Quick Answer
Financial Ombudsman Service — How to Complain: You can claim for free yourself. Never pay an upfront fee to a claims management company. The Financial Ombudsman Service ↗ is free and independent.
- A free Subject Access Request forces lenders to search old records
- Plevin commission claims survived the 2019 deadline — court route, not ombudsman
- Never pay a claims firm for form-filling you can do free
What Actually Moves the Needle
Evidence, not memory, decides old-policy claims: a free SAR compels a full record search, and the policy often appears only as a three-letter code on statements.
PPI didn't fully close in 2019 — it changed shape: Plevin-based commission claims run through courts, not the ombudsman, and commissions on PPI averaged 67% — far above the unfairness threshold courts apply.
Financial Ombudsman Service — How to Complain
This guide explains your rights and how to claim what you're owed. FindYourPPI.com provides independent information to help you navigate the UK financial complaints process.
Do You Need a Claims Management Company?
No. You can make most financial claims yourself for free. Claims Management Companies (CMCs) typically charge 15–30% of any payout. Here's who you can complain to directly:
| Route | Cost | Who It's For |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Ombudsman Service ↗ | Free | Banks, insurers, lenders |
| Small Claims Court ↗ | From £35 | Smaller claims under £10,000 |
| Direct complaint to lender | Free | Always try this first |
| Claims Management Company | 15–30% of payout | Only if you prefer not to do it yourself |
Step-by-Step: How to Make a Financial Claim
- Gather evidence — account statements, correspondence, original agreements
- Write a formal complaint to the firm's complaints department
- Wait up to 8 weeks for a Final Response Letter
- If rejected or unsatisfied, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)
- FOS investigation — takes 3–9 months but is free and independent
Key Financial Complaints Bodies
- Financial Ombudsman Service — Complaints ↗
- FCA — How to Complain ↗
- Citizens Advice — Financial Services ↗
- MoneyHelper — Making a Complaint ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
The FCA's main deadline passed in August 2019, but claims remain possible where you were never properly informed, only recently discovered the policy, or via Plevin commission claims — often through the courts rather than the ombudsman.
No — you can claim yourself at no cost, and claims firms take a significant slice of any award. Free templates do the same job.
In Plevin v Paragon the Supreme Court ruled that hidden commission on PPI created an unfair relationship. Even if a mis-selling claim failed, a commission-based claim may still succeed.
Check old statements and agreements for terms like 'payment protection', 'loan protection', 'ASU', or write to old lenders — a Subject Access Request forces a full record search.
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