A frugal life is an easy life!

I have currently one case awaiting an ombudsman to pick up and rule upon. The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) have had this for well over a year now.

My last communication with them was by telephone, since October 2010 (It's now March 2011), it has been sat on a desk waiting to be looked at. In January 2011 the FOS informed me that they are being burdened with thousands of new cases, that also would have to wait considerable time to be decided upon.

Today I received a letter from the FOS, that stated it was, "To keep you updated about your complaint"

It started by stating the following;

"You maybe aware from press reports that in October 2010 the British Bankers Association (BBA) - on behalf of a number of high street banks - filed papers in the High Court requesting a judicial review of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and Financial Ombudsman Service.

The legal challenge relates to the FSA's new payment protection insurance (PPI) complaints handling procedure.

The judicial review took place in the High Court in London during the week beginning Monday 24th January 2011.
It is likely to be a number of weeks before an outcome is known. At this stage I have no more information about the outcome or possible consequences."

The FOS have had my complaint 7 months before any judicial review was put forward, so why don't they apply the existing LAWS and award on this basis?
The letter continues;

"We are continuing to deal with PPI complaints and are now receiving more than 2500 cases each week. Hoever, the approach of some businesses is affecting our ability to process cases and means the rate at which we can settle all complaints is now slowing down.

I realise your complaint has been with us some time and I'm sorry we have not been able to settle your case before now. While I am not able to give you a timeframe at this stage, I'm afraid some cases are likely to take over a year from this point to be resolved - depending on when and how the legal action is concluded."

Another year? Ridiculous!

Still taking on complaints? What is the point?

If businesses are delaying cases being ruled upon, then give them 28 days to defend in writing, if they fail to do this then rule against them?
They will soon stop pushing boundaries to protect their money and reply in a much more speedy fashion?

That the Financial Ombudsman Service is now advising people with complaints that the process and an outcome could take a year, even for cases that have been waiting for over a year already, is a complete farce and not good enough!