Consumers Call on the Ombudsman for Help

LONDON, July 21, 2010 - Reporting on his first year as Chief Ombudsman with the company which
runs four national ombudsman services, Lewis Shand Smith says 2009 saw the
biggest increase in complaint numbers ever experienced.

"It is likely that the economic climate played some part in the dramatic
rise. During times of recession, consumers become more concerned about
financial security and are more likely to scrutinise bills and to question
the services they pay for."

Lewis continues, "Inevitably things sometimes go wrong - when this
happens there is an increased expectancy that there should be an ombudsman to
sort the problem out."

With responsibility for Otelo - the Office of the Telecommunications
Ombudsman, the Energy Ombudsman, Ombudsman Services: Property and Ombudsman
Services: PRS for Music, Lewis is confident that the company is well placed
to continue to provide free to use, independent redress to consumers.

"An ombudsman service must strive to be better than those that are under
its jurisdiction. We are putting in place every measure to ensure that we
offer are soundly based, efficiently produced and that redress is timely and
effective."

Lewis will present his annual reports to an audience of senior industry
figures at an even at the House of Lords today.

Notes

1. Ombudsman Services is a not-for-profit private limited company which
runs four private sector ombudsman schemes:

    - Otelo - the Office of the Telecommunications Ombudsman
    - The Energy Ombudsman
    - Ombudsman Services: Property
    - Ombudsman Services: PRS for Music.

2. Each service is funded entirely by its industry members.

3. Otelo, The Energy Ombudsman and Ombudsman Services: Property have each
received approval from industry regulators to provide independent redress.
Ombudsman Services: PRS for Music is a voluntary scheme established to help
PRS for Music meet best practice in the way it handles complaints.

4. Annual reports are available to download from the website
www.ombudsman-services.org

5. Further information is available from the Communications Team on
+44(0)1925-530-269 or at press@ombudsman-services.org

Further information is available from the Communications Team on +44(0)1925-530-269 or at press at ombudsman-services.org