Darlington Building Society — Complaint to CIFAS
If the issuer rejects your complaint or fails to respond, we escalate directly to CIFAS. This challenges the member organisation for breaching CIFAS filing standards and data sharing requirements.
CIFAS will review the member's compliance with filing standards
What this stage means
This is a complaint to CIFAS itself — not about the marker directly, but about whether Darlington Building Society followed the CIFAS filing standards when they placed it. CIFAS oversees its members and can investigate whether the filing was compliant. This creates a second channel of pressure alongside the FOS route.
When you reach this stage
You reach this stage after Darlington Building Society has rejected your initial complaint or failed to respond within 8 weeks. We file the CIFAS complaint simultaneously with the FOS referral — dual escalation creates maximum pressure.
What they will assess
- Whether Darlington Building Society met the CIFAS standard of proof before filing
- Whether Darlington Building Society conducted a proper investigation
- Whether the marker category was appropriate for the circumstances
- Whether Darlington Building Society followed the correct filing procedure
- Whether notification requirements were met
What strengthens your case
- Evidence that Darlington Building Society's filing did not meet CIFAS standards
- The issuer's response (or non-response) to your initial complaint
- Specific references to which filing standards were breached
- Evidence that the investigation was inadequate or automated
- Simultaneous FOS referral — shows you are pursuing all available routes
What we provide at this stage
- Formal complaint to CIFAS about member conduct
- Evidence that filing standards were not met
- Reference to the issuer's response (or lack of response)
- Request for CIFAS to investigate the marker
What you need for this stage
- The issuer's response to your complaint (or proof of non-response)
- Your original CIFAS report
- Any new correspondence received since the initial complaint
Common outcomes at this stage
CIFAS investigates and contacts Darlington Building Society about compliance
The institution agrees to review the marker under CIFAS pressure
CIFAS finds no breach but the investigation itself creates pressure
Combined with the FOS complaint, Darlington Building Society settles before a decision is made
What happens next
The CIFAS complaint runs alongside the FOS referral. Many institutions settle when they face simultaneous complaints to both CIFAS and the Ombudsman — the dual pressure often leads to marker removal before either body makes a formal decision.