Ref: 36/02
Date: 13 June 2002

The appointment of the first Telecoms Ombudsman was welcomed today by David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications.

Oftel set up an industry and consumer working party 18 months ago with the objective of establishing this new industry-funded consumer body.

The Telecoms Ombudsman will investigate complaints from consumers against their telecoms company and can order companies to provide compensation if they are found to be at fault.

The new Telecoms Ombudsman Elizabeth France is currently the Information Commissioner, responsible for the enforcement of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

David Edmonds said:

"I am delighted that Elizabeth France has been appointed. She brings the necessary credibility and clout to the job of Telecoms Ombudsman.

"The new Telecoms Ombudsman will provide a fair, impartial, speedy and effective service to consumers that are in dispute with their telecoms service provider.

"I welcome the fact that most of the industry supports this service, and will meet the running costs.

"I have written to the Chief Executives of the telecoms companies which have refused to give their support asking them to reconsider.

"I look forward to working closely with Elizabeth France and the Telecoms Ombudsman Council to ensure that consumers have access to a fair and impartial service to investigate their complaints."

Notes to editors

1. For further information on the appointment please contact the press office of the Financial Ombudsman Service: David Cresswell/Iris Baker on 020-7964 0134.

2. Following its consultation, Developing a Telecommunications Ombudsman, in March 2001, Oftel published a statement, Implementation of a Telecommunications Ombudsman Scheme, on 26 July 2001, which outlined the actions the industry needed to take to implement an Ombudsman scheme by mid 2002 at the latest.

3. As a consequence the industry set up a working group tasked with appointing independent Council members to sit on the Governing Board of the service. Following their appointment the Council members have now appointed an independent Ombudsman.