Information Commissioner's Office

Financial Ombudsman Service

19 October 2016, Local government (Other)

The complainant has requested copies of the guidance used by the staff of the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) when dealing with complaints about the miss-selling of Payment Protection Insurance (PPI). The FOS provided some of the requested information but withheld other information under the exemptions provided by section 40(2) – third party personal data and section 43 – prejudice to commercial interests. During the course of the Commissioner’s investigation the FOS also applied section 36(2)(c) – prejudice to the conduct of public affairs. The Commissioner’s decision is that FOS is entitled to rely on section 36(2)(c) to withhold the disputed information. The Commissioner does not require the public authority to take any further action in this matter. This decision notice is currently under appeal to the Tribunal.

FOI 36: Not upheld