What sort of complaints can we not look at?
Your complaint is not against a business registered with the Ombudsman
Your complaint is against a business who has entered administration, liquidation or who has ceased trading
Your complaint is not made as a private individual, for example, we cannot look at purchases made through trade accounts or any business losses incurred – e.g loss of rent from tenants
Your complaint is relates to personal injury or medical claims
Your complaint is being, or has been, dealt with by a court or similar body
Your claim is for more than £10,000 - this does not include the purchase price of the goods/services that were bought. So, for example you might seek to claim a refund of the purchase price (which might exceed £10,000) and compensation (which must not exceed £10,000)
You refer your complaint to the Ombudsman more than 12 months after you receive the business’ final offer of settlement or answer
If you have already accepted an offer from the business for the same issues.
We cannot look at finance or credit agreements
Claims which are considered to be frivolous or vexatious
We are not able to consider claims for work where you have paid the registered business’s fitter directly
Where dealing with such a dispute would seriously impair our effective operation.
If we refuse or are unable to consider a dispute that has been submitted to us, we will endeavour to notify both the consumer and the business in writing within 21 days of receiving the complaint file. In doing so we will set out the grounds for our decision.