Older News and Info about FOS

Older news and info about FOS

FOS appeals policy.
No independent appeals are possible...but...FOS suggests in Ombudsman News 87 that asking for a case to be reviewed by an Ombudsman constitutes an 'appeal' against the Adjudicator's view. Hmmm... I am not sure that a 'review' by a more senior staff member actually means an independent review has taken place. (In my case the Ombudsman missed the same £4000 tax error as the Adjudicator which makes a salient point about the quality of the appeal).

But surely passing a case to an Ombudsman because the Adjudicator is incapable of handling it properly cannot be regarded as an appeal. If this happens only one competent person has assessed the case and no further review is then possible.

June 2010. FOS appoints Linda Costelloe Baker OBE to be the new Independent Assessor
Unfortunately, her terms of reference look to be unchanged so a wonderful chance has been missed to make the post genuinely useful, authoritative and independent. The IA is paid at almost £50k for 2 days a week, but has little authority and is not allowed to review an Ombudsman's actual decision, the last IA spent his time looking at administrative matters (service standards) in around 1 in every 1000 cases.

Autumn 2010. As the Government cuts expenditure, salaries and pensions, FOS is to appoint three new very senior posts.
Director of Operations (appointed),
Director of Finance and Performance (interim in place) and
Chief Technology Officer (interim in place). All earning over £100,000 pa.plus benefits

New FOS Operations Director appointed.
Simon Rouse has been appointed and joins from the NHS. Mr Rouse DOES have financial services experience which can only be a good thing. Recent adverts for Ombudsmen do not require candidates to have financial services experience. Natalie says "His current experience of strategic planning in the public sector - combined with his background in financial services - means he comes with a unique understanding of the issues we face".
Simon Rouse
Interview with Mr Rouse

Freedom of Information Act.
After a consultation starting in 2007, FOS is to at last to be subject to the Freedom on Information Act. But not until October 2011...