Stage 3
Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)
Independent body that resolves complaints between consumers and financial businesses
The Financial Ombudsman Service is a free, independent body that resolves complaints between consumers and financial businesses. If a regulated firm rejects your complaint, or the complaint reaches the Ombudsman stage, you may be able to refer the case to the FOS. Eligibility depends on who is complaining and the relationship the complaint arises from.
Visit FOS website →What FOS can do
- Investigate complaints about CIFAS markers
- Order marker removal if the complaint is upheld
- Award compensation for distress, inconvenience, and financial loss
- Make binding decisions that the institution must follow
- Provide a free alternative to court for eligible complaints
What FOS cannot do
- Accept every complaint automatically
- Apply strict legal tests, they use 'fair and reasonable'
- Investigate complaints about CIFAS itself, only members
- Act as quickly as a court in urgent cases
Key facts
1,313 unique published CIFAS decisions in our local dataset
28.7% upheld in the deduped set
Eligibility can turn on who is complaining and why
Free to use, no cost to the consumer
Need help with a CIFAS marker complaint?
The system supports your case through every stage, including FOS.
Start Cifas Removal