Ombudsman Services:Property. The Rev Smith. Maladministration. The Ombudsman Association. (471)

To the Business Secretary:
For Clarity - Attempt 471.

471). One Monitor For Complaints About Estate Agents ....

Dear Mr Javid,

Once upon a time the OFT, apparently, monitored the scheme they had approved on behalf of the taxpayer - Ombudsman Services:Property (OS:P). The consumer could in theory complain to them should they feel short-changed by the OS:P ombudsman who (mis)handled their complaint.

Whether the consumer would get anywhere should they choose to do so is highly unlikely.

The same ombudsman "investigates" consumer complaints about surveyors but thanks to the RICS' indomitable control of the scheme consumers cannot complain to the OFT when they get short-changed and their complaint goes terribly wrong.

We asked the Ombudsman Association's Secretary:
Q. 3: If the ombudsman did apply different criterion to the two categories of complaint wouldn't that go against the principles of natural justice?

We didn't get an answer to that one either.

Q. Mr Javid, the RICS, apparently unable to adequately regulate their surveyors, "approved" the OS:P to investigate complaints about surveyors they apparently don't regulate and closely the monitor the OS:P for the, "effective" resolution of disputes that result from their inability to adequately regulate their surveyors in the first place. Is this fair and just - or just the ultimate example of how to rig markets for their own financial gain?

Yours sincerely,
Steve Gilbert - The Ombudsmans61percent Campaign.