1. Details of the complaints procedure is set out in the terms on which we act for you. If your complaint does not relate to an ongoing claim, then it can be made in writing, by e-mail, by telephone or in any other form and should be addressed in the first instance to:
FAO Steven Eldred
Eldred Law Limited
Kissimmee
Pine Walk
Chilworth
Southampton
SO16 7HP
[email protected]
2. We reserve the right to decline to consider a complaint that is made more than six months after you became aware of the cause of the complaint. There may be instances where we will waive this requirement at our discretion. We will confirm to you in writing if a complaint has been made outside the time limit that we are prepared to consider.
3. We will send you a written or electronic acknowledgement of a complaint within five business days of receipt, identifying the person who will be handling the complaint for the business. Wherever possible, that person will not have been directly involved in the matter which is the subject of the complaint, and will have authority to settle the complaint.
4. Within four weeks of receiving a complaint, we will send you either:
a) a final response which adequately addresses the complaint; or
b) a holding response, which explains why we are not yet in a position to resolve the complaint and indicates when we will make further contact with you.
5. Within eight weeks of receiving a complaint we will send you either:
a) a final response which adequately addresses the complaint; or
b) a response which:
i) explains why we are still not in a position to make a final response, giving reasons for the further delay and indicating when we expect to be able to provide a final response; and
ii) informs you that you may refer the handling of the complaint to the Claims Management Regulator if you are dissatisfied with the delay.
6. Where we decide that redress is appropriate, we will provide you with fair compensation for any acts or omissions for which we are responsible and will comply with any offer of redress which you accept. Appropriate redress will not always involve financial redress.
7. If you are not satisfied with our response, or if a complaint is not resolved after eight weeks, you may refer the complaint to –
The Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton, WV1 9WJ, 0300 555 0333
Solicitors Regulation Authority, The Cube, 199 Wharfside Street, Birmingham, B1 1RN, 0370 606 2555
8. The Regulator can review the handling of the complaint and can give a direction on further handling of the complaint. However, he cannot determine a complaint or award compensation.
Mr Brazier