BIOA members list

There are two categories of membership of the Association, as follows:

‘Voting’ member: an Ombudsman office recognised by the Association as satisfying the Association’s Criteria irrespective of whether or not the term ‘Ombudsman’ is included in the title or description of such office.
‘Corporate Associate’ member: any organisation which, in the opinion of the Executive Committee is interested in and supports the objects of the Association and has significant relevant expertise in complaint handling.

Voting (full) membership of the Association is open to ombudsman schemes which meet the published criteria for recognition attached to BIOA's rules (essentially: independence of the Ombudsman from those whom the Ombudsman has the power to investigate; effectiveness; fairness and public accountability). The word “ombudsman” does not have to appear in the title of the scheme.

To find an ombudsman or complaints-handling organisation:

or browse the A-Z list of BIOA members:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Independent Case Examiner PO Box 155, , Chester, CH99 9SA Tel: 0151 801 8800, Lo-call 0845 6060777, Minicom: 0151 Fax: 0151 801 8802 ice@dwp.gsi.gov.uk website Jurisdiction: UK Category: Children BIOA Membership Type: Associate, Complaint-Handling Body	acts as an independent referee for people who feel that the following Government Agencies or Businesses have not treated them fairly or have not dealt with complaints in a satisfactory manner. The Agencies/Businesses are: - the Child Support Agency - Debt Management - Disability and Carers Service - Financial Assistance Scheme - Jobcentre Plus - Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division (Northern Ireland) - Northern Ireland Social Security Agency - Pension Service - Rent Service

Independent Complaints Mediator for the Criminal Records Bureau PO Box 165, Shannon Court, Princes Parade, Liverpool, L69 3JD Tel: 0151 676 1501 Fax: 0151 676 1730 website Jurisdiction: UK Category: Criminal Records BIOA Membership Type: Associate, Complaint-Handling Body	investigates complaints about all the activities of the Criminal Records Bureau relating to mistakes, delays, staff behaviour and administrative errors.

Independent Complaints Reviewer New Premier House (Second Floor), 150 Southampton Row, London, WC1B 5AL Tel: 020 7278 6251 Fax: 020 7278 9675 enquiries@icr.gsi.gov.uk website Jurisdiction: England & Wales Category: Housing BIOA Membership Type: Associate, Complaint-Handling Body	investigates complaints about the Land Registry, the Land Register of Northern Ireland, the Public Record Office, the Charity Commission, the Audit Commission and the Housing Corporation. Her role is to establish whether there has been maladministration on the part of the agency in the conduct of matters giving rise to complaints. These include failure to meet standards of service, quality, speed and performance. Where appropriate she makes recommendations aimed at putting matters right for an individual complainant and improving services in the future.

Independent Police Complaints Commission 90 Holborn, , London, WC1V 6BH Tel: 0845 3002002 Fax: 020 7404 0430 enquiries@ipcc.gsi.gov.uk website Jurisdiction: England & Wales Category: Police, HM Revenue and Customs BIOA Membership Type: Voting (Full)	replaced the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) on 1 April 2004 with a wide range of new, stronger powers to change radically the way complaints against the police are dealt with in England and Wales. In doing so the IPCC aims to increase public confidence by demonstrating the independence, accountability and integrity of the complaints system and so contribute to the effectiveness of the police service as a whole. The IPCC will do this by independently investigating, managing or supervising police investigations of complaints and allegations of misconduct; acting as guardians of the police complaints system as a whole; contributing to policing excellence by working with others to learn and sharing the lessons arising from the IPCC's work. The IPCC's remit includes all police officers irrespective of their rank, special constables, police support staff and certain contractors' staff. The IPCC is accountable to Parliament through the Home Secretary. Since April 2006, the IPCC has taken on public complaints when HM Revenue and Customs staff are using police-like powers. The IPCC also handles public complaints against Serious Organised Crime Agency staff.

Independent Review Service 4th Floor City Centre Podium, 5 Hill Street, Birmingham, B5 4UB Tel: 0845 300 1960 Mini-com: 0845 300 1964 Fax: sfc@irs-review.org.uk website Jurisdiction: UK Category: Benefits BIOA Membership Type: Associate, Complaint-Handling Body	reviews discretionary Social Fund decisions made by the Department of Work and Pensions. You can apply for a review, if your case has already been reviewed by the Department for Work and Pensions. Routine cases are reviewed within twelve days.

Information Commissioner Wycliffe House Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF Tel: 01625 545700 Fax: 01625 524510 enquiries@dataprotection.gov.uk website Jurisdiction: UK Category: Data Protection & Information BIOA Membership Type: Associate, Complaint-Handling Body	enforces and oversees the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Commissioner is a UK independent supervisory authority reporting direct to the UK Parliament and has an international role as well as a national one. In the UK the Commissioner has a range of duties including the promotion of good information handling and the encouragement of codes of practice for data controllers, that is,anyone who decides how and why personal data, (information about identifiable, living individuals) are processed.

Institute Of Chartered Accountants Of Scotland CA House, 21 Haymarket Yards, Edinburgh, EH12 5BH Tel: 0131 347 0100 Fax: 0131 347 0111 legalservices@icas.org.uk website Jurisdiction: Scotland Category: Accountancy BIOA Membership Type: Associate, Complaint-Handling Body	is responsible for investigating complaints about the professional conduct of Scottish chartered accountant members and for regulating accountants' practices. The Institute cannot investigate complaints about poor service. It also administers the Chartered Accountants Compensation Scheme for Investment Business complaints.