What an Ombudsman Does, Types, Pros & Cons

An ombudsman is a person who is appointed to investigate complaints and resolve disputes between a company and its customers. They are typically independent of the company and have the power to make binding decisions.

Ombudsmans are often used in the financial services industry, where they can help to resolve disputes between customers and banks, credit card companies, and other financial institutions. They can also help to investigate complaints about financial products and services, and to make recommendations for improvements.

There are a number of different types of ombudsmen, including:

* **External ombudsmen:** These ombudsmen are not employed by the company that they are investigating. They are typically independent and have the power to make binding decisions.
* **Internal ombudsmen:** These ombudsmen are employed by the company that they are investigating. They typically have less power than external ombudsmen, but they can still help to resolve disputes and make recommendations for improvements.
* **Industry ombudsmen:** These ombudsmen are appointed by an industry association to investigate complaints about its members. They typically have less power than external ombudsmen, but they can still help to resolve disputes and make recommendations for improvements.

There are a number of advantages to using an ombudsman to resolve disputes. First, ombudsmen are independent and impartial, which can help to ensure that complaints are investigated fairly. Second, ombudsmen have the power to make binding decisions, which can help to resolve disputes quickly and efficiently. Third, ombudsmen can help to identify and address systemic problems within a company, which can help to improve the quality of its products and services.

However, there are also some disadvantages to using an ombudsman. First, ombudsmen can be expensive to hire. Second, ombudsmen may not have the expertise to investigate complex disputes. Third, ombudsmen may not be able to resolve all disputes.

Overall, ombudsmen can be a valuable resource for consumers who are having problems with a financial institution. They can help to resolve disputes quickly and fairly, and they can help to identify and address systemic problems within the financial services industry.