Crownstone Funding Complaints process

Our aim is always to provide an exceptionally high level of service to all of our customers. Where customers feel they have cause to raise a complaint it is important to us that these are dealt with objectively, fairly and within an acceptable time frame.

The following procedure explains how we deal with complaints, our commitments to you and what redress you have if you think your complaint has not been resolved to your satisfaction.

If you have a complaint about any aspect of our service, then we would like to hear from you.

How to tell us if you have a complaint

To help us investigate and resolve your issue as quickly as possible, you can contact us by telephone or in writing. The most appropriate person will handle your complaint in the quickest possible time.

Our complaints contact details are:

0208 050 8606

[email protected]

What information do we need to address your complaint?

To assist us in resolving your complaint efficiently it would be helpful if you could provide the following information:

• Your full name and preferred contact details
• Transaction reference number
• Full details of your complaint
• Copies of relevant paperwork
• Photographic evidence of any complaint relating to vehicle damage/defects where applicable
• What you expect us to do to put things right
• Any other information that you think may be relevant

What we do if we receive a complaint from you

Any complaint, verbal or written, will be allocated it to the most appropriate Complaints Handler.
We will always try to resolve your complaint immediately. However, sometimes this may not be possible. In all cases we will implement the following process:

Complaint Process

1. Your case reference will be your order/contract number
2. We will give you the name and title of the person handling your complaint
3. We will send you written acknowledgement within 3 working days of receiving your complaint
4. Make contact to seek clarification on any points where necessary
5. Fully investigate your complaint internally and third parties where relevant
6. Keep you informed and fully updated regarding any progress
7. Discuss with you our findings and our proposed response
8. Our aim will be to send you our final written response within ten working days but no later than eight weeks as required by the Financial Conduct Authority

Investigation

The Customer Resolutions Department will work with the relevant department managers to establish the nature and scope of your complaint having due regards to the Financial Conduct Authority’s direction:

• Deal with complaints promptly and fairly
• Give complainants clear replies and, where appropriate, fair redress

Eligibility

It is Crownstone Funding’s policy to treat all complainants the same, however, certain types of complaints fall within the scope of FCA rules and consequently within the jurisdiction of the Financial Ombudsman Service.

FCA Complaints Rules

• Complaints made by, or on behalf of an eligible complainant; Eligible Complainants are essentially individuals and certain small businesses
• The Complainant must relate to the provision of or failure to provide a financial service or a redress determination and;
• The Complainant must allege that they have suffered, or may suffer, financial loss, material distress or material inconvenience

Final Response

This will set out clearly our decision re the complaint and the reasons for it. If any compensation is offered a clear method of calculation will be shown.
Where appropriate we are required to include details of the Financial Ombudsman Service in the final response. If dealing with an eligible complainant and a regulated activity, we will:

• Explain that the complainant must refer the matter to the Ombudsman within six months of the date of this letter or the right to use this service is lost
• Indicate whether we consent to waive the relevant time limits.

Complaints settled within 3 business days

Complaints that can be settled to your satisfaction within 3 business days can be recorded and communicated differently. Where we consider a complaint to be resolved to your satisfaction under this section, we will promptly send you a Summary Resolution Communication, being a written communication from us which:

1. Refers to the fact that you have made a complaint and informs you that we now consider the complaint to have been resolved to your satisfaction;
   2. We will tell you that if you subsequently decide that you are dissatisfied with the resolution of the complaint you may be able to refer the complaint back to us for further consideration or alternatively refer the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
   3. Indicates if we consent to waive the relevant time limits, (where we have discretion in such matters)
   4. Provide the relevant addresses of the Financial Ombudsman Service.
   5. Refer to the availability of further information on the website of the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Closing a complaint

We will consider a complaint closed when we have made our final response to you. This does not prevent you from exercising any rights you may have to refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

What to do if you are not happy with our decision

If you have a regulated consumer credit contract arranged by us and are not satisfied with our Final Response, you may be eligible to refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman.

Financial Ombudsman Service

If relevant, then you can refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service – you must do this within six months of our final response. When we send you a final response, we will also provide you with a copy of the Financial Ombudsman Service’s explanatory leaflet.

We will co-operate fully with the Ombudsman in resolving any complaints made against us and agree to be bound by any awards made by them.

You can contact the financial Ombudsman at the following address:

The Financial Ombudsman Service
Exchange Tower
London
E14 9SR
Tel: 0800 023 4567 (free for most people from a fixed line) or 0300 123 9123 (cheaper for those calling using a mobile) or 020 7964 0500 (if calling from abroad)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

Motor Commission Complaints

On the 11th of January 2024, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced their intention to review historical motor finance discretionary commission arrangements across the motor finance industry.

As part of this, the FCA has confirmed the following:

They are pausing the 8-week deadline for motor finance firms to provide a final response to relevant customer complaints. The pause will apply to complaints about motor finance agreements where there was a discretionary commission arrangement between the lender and the broker and will last for 37 weeks (approximately 9 months).

Consumers will have up to 15 months to refer their complaint to the Financial Ombudsman, rather than the usual 6 months. This extension applies to complaints where the firm sent a final response in the period beginning with 12th July 2023, and ending with 10th January 2024, or where the firm sends a final response during the period beginning with 11th January 2024 and ending with 20th November 2024.

To find out more information about the FCA motor commission review, visit their website:
https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/car-finance-complaints