received by the service. The ombudsman's published annual review (2012/2013) showed 58% of all disputes were sorted out within six months – and 43% of non-PPI cases within three months. Questions as to their impartiality due to the manner in which they're funded by the financial services, and that many employees have worked for financial services firms, mostly as solicitors who make up 38% of their brethren. Though the ombudsman service currently upholds over 49% of complaints in favour of the consumer, there have been complaints that the awards are inadequate. As an ombudsman's decision is the final stage in the service's process, consumers who remain unhappy would need to pursue their complaint through the court. (However no alternative has been suggested.) Lack of fifteen-year long-stop: There is no fifteen-year "long-stop" rule in the complaints-handling rules made under the Financial Services and Markets Act. In its policy statement published in January 2003 – and following subsequent reviews – the Financial Services Authority (FSA) set out why there is no fifteen-year limitation period in the complaints-handling rules, stating: "We do not consider it is in the interests of consumers to rule out the possibility of complaints being dealt with outside the 15-year period that would apply to court cases. Nor do we consider this necessary to prevent hardship to firms." Dispatches shown on Channel 4 went under cover at the FOS and uncovered a number of issues. These included junior staff saying that they googled cases for answers, never told lenders to write off debts and general mishandling of cases. MPs called for a national inquiry into its work. International Network of Financial Services Ombudsman Schemes The UK Financial Ombudsman Service is a member of the International Network of Financial Services Ombudsman Schemes, a global association whose members operate as out-of-court dispute resolution mechanisms in the financial sector. Other members include: Financial Ombudsman Service (Australia) Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (Canada) Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau of Ireland Ombudsman for Banking Services (South Africa) A list of all members can be found at the International Network's website. References External links Official website Financial regulatory authorities Ombudsmen in the United Kingdom Ombudsmen by type Banking Ombudsmen