Policy Bespoke Law Services (known as “BLS”) recognises that there will be occasions when complaints will be received from customers. These may be in respect of the actual legal work carried out, but more usually, will be to do with customer service issues.
Aims
To deal with the complaint promptly and within any time scales stated
To deal with the complaint fairly and reasonably
To provide the customer with details of the procedure that will be followed by BLS during the handling of the complaint
Details of the policy and procedure
Complaints should be directed to the Director William Dalton at the following address, Bespoke Law Services, Burns House, Harlands Road, Haywards Heath, RH15 1PG
Details of any verbal complaint receive by BLS should be fully recorded on the clients file
BLS will contact the client by telephone or email/letter correspondence on the same day that the complaint is received or within 24 hours. If it is not possible to contact the customer a record should be made of the time the attempt was made and a message left if possible.
If the complaint cannot be dealt with on the telephone the customer will be invited to put details of the complaint in writing to BLS
Within 7 days of the written complaint being received BLS will write to the customer to advise the matter is being investigated and a full response will be given within 28 days
BLS would review the history of the matter and seek to address the points made by the customer and suggest a course of action
The customer should also be advised that they can write to the Legal Ombudsman, at Edward House, Quay Place, Birmingham, B1 2RA
Where the complaint is received from the customer and it is alleging negligence
BLS will contact the client by telephone or email/letter correspondence on the same day that the complaint is received or within 24 hours. If it is not possible to contact the customer a record should be made of the time the attempt was made and a message left if possible
If BLS cannot resolve the complaint on the telephone the customer will be invited to put the details of the complaint in writing
Within 7 days of the written complaint being received BLS will write to the customer to advise the matter is being investigates and that a substantive response will be given within 14 days
Regardless of the amount claimed by the customer, the insurers must be notified where there is receipt of a writ/letter indicating proceedings will be issued or circumstances are discovered that could give rise to a claim even though the complaint has not yet been made
Where the complaint is received from the customer via the Council of Licensed Conveyancers or Legal Ombudsman
BLS should acknowledge the letter detailing the complaint to the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) by telephone and in writing within 3 days of its receipt
BLS will review the conduct and history of the matter
Having investigated the file and case management system records BLS will prepare a report and forward this to the CLC/Legal Ombudsman within 8 days of receipt of the complaint from the CLC/Legal Ombudsman
The CLC/Legal Ombudsman will acknowledge the response and send the customer a copy of the response within 3 days of receipt of it
If the customer is not satisfied with the response the CLC/Legal Ombudsman will request the file and BLS will send this to the CLC/Legal Ombudsman within 8 days of receipt of their request
BLS will arrange for the files to be copied and the copies sent to the CLC/Legal Ombudsman. The original file will be retained by BLS as this belongs to the customer
The CLC/Legal Ombudsman will nominate an external case worker to review the file and prepare a report. The case worker is allowed ten weeks to complete the report
Once the report is complete, copies of it will be sent to both parties
BLS has 21 days in which to review the report and make a response to the CLC/Legal Ombudsman
The CLC/Legal Ombudsman will place the complaint before the next available meeting of the Investigating Committee
The parties will be advised of the Committee’s decision within 28 days of the meeting
BLS will keep a record of all written complaints on a spreadsheet
The CLC advise the following points should be considered when responding to a complaint
Accept that the complainant may have a grievance however unjustified you may this it is
In the first instance most complainants are looking for an apology from you even if it is only to acknowledge that you are sorry that they feel they have cause to complain
Do not rush a response which you may later regret
Consider how you intend to respond considering that a copy will be sent to the complainant and is likely to be placed before the Investigating Committee
Be objective
Do not be defensive
Address all issued however minor
Avoid raising other issues
Respond in a clear and logical manner
Keep to the point
Explain what action you took and why
f you consider after investigating that the service fell short of your normal standard, consider how to resolve it
If the complaint is negligent confirm that you have notified insurers in accordance with the master policy