FOS

The number of new complaints taken on by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) almost doubled over the past year, figures show.

The proportion of high earners referring unresolved complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) almost doubled last year, illustrating, it said, that "few people are immune" from the effects of the economic crisis.

Steve Bloor, of Open Resolution, says the Financial Ombudsman is a key defence against unscrupulous banks.

Firms which fail to apply a pragmatic approach to complaints cause problems to escalate unnecessarily, Natalie Ceeney , chief executive of the Financial Ombudsman (FOS) has said.

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) has received a "small number" of complaints related to troubled overseas property sales agent Harlequin Property - though this could rise if a group of investors gets its way.

The board of the Financial Ombudsman Service has appointed Amerdeep Somal as the new independent assessor for the service.

Investment intermediaries must stump up an extra £2m towards the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) levy for 2013/14, taking their annual levy contribution to £78m.

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) has ruled in favour of five clients who invested almost £2.6m via their IFA 20Twenty Independent in a film scheme.

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) has issued a warning to consumers not to reply to fraudulent emails purporting to be from the FOS and asking for personal details.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued an alert to consumers not to fall foul of a website which is a clone of London-based wealth manager.