Wider Implications

• Process
  • What is a wider-implications issue?
  • How can a wider-implications issue be raised?
  • What will the FSA, OFT and ombudsman service do?

Case Studies

• Where the wider-implications process was applied
• Where wider-implications process was not applied

Home » Process » How can a wider-implications issue be raised?

How can a wider-implications issue be raised?

4. Anyone with a legitimate interest can identify a potential wider-implications issue. In practice, such issues are likely to be identified by:
   • a business, through its own systems or as a result of a complaint;
   • a trade body, as a result of information received from businesses;
   • a consumer body, as a result of information received from consumers;
   • the FSA or OFT, as a result of their oversight of businesses;
   • the ombudsman service, as a result of considering a case or series of cases; or
   • the ombudsman service jointly with either the FSA or OFT, through their regular liaison arrangements.
5. Anyone who wishes to raise a potential wider-implications issue should:
   • do so in writing;
   • specify clearly the nature and extent of the issue;
   • give reasons why the issue has wider implications; and
   • provide any supporting documentation.
6. The issue can be raised with the ombudsman service, FSA (for financial services generally) or OFT (for consumer credit or competition-related issues) and should be directed to:
   • at the ombudsman service: the wider-implications unit (led by David Thomas, the corporate director) at wider.implications@financial-ombudsman.org.uk; or
   • at the FSA: the wider-implications unit (led by Edward Harley, head of department, retail policy and themes division) at wider.implications@fsa.gov.uk; or
   • at the OFT: the wider-implications contact (Rob Williamson, deputy director, markets and projects – services) at enquiries@oft.gsi.gov.uk.