External Resources
Public Sector Customer
In some instances the SBC may not be able to take on your complaint but we will put you in touch with the relevant body to help solve your problem.
If your customer is in the public sector contact:
- The Public Procurement Review Service (Link will open in a new tab) if you’re in England
- Supplier Feedback Service (Link will open in a new tab) in Wales
- Single Point of Enquiry (Link will open in a new tab) in Scotland
- Information in the Central Procurement Directorate Supplier Charter (Link will open in a new tab) in Northern Ireland
- If your customer is a supermarket complain to the Groceries Code Adjudicator. To raise an issue with or provide information to the GCA please email enquiries@groceriescode.gov.uk (Link will open in a new tab). You should also read GCA Guidance on raising issues, and the disputes and escalation process. (Link will open in a new tab)
- If you’re in the construction industry and not working for a residential occupier, you’re probably covered by the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996. Check your contract for what to do in the event of a dispute, or get advice from your professional body(Link will open in a new tab)
If you’re not sure what’s best in your situation, you can get advice about payment problems by calling the government-backed helpline (Link will open in a new tab) for England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Legal Action
In some instances the SBC may not be able to take on your complaint but we will put you in touch with the relevant body to help solve your problem.
The legal action you can take includes sending a solicitor’s letter, making a money claim or getting a binding decision from a judge in court.
There are alternatives to court that can give you a legally binding decision or an expert opinion that will help you resolve your dispute. They can sometimes be quicker than court, but they can also be expensive.
- Solicitor’s letter from around £20
- Start a money claim from £25
- Extra costs for going to court
Talk to a solicitor (Link will open in a new tab)
Contact ICAEW (Link will open in a new tab) and ICAS (Link will open in a new tab) to find a chartered accountant
Business Organisations
In some instances the SBC may not be able to take on your complaint but we will put you in touch with the relevant body to help solve your problem.
Get free local business help from your nearest:
- Local Enterprise Partnership growth hub (Link will open in a new tab) in England
- Business Gateway (Link will open in a new tab)office in Scotland
- Business Wales regional centre (Link will open in a new tab)
- Local Invest Northern Ireland Regional Office (Link will open in a new tab)
- call your professional or trade organisation to see what help they offer small businesses
If you are a small business with a complaint about a financial product or service provided in or from the UK, contact the Financial Ombudsman Service (Link will open in a new tab) for small businesses.
For information about the Fair Payment Code contact the Office of the Small Business Commissioner who administer the Code on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Mediation
A professional mediator, agreed on by both of you, can help you to work out a solution.
You can do this before taking other action, or you can pause any legal action you’re taking to mediate.
You can choose when, where and how mediation happens, giving you much more flexibility than, for example, taking someone to court.
Find a mediator
Search for local mediators in:
- England and Wales – use the Ministry of Justice online directory (Link will open in a new tab)
- Northern Ireland – use the Law Society of Northern Ireland (Link will open in a new tab)
- Scotland – use the Scottish Mediation Register (Link will open in a new tab)
If you’re in England or Wales, you’ll be charged on a fixed-fee basis if you mention that you used the Ministry of Justice online directory. This is cheaper than regular mediation fees.
Everyone listed in the Ministry of Justice directory is registered with the Civil Mediation Council and is a professional, experienced mediator.
Find out more about mediation.