Appeals, complaints and compensation when you have cancer

State benefits and tax credits Back to top

If your application for state benefits (including Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) has been turned down or your award is lower than you think it should be, you can ask for the decision to be reconsidered. To do this, you need to contact the office dealing with your case within one month of the decision date on the letter.

Similarly, if you disagree with a tax credits award or other decision, for example, being asked to pay back an overpayment, ask the officer dealing with your claim to review their decision - a direct phone number will be on the decision letter.

If you’re still unhappy with the decision about your state benefits or tax credits, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. You must normally do this within one month of the date on letter giving the revised decision, but up to 13 months in special circumstances.

Poor service Back to top

If you’re unhappy with the service you get from a government department, you can complain to the office dealing with your case. If you’re still not satisfied, you can work through a formal complaints procedure and, if the matter is still unresolved, refer it to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

If your complaint is about the service you’ve received from a local council in England, you should complain to that council. If you’re unhappy with the response, you can take your complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman.

In Scotland, complaints about central government and local council services and certain public bodies, such as the NHS, should be made to the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman. The equivalent body in Wales is the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales and, in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Ombudsman. 

Financial products and services Back to top

If you have a complaint against a firm that has sold you or given you advice about financial products or services - such as loans and credit cards, insurance, savings, investments and personal pensions - first complain to the firm. If you’re not happy with its response, say that you want to use its formal complaints procedure.

The firm should give you its final response within eight weeks. If you’re unhappy with the firm’s decision or it has not got back to you within that time, you can take your case to the free, independent Financial Ombudsman Service|.

The Ombudsman can order the firm to put matters right, which could include paying you compensation up to a maximum of £150,000 from 1 January 2012 (£100,000 for complaints referred to the Ombudsman before then).

As an alternative to using the Ombudsman or if you are unhappy with the Ombudsman’s decision, you can take your case to court. But this could be an expensive and lengthy process.

If a financial firm goes out of business owing you money, you may be able to get compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Pensions Back to top

For a complaint about State Pensions, see the information above about state benefits and tax credits.

If you have a complaint about an occupational pension, first contact the pension administrator for the scheme. If your complaint is about a personal pension, contact the provider or adviser concerned.

If you can’t get a satisfactory response from the firm, ask for free help from The Pensions Advisory Service|. They will try to mediate between you and the pension scheme or provider. If that doesn’t work, you can take your case to a free, independent ombudsman.

If your case is about the way a personal pension was sold or marketed or advice you were given, contact the Financial Ombudsman Service. If your complaint is about the running of an occupational (company) pension scheme or personal pension, contact the Pensions Ombudsman.

If a personal pension provider or adviser goes out of business owing you money, you may be able to get compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

If you stand to lose pension from an occupational (company) pension scheme because

it can’t meet its pension promises or money has been lost from the scheme because of dishonesty, you may be eligible for compensation. The organisation running the scheme, rather than you, will sort this out.

The letters and literature about an occupational scheme will have contact details for the pension administrator. If you currently belong to the scheme, the HR or personnel department where you work can help.  

 

Tax Back to top

If you have a dispute about your tax bill, first contact the tax office that normally deals with you (its contact details should be on letters and forms you have received). There is a formal complaints procedure to work through. If you’re still not happy with the response, you can take your case to the free, independent tribunal if you are disputing the amount of tax or the Tax Adjudicator if you’re unhappy with the way you’ve been treated.

If you don’t feel confident dealing with your tax office yourself, consider getting help from an accountant. If your income is low and you can’t afford an accountant, you may be eligible for free advice and help from TaxAid| or TaxHelp for Older People|.

Tips on making a complaint

State your facts clearly and concisely.

• Be clear about what you want done to put things right, when you want it done by, and what your action will be if it isn’t done.
• Complain in writing or keep written records of phone calls. 
• Be firm but polite.
• Get help if you need it, for example, from your local Citizens Advice.

Going to court Back to top

The Financial Ombudsman Service and the tribunal and adjudication services described previously are designed to give you a free and relatively quick way of pursuing a complaint. You generally have the option to take your case to court if you prefer, but this is likely to be a more expensive and slower process. However, if your income and savings are low, you may qualify for help with your costs through the legal aid system. 

For advice on taking a case to court and whether you would qualify for legal aid, contact a solicitor. For general information about the legal aid system and to find a solicitor that takes with legal aid cases, contact the Community Legal Advice (England and Wales), the Scottish Legal Aid Board (Scotland) or the Legal Services Commission (Northern Ireland).