'I have a complaint about credit that I can't sort out with my bank - what happens next?'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Most of us are familiar with using credit in some shape or form, from loans, overdrafts and credit cards to catalogue shopping, car finance and hire purchase - not to mention mortgages.Normally, things proceed as they should do - you make an agreement with the lender, both sides uphold their responsibilities, and everybody is happy.

Perhaps there is an issue, so you make a complaint, and the lender resolves things to your satisfaction - great.But what if something goes wrong?

Where do you turn if you try and sort it out with the lender, but you're getting nowhere, maybe out of pocket, and feeling like you haven't been treated fairly?This is where the Financial Ombudsman Service comes in.

It’s a free, easy-to-use service that was set up by Parliament specifically to help people who have a complaint about a financial product or service, and feel they have been treated unfairly.They can look at complaints about banking, credit cards and loans, fraud and scams, insurance claims, investments and pensions, whether they are contacted by individual customers, small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs), charities or trusts.So if you have a problem with credit cards, loans, or with items bought on credit that turn out to be faulty or not as expected – and you are unhappy with how your lender has handled things – the Financial Ombudsman Service may be able to help.