The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is the United Kingdom's official dispute resolution body for financial services complaints. Established in 2001 under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, the FOS provides a free, independent service to resolve disputes between consumers and FCA-authorised financial businesses. Its decisions are binding on firms but not on consumers, who retain the right to pursue legal action.
- Free and independent dispute resolution for financial complaints
- Binding decisions on firms up to £415,000 in compensation
- Covers complaints about banks, insurers, investment firms, and other FCA-authorised entities
Dispute resolution body, NOT a regulator. Resolves complaints against FCA-authorised financial firms.
Body: Financial Ombudsman Service
Visit Dispute ResolutionRelated Regulators
FCA
AAATier 1Financial Conduct Authority
The Financial Conduct Authority is the principal regulatory body overseeing financial markets in the United Kingdom. Established in 2013 as a successor to the Financial Services Authority, the FCA operates independently of the UK Government and is funded entirely by fees charged to the firms it regulates. It supervises over 50,000 financial services firms and maintains one of the most rigorous compliance frameworks in the global financial industry.
FINMA
AAATier 1Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority is Switzerland's independent financial markets regulator. Established in 2009 by merging three predecessor agencies, FINMA oversees banks, insurance companies, stock exchanges, securities dealers, and collective investment schemes. FINMA is widely recognised as the most respected regulatory body in continental Europe, and its requirement that forex brokers register as banks places it among the strictest regulators globally.
CySEC
AATier 2Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission
The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission is the independent public supervisory authority responsible for the supervision of the investment services market and transactions in transferable securities in the Republic of Cyprus. As an EU member state regulator, CySEC-authorised firms benefit from MiFID II passporting rights, enabling them to offer services across the entire European Economic Area.
BaFin
AATier 2Federal Financial Supervisory Authority
The Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin) is Germany's integrated financial regulatory authority. Established in 2002 through the merger of three predecessor agencies, BaFin supervises over 2,700 banks, 800 financial services institutions, and 700 insurance companies, making it one of Europe's most significant financial supervisors.
MFSA
ATier 2Malta Financial Services Authority
The Malta Financial Services Authority is the single regulator for financial services in Malta. Established in 2002, the MFSA oversees banking, financial services, insurance, and pensions. As a full EU member state regulator, MFSA-licensed firms benefit from MiFID II passporting across the European Economic Area.
AMF
AATier 2Autorité des Marchés Financiers
The Autorité des Marchés Financiers is France's financial markets regulator, established in 2003. Together with the ACPR (Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution), the AMF forms the dual regulatory system overseeing the French financial services sector. The AMF is particularly noted for its proactive stance in maintaining and publishing blacklists of unauthorised firms.