← FFCheckWho do I contact?EN
Government · the UK
Updated September 2026

⚖️ A public body treated me unfairly — how do I complain to the ombudsman?

Direct answer

The ombudsman — Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman / Parliamentary Ombudsman (0300 061 0614) — investigates how public bodies act: delays, silence, rudeness, lost files, refusal to explain, unequal treatment. It is free, independent, and its reports carry weight. Two conditions in most countries: you complained to the body itself first, and the complaint is within a deadline (often one year). The ombudsman does not overturn decisions — for that, object and appeal (see that page); Civil Legal Advice / Citizens Advice / Law Centres (0345 345 4 345) helps with the legal route; Administrative Court — judicial review / First-tier Tribunal (gov.uk) is the court. Many countries have specialised ombudsmen too (children, patients, financial) — Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman / Parliamentary Ombudsman redirects you.

Call firstLocal Government & Social Care Ombudsman / Parliamentary Ombudsman
Report toCivil Legal Advice / Citizens Advice / Law Centres
If that failsAdministrative Court — judicial review / First-tier Tribunal

🗣️ What to say

"I complain about [body] concerning [what happened, dates]. I raised this with them on [date] and [no answer / an unsatisfactory answer, attached]. I consider their conduct [unreasonable / unfair / negligent] because [reasons]. I ask you to investigate and to recommend [what]."

🪜 Step by step

  1. Complain to the body firstIn writing; keep it. The ombudsman will ask for it.
  2. Within the deadlineUsually a year from the conduct, sometimes less. Later is possible with a reason.
  3. Complaint to Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman / Parliamentary OmbudsmanOnline form: what happened, what you did, what you want. Attach the correspondence.
  4. InvestigationThe ombudsman asks the body for its side, may look at the file, and issues findings and recommendations. Months, not weeks.
  5. Decision itself wrong? Civil Legal Advice / Citizens Advice / Law Centres, Administrative Court — judicial review / First-tier TribunalThe legal route runs in parallel and has its own deadline — do not wait for the ombudsman to appeal.

📇 All contacts

Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman / Parliamentary OmbudsmanComplaints about councils and government departments, freeWhen a public body does not answer or acts unfairly📞 0300 061 0614🔗 www.lgo.org.uk
Civil Legal Advice / Citizens Advice / Law CentresLegal aid on low income, free adviceWhen you cannot afford a solicitor📞 0345 345 4 345🔗 www.gov.uk/civil-legal-advice
Administrative Court — judicial review / First-tier TribunalJudicial review (3-month limit) and tribunalsWithin the deadline on the decision🔗 www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals

❓ Frequently asked

Is the ombudsman's decision binding?

Recommendations are not binding, but public bodies follow the vast majority and parliament publishes those that do not.

Can I complain about the police, a hospital, a school?

Yes, for public services; some have their own complaints bodies first. Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman / Parliamentary Ombudsman's site lists which.

Can the ombudsman award compensation?

It can recommend it, and many bodies pay on recommendation. For a right to compensation, the court.

📎 Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-26

🔎 Common searches

Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.

  • “ombudsman complaint the UK”
  • “complain about government office unfair”
  • “ombudsman deadline complaint”
  • “public body no answer complaint”
  • “maladministration complaint”

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Related questions

📩Object to a decision→📂Information request→💡Broken streetlight→🗑️Illegal dumping→

Your tools for the UK

Before it goes wrongCan I?What is allowed, what is not, which permit you need — with the official source.Energy · the UKElectricity & gasThe rules that protect you as an electricity and gas customer in the UK, and who to contact. Every fact is checked on an official source.Recognise it firstIs dit veilig?Check a phone number, website or message against 47,000 scam dossiers.