Companies no longer look after their customers as they should, and in many cases they take hours to answer their phones when customers try to get issues sorted out.   Energy companies and banks are particularly bad at helping customers when things go wrong.  It is therefore wonderful that there are ombudsmen to help energy and bank customers, plus for many other industries.It means that we do not have to despair when insurance companies, credit card companies, garages, pension companies and so many more will not engage with their customers and just refuse to pay any compensation.   Call centre staff often do not have the training or the authority to help customers properly.The Financial Ombudsman finds in favour of up to 75% of customers who are victims of fraudsters, but cannot get any compensation from their banks.  The Energy Ombudsman also  finds in favour of up to 75% of complainants.   To get started customers have to show that they have tried to settle their dispute with the company involved.  Then ombudsmen can arbitrate and help hundreds of thousands if not millions of customers each year who have had a bad deal.  The Financial Ombudsman can order financial institutions to pay up,  to pay interest to compensate for delays and even in some cases to pay for the time customers spend on putting their evidence together.  The Financial Ombudsman can make awards of up to  £375,000 and the service is totally free.   Overall they find in favour of 43% of complainants and where they do not agree with the customer they explain why .  Mrs Mean is a big supporter of Ombudsmen and also Resolver.com, the online free complaints service.  It is good to have someone on your side when things go wrong.From Passion to Purpose"From Passion to Purpose" is a podcast that explores the world of nonprofit...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifyPlease send ideas questions, tips and warnings about rip-offs to Mrs Mean through the contact page on her website: mrsmeanmoneyshow.co.uk or to [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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