Complaints Policy

The purpose of this policy is to stipulate how we will identify, manage and respond to any complaints received. This will include our regulatory obligations as an FCA regulated firm, but also our commitment to our customers and our endeavour to always provide the best possible service.

Complaint handling forms a key part of our staff training programme and we ensure that all customer facing staff have been trained in how to identify and manage complaints accordingly.

We firmly believe that we provide a first-class service to all of our customers, however, we do understand that sometimes things may go wrong leaving our customers not entirely satisfied.

When we are made aware of any shortcomings in our products or services, we will always respond in a professional and courteous manner, ensuring that all complaints are handled objectively and without undue delay.

We believe that we provide a first-class service to our Customers.

To ensure that this statement remains true we will proactively:

• Train all of our staff to identify and handle complaint, but also to understand the importance of our complaint management system;
• Respond positively and professionally if our Customers do complain; and
• Learn from any feedback provided by our Customers and amend our processes if appropriate to avoid repeat complaints.

This policy will cover the handling of both eligible and ineligible complaints. The FCA define an eligible complaint as, ‘Any expression of dissatisfaction, whether oral or written, and whether justified or not, from or on behalf of an eligible complainant about the firm’s provision of, or failure to provide, a financial service’.

For our business, eligible complaints will only be complaints relating to the finance products we offer to our customers as a credit broker. For these complaints we have strict regulations and time limits which we are aware of and must adhere to. This policy stipulates how we will ensure we are meeting these regulatory requirements.

Eligible complaints must also be from an eligible complainant, which would be one of our customers, or someone who has been appointed to act on behalf of our customer.

Ineligible complaints are all other complaints which do not meet the FCA definition and are not linked to our regulated activity of credit broking. These are not covered by FCA regulations, however we will endeavour to handle these in much the same way as we would an eligible complaint, to ensure complainants are kept informed of the status and progress of their complaint. Ineligible complaints can include but are not limited to; complaints about the standard of customer service or complaints about the timeliness and tidiness of our installation or delivery staff.

Handling Complaints

Customers can make a complaint free of charge by any reasonable means (letter, email, telephone call, personal visit).

When we receive a complaint from a Customer we will immediately start to collate the information we need to complete the Complaint Management Form.

Our first step is to assess whether the complaint points raised relate to us or a 3rd party, such as the lender who provides the loan to the customer and whether the complaint is an eligible complaint from an eligible complainant.

After the initial information has been collected, the Complaints Manager will assign the complaint to an appropriate member of staff. The designated person will not have any conflicts of interest in managing and investigating the complaint. All complaints will be investigated competently, diligently and impartially so we can be sure that we are able to treat our customers fairly.

Once the complaint has been fully investigated the Complaints Manager will authorise any appropriate action which may or may not involve compensating the customer.

Steps Taken to Resolve Complaints

We will endeavour to resolve complaints in a timely manner and to the satisfaction of all concerned.

This means we will aim to resolve all complaints quickly while making certain they are also investigated thoroughly, to reassure customers that their complaints have been reviewed fully and the resolution is well founded.

The following standards have been agreed throughout our business and are in line with our regulatory obligations:

• If a 3rd party is solely responsible for the complaint or the reasons for the complaint, we will refer the complaint to them within 5 business days and email / write to the customer to make them aware of this.
• If a 3rd party is jointly responsible for the complaint with us, we will refer the complaint to them within 5 business days, write or email to the customer to make them aware of this, and then investigate and
• handle the complaint points relating to us as per our normal process.
• If we are able to resolve a complaint within 3 business days, we will issue the complainant with a summary resolution letter detailing our resolution and advising the customer of their right to refer the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
• For every complaint received that cannot be resolved within 3 business days, we will issue the complainant with an acknowledgement email / within 5 business days.
• We will advise the complainant on each communication when they can expect to hear from us next.
• We will endeavour to resolve complaints in a timely manner and within 8 weeks as a maximum.
• If we cannot resolve a complaint within 8 weeks then we will remind complainants of their right to refer their complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service where applicable (see final response letter templates).
• All complaints received and resolved will be recorded so we are able to identify trends through root cause analysis and make the necessary business changes to improve the services to our customers and prevent repeat occurrences.

Contact Details

If you have a complaint, we want to know as soon as possible to help us put things right promptly. Just contact our Customer Services Team with your details and a description of your problem. We are here for you Monday to Friday from 8.00am-5.00pm.

Call us: 0800 634 3179

Email us: enquiries@tyc.co.uk

Write to us: Eton House, Eton Hill Road, Radcliffe, Manchester. M26 2ZT

The Financial Ombudsman Service

The Financial Ombudsman Service exists to help resolve certain complaints when we have not been able to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction. The scheme is entirely free to use.

You should contact the Financial Ombudsman Service within 6 months from the date of our written response. They will also look into your complaint if we have not provided you with a written response within 8 weeks of receiving your complaint.

You can contact the Financial Ombudsman Service:

In writing:

Exchange Tower, Harbour Exchange, London E14 9SR

By telephone: 0800 023 4567

By email: complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk

Website: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk