Ombudsman Services - Entirely Independent? We Don't Think So. (649)

The Ombudsmans61percent Campaign For A public Inquiry Into The RICS, Its, "Appointed" Company - Ombudsman Services:Property And The NHS' Livewell Southwest Ltd.

To the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary / Chair, Ombudsman Services.

For Clarity - Attempt 649.

649) Ombudsman Services - Entirely Independent? We Don't Think So.

Dear Mr Clark and Lord Tim Clement Jones,

Ombudsman Services's literature claims to be, "Good For Business" and, "Good For Consumers."

It certainly got the first bit right.

Richard Brown - oversees finance, human resources and IT for OS - provided a fascinating insight into what really drives the pro-business maladministrators at Ombudsman Services, 

In the 2009/10 Annual Report he told us that;

"Money comes from annual membership subscriptions and case fees."

And,

"We must ensure that the members know that we are spending their money wisely and that they have a well-run, efficient service which adds real quality to their own business practices."

The inconvenient fact that his members' "business practices"  have led consumers to complain seems to have completely passed Richard Brown by.

Q. Lord Tim Clement Jones, why has Richard Brown completely omitted  the consumer from his eulogy to his members and their less than quality business practices? 

Q. Lord Tim Clement Jones, Richard Brown appears oblivious to the fact that his members aren't the ones bringing the complaint. In the interests of balance whatever happened to the consumers' business practices as a result falling victims to your members' questionable business practices?

Q. Lord Tim Clement Jones, is part of the, "well run efficient service" you provide to your members, to hand consumers decisions that are not arrived at in a logical manner?

Q. Lord Tim Clement Jones, would handing a property complainant a fair, proportionate and just financial award be seen by your members as to be spending their money unwisely whilst also putting a sizeable dent into their questionable business practices and is this the reason why your awards are so derisory?

The victims of sharp, inefficient and/or incompetent business practices get no mention. What happens to them after they've received private civil justice is not recorded. They're simply forgotten. Their customer journey often ends in penury and ill-health. This is private civil justice in early 21st century England.

Q. Mr Clark, as one of the authors of, Direct Democracy: An Agenda for a New Model Party you spoke of the urgent need for greater, "accountability." 

We agree. 

Your department has a close and continuing relationship with this private redress scheme which year after year has become less and less accountable. Shouldn't it now be deprivatised and taken into public ownership so as to protect the consumer from those who see maladministrating consumers' complaints as being, "Good For Business?"

Yours sincerely,

Steve Gilbert - Workstock Number - 510458.

The Ombudsman61percent campaign is at: www.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com - Ombudsmans Sixtyone-percent.