Complaint Handling Procedures

Independent Financial Solutions (IFS) is a trading style of DMJ Associates, which is an appointed representative of Adviser Business Solutions Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by The Financial Conduct Authority.

Main contact for complaints: Lucy Taylor
Email: lucy.taylor@ifsnet.co.uk
Telephone: 01243 432430
Address: Unit 2 - 2A, The Old Flour Mill, Queen Street, Emsworth, Hampshire, PO10 7BT

We take care to maintain high standards of service. Where we become aware of client concerns or unease we give priority to resolving the matter as quickly as possible and that your concerns are handled fairly and within reasonable timescales.

Upon receipt of a complaint, we will do all we can to resolve your concerns within three business days, and confirm this to you in writing. If we cannot do this, we will write to you, where possible within five business days to acknowledge your complaint and to let you know when we expect to be able to issue a full response. A senior person who, where possible is independent of the case, will investigate your complaint. You will be given their name and contact details.

When acknowledging your complaint, especially in the case of an oral complaint, we will set out the nature of the complaint and may request further clarification if necessary. Your complaint will be investigated using our files together with reports from other parties if relevant. We may also write to you if further information is required. We will keep you informed of the progress of the complaint investigation.

After eight weeks, if a final response letter has not already been sent to you, you will receive:

• A final response letter detailing our conclusions and resolution to the complaint. This letter will also confirm that if you remain dissatisfied with our final response, you may refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) within six months of the date of our final response letter, otherwise you would lose this referral right. A copy of the FOS leaflet 'Want to take your complaint further?' will be enclosed, if not already supplied. You may also be able to take civil action.

OR

• A response that we are still not in a position to make a final response, giving the reasons for the further delay and indicating when we expect to be able to provide a final response. We will also inform you that you may refer your complaint to the FOS if you are dissatisfied with the delay.

Where your complaint relates to the administration or management of an occupational or personal pension, we may also be able to refer your complaint to the Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) in addition to the FOS. Where appropriate, we will provide you with the relevant contact details.

Please bear in mind that if your complaint involves information from third parties some delays could be beyond our control. We will however, pursue information on a regular basis.

In the event that we receive a complaint that is not about us, or our services, and assuming that we can identify the firm to whom the complaint should be addressed, we will carry out the following action:

• We will write to the firm concerned, explaining that we believe the complaint in question to be theirs, and suggesting that they contact you directly.
• We will enclose a copy of your original complaint letter.
• We will write to you, giving contact details of the relevant firm, and invite you to get in touch with them directly. We will also provide you with a copy of the letter we send to the firm.
• We will copy the new firm in on this letter.