1. Help Us to Put Things Right
2. Types of Complaint Handled
3. How to Make a Complaint
4. What Happens Next?
5. Complaints Handling Procedures
6. Acknowledgement
7. Initial Response
8. Further Acknowledgement
9. Holding Response
10. Final Response
11. Monitoring of Complaints
12. Ultimate Redress
13. Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)

Help us to put things right

Link FX PLC is committed to delivering an efficient and professional service. We aim to provide prompt, courteous, helpful, open and informative advice in response to every approach made by a member of public. We are always keen to hear the views of our customers, particularly the general public, about our performance generally – what we do right and what we do wrong.

We recognise that, like all organisations, from time to time things can go wrong, and we do not provide the standards of service that we have set ourselves. We are especially keen to hear about such instances since they provide us with an opportunity to put things right and to learn from our mistakes. That way, we can get it right next time.

Types of complaint handled

Handling complaints quickly, fairly and helpfully is a key part of our approach to service delivery. Examples of complaints about a service provided by Link FX PLC might include:

• dissatisfaction with the way in which we respond to an enquiry, or the time that we took to respond;
• a perceived injustice because of alleged maladministration on our part;
• a denial of a request for information made under the Freedom of Information Act;
• dissatisfaction with the way in which our assets are maintained; or
• dissatisfaction with the response to a request for our services to be provided in a different format.

Sometimes things go wrong and Link FX PLC does not provide the quality of service expected. When this happens, we will endeavour to:

• ensure that making a complaint is as easy as possible;
• treat a complaint seriously whether it is made in writing by letter, email or by telephone;
• deal with it promptly, politely and where appropriate, informally (for example, by telephone);
• include in our response an apology where we have got things wrong, an
• explanation of the position, or information on any actions taken; and
• learn from complaints; use them to improve our service;
• document the complaint and respond.

How to make a complaint

You can make a complaint in writing by letter, email or by telephone. If you are emailing, please let us know if a reply by email is acceptable and, if not, please provide a telephone number or full postal address.

Complaints should normally be directed to the member of staff with whom you have been dealing. This will give them the opportunity to explain what actions have been taken and to try to sort things out with you. If you would prefer, you can ask the member of staff for the name of their line manager and direct your complaint to them.

The Complaints Officer at Link FX can be contacted through the following address, email address and phone number:

The Complaints Officer

Link FX PLC

71 Gloucester Road

London

SW7 4SS

Telephone Number: 020 7391 9090

Email Address: compliance@linkfx.co.uk

What happens next?

We will use our best endeavours to:

• treat complaints thoroughly, fairly and politely, and investigate them sensitively; and
• respond promptly. Our target for replying to complaints is 15 working days from the date of receipt, or in exceptional circumstances, 35 working days. If it is not possible to give you a full reply within this time – for instance because detailed investigation is required – we will give you an interim response, telling you what is being done to deal with your complaint, and when you can expect the full reply and from whom.

Our first response to your complaint should resolve your problem; however, if you are unhappy with our reply, or need further help, you can write to Link FX PLC’s Complaints Officer who will consider the issues afresh, and try to resolve them.

If, even after this stage, you remain dissatisfied with the response you may wish to contact the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) for further advice and guidance. This will not affect your legal rights.

All complaints are recorded by Link FX PLC and we provide a summary of all complaints to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). These statistics are also used internally to improve our products and services.

Complaints Handling Procedures

Link FX are pleased to operate in accordance with the Financial Conduct Authority and the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) complaint management procedures.

We recognise that we have an obligation to Customers who are dissatisfied with our service to resolve any complaint within 15 working days from the point of notification, or in exceptional circumstances, 35 working days.  If this is not possible for any reason then we will state our reasons for not being able to do so and propose an alternate completion date to the Customer. If we are unable to resolve the complaint within this timescale, or to the Customers satisfaction, or the Customer does not accept a deferred date, then such complaints may be eligible for consideration by the FCA or the FOS.

To assist the Customer, we would highlight our complaints procedure.

Complaints Procedure

Acknowledgement

Upon receipt of a complaint, we will provide written acknowledgement within 5 working days of receiving the complaint days (working days are Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays). The letter will contain details of our Complaints Procedure and of your right to refer the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman if you are dissatisfied with our assessment and ruling. It will also state who within Link FX PLC is dealing with the complaint and how to make contact with them (this will normally be the Complaints Officer).

Initial Response

We will send the complainant a letter no later than 10 working days after the complaint was made, containing a full account of the investigation activities planned, any findings thus far and, if appropriate, any offer of redress. This letter will again advise the Customer of their rights, who is dealing with the complaint and how to make contact with that person.

Further Acknowledgement

In the situation whereby the complainant responds to the Initial Response then again Link FX PLC will acknowledge receipt of response with 5 working days.

Holding Response

If, for whatever reason, Link FX PLC is unable to conclude the investigation and provide a Final Response (see below) to the complaint then Link FX PLC will issue what is called a Holding Response. The purpose of this Holding Response is to inform the complainant of the reasons why Link FX PLC cannot provide a Final Response and to provide a further indication of what is happening with the complaint and also to provide an indication of when the complainant can expect to hear from Link FX PLC again. In the event that the complainant receives a Holding Response, Link FX PLC would invite the complainant to discuss the matter personally with the Link FX PLC Managing Director. The purpose of this step is to ensure that the complaint (and the complainant) receives the highest priority in those situations where the complaint cannot be fully resolved through normal investigatory processes.

Final Response

Once Link FX PLC has completed its investigation we will write to the complainant and offer a summary outcome. Where appropriate, it may also include a final offer of redress. Such letters will be marked clearly as the final response and will include details on how to contact the FOS if the complaint has not been resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction or, if the offer of redress is considered insufficient or inappropriate.

Link FX PLC will attempt to send the Final Response within 15 working days of the initial complaint or one week after receipt of rejection of offer of redress (where applicable), or in exceptional circumstances, within 35 working days. We will always abide by regulatory guidelines in relation to a complaint and as such, we will always ensure that complainants are kept informed about their complaint and our activities in response to their complaint.

Monitoring of Complaints

Link FX PLC is required by the FCA to keep detailed documentation on individual complaints. We are required to report relevant complaints to the FCA on a regular basis. Private information will not be shared with any 3rd parties and we comply with the Data Protection Act 1998.

These details will usually include as a minimum;

• The nature, date and method of communication of the complaint
• The complainant’s details
• How the complaint was dealt with (outcomes)
• Whether the complaint was upheld or refuted
• Whether the complaint was closed (addressed to complainant’s satisfaction) or whether it remains open and outstanding
• What financial redress or other significant outcome resulted from the complaint

Ultimate Redress

If, after contacting all parties the complainant remains dissatisfied with the outcome of the complaint then they may seek redress through the FOS and ultimately the courts if they so wish. Details of the FOS are provided below.

In each instance, we would record upon the complaint file what advice was provided and we would reclassify the complaint to note that it has been ‘Investigated but not resolved’. Such claims have been deemed to be investigated by Link FX PLC and reported to the FCA on this basis.

Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)

The FOS is an independent and government-backed service designed to help retail consumers and small commercial businesses (annual turnover of less than £1million) who find themselves in a dispute with a financial organisation such as us.

It is a free service and it can be contacted at any point in a dispute providing the complainant has first contacted the financial organisation with whom the dispute relates to. Most cases are resolved within a 6-month period however some inevitably take longer (depending on the nature and complexity of the case).

The FOS can consider complaints about a wide range of financial matters – from insurance and mortgages to savings and investments. They are not a regulator or trade body or a consumer champion – their role is to take an objective standpoint and help settle disputes.

Consumers do not have to accept any decision made by the Financial Ombudsman and at all times the consumer has the right to seek redress in a court should they so wish. However, if the Ombudsman decision is accepted by the complainant then it is binding both the firm and the complainant.

To contact the FOS, consumers should write or telephone or email their situation to:

Financial Ombudsman Service

Exchange Tower

London

E14 9SR

Website: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

Email: complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk

Phone: 0800 023 4567 or 0300 123 9123