Complaints to or about Ofcom

How to complain to Ofcom

Please follow the guidelines below depending on the nature of your complaint.

• Handling of Standards Complaints and Cases
• Handling of Fairness and Privacy Complaints
• Procedure for statutory sanctions in content cases
• Guidelines for the handling of competition complaints, and complaints and disputes about breaches of conditions imposed under the EU Directives

How to complain about Ofcom

We always do our best to meet the needs of businesses, consumers, viewers and listeners.

But sometimes things can go wrong – or we can fall short of our own high standards.

If this happens we have procedures to handle your complaints.

Ofcom consultations

If you have a complaint about our consultation process, please read our guidelines on Ofcom consultations.

These include details of how to complain to our Consultation Champion.

The Consultation Champion can only investigate complaints about how Ofcom has managed a particular consultation – for example, whether we have allowed enough time for people to respond.

They cannot investigate the substance of policy proposals. If you have a concern about specific Ofcom proposals, please contact the policy team directly.

Complaint Escalations

There is a two stage process if you are not satisfied with the way your complaint has been handled, or with the response that you have been given.

In the first instance, please contact the person or team that dealt with you and discuss your concerns directly with them. They will often be in the best position to understand your situation and give you an explanation as to what has happened.

If this does not resolve your concerns, please contact the office of the Secretary to the Corporation Graham Howell (graham.howell@ofcom.org.uk) or telephone 020 7981 3000 who will review your case and respond to you as quickly as possible.

We will treat your complaint in confidence and will investigate it carefully as quickly as possible.

Every effort will be made to send a full and clear reply within 20 working days of your complaint being received. If we cannot investigate your complaint fully within that time, we will let you know and keep you informed of progress.

Should you remain dissatisfied with the response you have been given you can raise a complaint with the Parliamentary Ombudsman via your Member of Parliament.