Complaint Escalation Checklist
Before you escalate a complaint to an ombudsman or regulator, you need to have followed the right process. Use this checklist to confirm you are ready.
Exhausting the company process
Checking eligibility to escalate
Preparing your case
Helpful organisations
Financial Ombudsman Service
OmbudsmanResolves complaints between consumers and financial businesses such as banks, insurers, and lenders.
Energy Ombudsman
OmbudsmanResolves complaints between energy consumers and suppliers, including gas and electricity companies.
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
OmbudsmanInvestigates complaints about NHS England and UK government departments, agencies, and public bodies.
Citizens Advice
CharityProvides free, confidential, and independent advice on a wide range of issues including benefits, housing, debt, and employment.
Related guides
Building Your Complaint Evidence
A well-evidenced complaint is far more likely to succeed. Whether you are complaining to a financial firm, an energy supplier, the NHS, or a local council, the quality of your evidence determines how seriously your complaint will be taken — and how quickly it will be resolved.
5 min read
When and How to Escalate a Complaint
If a company has failed to resolve your complaint satisfactorily, or if it has gone beyond the response deadline, you have the right to escalate. Escalation means taking your complaint to an independent body — such as an ombudsman, regulator, or the courts — who can investigate and enforce a resolution.
5 min read
How to Complain Effectively in the UK
Making a formal complaint can feel daunting, but a well-structured complaint significantly increases your chances of a satisfactory outcome. In the UK, most businesses and public bodies are required to have a complaints procedure, and following the right process gives you access to independent resolution if things go wrong.
6 min read
How to Complain Effectively in the UK
Making a formal complaint can feel daunting, but a well-structured complaint significantly increases your chances of a satisfactory outcome. In the UK, most businesses and public bodies are required to have a complaints procedure, and following the right process gives you access to independent resolution if things go wrong.
6 min read
Disclaimer