (number of accounts) at row 1, column 2 of the table in FEES 5 Annex 1 as reported in the firm's most recent statement of total amount of relevant business

General insurance and pure protection (provision)

Complaints per £1m of annual gross premium income

The tariff base (annual gross premium income) at row 2, column 2 of the table in FEES 5 Annex 1 as reported in the firm's most recent statement of total amount of relevant business

General insurance and pure protection (intermediation)

Complaints per £1m of annual income

The tariff base (annual income) at row 17, column 2 of the table in FEES 5 Annex 1 reported in the firm's most recent statement of total amount of relevant business

Home finance

Complaints per 1,000 loans outstanding

The total number of balances outstanding (all loans) at row E.45 or E.53 of E(2) in SUP 16 Annex 19A (Mortgage Lenders and Administrators Return) as reported in the firm's most recent return

Investment (fund management)

Complaints per £1m of annual eligible income

The firm's annual eligible income as defined in sub-class D1 of FEES 6 Annex 3 R

Investment (intermediation)

Complaints per £1m of annual eligible income

The firm's annual eligible income as defined in sub-class D2 of FEES 6 Annex 3 R

Decumulation, life and pensions (provision)

Complaints per 1,000 policyholders

The number of the firm's policyholders at row 3 of Forms 51 - 54 (whichever are relevant) in IPRU(INS) Appendix 9.3R as reported in the firm's most recent form

Decumulation, life and pensions (intermediation)

Complaints per £1m of annual eligible income

The firm's annual eligible income as defined in sub-class C2 of FEES 6 Annex 3 R

Note 1: For the purposes of this annex the reference to complaints is a reference to complaints opened during the relevant reporting period.

Note 2: Where a firm undertakes both (a) general insurance and pure protection provision and (b) general insurance and pure protection intermediation, it can choose to use the metric which forms the greater part of its business.

Note 3: Where a firm undertakes both (a) fund management and (b) investment intermediation, it can choose to use the metric which forms the greater part of its business.

Note 4: Where a firm undertakes both (a) decumulation, life and pensions provision and (b) decumulation, life and pensions intermediation, it can choose to use the metric which forms the greater part of its business.

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DISP 1 Annex 1B

Complaints publication report

06/04/2010

This table belongs to DISP 1.10A.2 R - DISP 1 Annex 1B R

06/04/2010

DISP 1 Annex 2

Application of DISP 1 to type of respondent

06/04/2010

DISP 1 Annex 2

The table below summarises the application of DISP 1. Where the table indicates that a particular section may apply, its application in relation to any particular activity or complaint is dependent on the detailed application provisions set out in DISP 1.

In some cases the application of DISP 1 to firms depends on whether responsibility for the matter is reserved under an EU instrument to an incoming EEA firm's Home State regulator. Reference should be made to the detailed application provisions set out in DISP 1.

Type of respondent

DISP 1.2 Consumer awareness rules

DISP 1.3 Complaints handling rules

DISP 1.4 - 1.8 Complaints resolution rules etc.

DISP 1.9 Complaints record rule

DISP 1.10 Complaints reporting rules

DISP 1.10A Complaints data publication rules

firm in relation to complaints concerning non-MiFID business

Applies for eligible complainants

Applies for eligible complainants (DISP 1.3.4 G does not apply)

Applies for eligible complainants

firm in relation to complaints concerning MiFID business