I submitted a complaint several months ago to the FSA concerning the
way A&L mis-handled/mis-advised an international transfer that cost me
£200.

Even the submission to the FSA was delayed as A&L delayed all
responses to my initial complaint to them.

The FSA now just send me letters apologising for the delay caused by
"high workload".

Am I being cynical in thinking that they are waiting for the Santander
take-over, after which I guess my complaint will become defunct?

Should I go to a Small Claims court before October?

Thanks

-- 
AnthonyL

"AnthonyL" wrote
>I submitted a complaint several months ago to the FSA
> concerning the way A&L mis-handled/mis-advised
> an international transfer that cost me £200...

What's it got to do with the FSA?

"AnthonyL" <nospam@please.invalid> wrote in message 
news:48b66665.1287546@news.zen.co.uk...
>I submitted a complaint several months ago to the FSA concerning the
> way A&L mis-handled/mis-advised an international transfer that cost me
> £200.
>

Assuming you mean the FOS?

> Even the submission to the FSA was delayed as A&L delayed all
> responses to my initial complaint to them.
>
You were entitled to submit the issue to the FOS after 8 weeks regardless of 
any A&L delay

> The FSA now just send me letters apologising for the delay caused by
> "high workload".
>
This a sad reflection of the state of affairs in personal banking even 
without "unfair" charges being actively considered.   Will be complete 
meltdown once/if the charges issue is released.  Look on the bright side, 
A&L will have been hit with a case fee (£400 I believe) regardless of the 
outcome.  OK not enough to make the pips squeak but a minor result that more 
people should take note of.

> Am I being cynical in thinking that they are waiting for the Santander
> take-over, after which I guess my complaint will become defunct?
>
Try to be less cynical.   The issue will eventually be adjudicated on the 
issue but don't hold your breath.  Expect a FOS delay of 6 to 12 months at 
the adjudication stage, longer still if it requires an ombudsman decision.

> Should I go to a Small Claims court before October?

Only if you want to make a point, but why not.

Jim A

Many people think that the FSA is the organisation to complain to. But 
they're not. The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is where you should go. 
Get them on Google, phone them up and ask for some complaint forms. But you 
should complain to A&L first and get a quick holding response, followed up 
by a final decision. If you don't get a decision, or don't like it, then go 
to the FOS.

Rob Graham

On Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:35:15 +0100, "robgraham"
 wrote:

>Many people think that the FSA is the organisation to complain to. But 
>they're not. The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is where you should go. 
>Get them on Google, phone them up and ask for some complaint forms. But you 
>should complain to A&L first and get a quick holding response, followed up 
>by a final decision. If you don't get a decision, or don't like it, then go 
>to the FOS.
>

Ok, I was (marginally) careless as I understood the FOS was a subset
of the FSA.  As I said, I'd complained to A&L, and then have referred
the issue to the FOS who have accepted the my forms and then simply
send letters saying they are overloaded.

Thanks

-- 
AnthonyL

On Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:29:48 +0100, "Jim Alexander"
 wrote:

>
>"AnthonyL" <nospam@please.invalid> wrote in message 
>news:48b66665.1287546@news.zen.co.uk...
>>I submitted a complaint several months ago to the FSA concerning the
>> way A&L mis-handled/mis-advised an international transfer that cost me
>> £200.
>>
>
>Assuming you mean the FOS?

Yes.

>
>> Even the submission to the FSA was delayed as A&L delayed all
>> responses to my initial complaint to them.
>>
>You were entitled to submit the issue to the FOS after 8 weeks regardless of 
>any A&L delay
>
>> The FSA now just send me letters apologising for the delay caused by
>> "high workload".
>>
>This a sad reflection of the state of affairs in personal banking even 
>without "unfair" charges being actively considered.   Will be complete 
>meltdown once/if the charges issue is released.  Look on the bright side, 
>A&L will have been hit with a case fee (£400 I believe) regardless of the 
>outcome.  OK not enough to make the pips squeak but a minor result that more 
>people should take note of.

They should have compromised a deal then when I offered it.

>
>> Am I being cynical in thinking that they are waiting for the Santander
>> take-over, after which I guess my complaint will become defunct?
>>
>Try to be less cynical.   The issue will eventually be adjudicated on the 
>issue but don't hold your breath.  Expect a FOS delay of 6 to 12 months at 
>the adjudication stage, longer still if it requires an ombudsman decision.
>

Will Santander have to accept the liability if my complaint and claim
is upheld?

>> Should I go to a Small Claims court before October?
>
>Only if you want to make a point, but why not.
>

I'm not bothered about making a point, I want my wasted £200 back.

Thanks

-- 
AnthonyL

"AnthonyL" wrote
> Ok, I was (marginally) careless...

No, very careless!

"AnthonyL" wrote
> ... as I understood the FOS was a subset of the FSA...

See here:-
http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/faq/FSA_FSCS_FOS_jointleaflet.pdf

Eg (page2):

"The Financial Services Authority,
the Financial Ombudsman Service ...
are separate organisations ...
Each ... is an independent body..."

On Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:39:52 +0100, "Tim"  wrote:

>"AnthonyL" wrote
>> Ok, I was (marginally) careless...
>
>No, very careless!
>
>"AnthonyL" wrote
>> ... as I understood the FOS was a subset of the FSA...
>
>See here:-
>http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/faq/FSA_FSCS_FOS_jointleaflet.pdf
>
>Eg (page2):
>
>"The Financial Services Authority,
>the Financial Ombudsman Service ...
>are separate organisations ...
>Each ... is an independent body..."
>
>

On the other hand

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/Library/Communication/PR/2002/006.shtml

"FSA appoints new members to the Board of the Financial Ombudsman
Service"

Please forgive a slight amount of confusion for the layman with
regards to these organisations.


-- 
AnthonyL