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How We Handle Your Case

Our 30-day case workflow, from first contact to outcome.

Freereview by email on day 0
2 daysto reply to your message
14 daysto change your mind on a paid service
8 weeksbefore you can usually go to an ombudsman
Our free route comes first. Steps that say “we write to the business” apply only to our paid service, once it is available.

From Your First Message

Most cases follow the steps below. The timings are a guide and some cases will move faster or slower.

  1. Day 0

    You Get Your Free Review

    We receive your enquiry and email you our free initial review straight away. It is produced automatically from what you told us and explains your rights, the free routes open to you and the evidence to gather.

  2. Day 0 to 2

    We Reply to Your Message

    If you message us or ask us to handle your case, a member of the team replies within 2 working days.

  3. Day 2 to 10

    We Check Your Case

    Where you have asked us to handle your case, a member of the team checks it and tells you the full price and next step. We may ask you for evidence.

  4. After the review

    You Choose What Happens Next

    Take it up yourself with our free letter templates and guides, or, where we offer it, ask us to handle it as a paid service. We tell you the full price before you agree, and we only contact a business for you once you have signed our agreement.

If You Ask Us to Handle Your Case (Where We Offer This)

  1. After you sign

    You Have 14 Days to Change Your Mind

    We start sooner only if you ask us to.

  2. Day 1

    We Write to the Business

    We write on your behalf, by email, and by post where we have no email address for them or where a formal letter is needed.

  3. 14 and 28 days later

    We Chase If There Is No Reply

    We chase the business 14 and 28 days after our first letter if there is no reply.

  4. About 6 weeks

    We Tell You Where Things Stand

    If the business has not replied we tell you, and your next steps and a ready-made claim pack are on your case page.

  5. 8 weeks

    Taking It Further

    Where it is still unresolved, you can usually take it to the ombudsman or ADR scheme. We explain how.

  6. If you receive money

    Our Fee

    You tell us the amount on your case page. Our fee is due 7 days later, as set out in your agreement.

We do not run court cases for you. If it needs a court claim, we prepare a letter before claim and claim details and you file them. Our fee is the same if a claim succeeds.

Time Limits to Keep in Mind

Many consumer rights have time limits, for example a short window to reject faulty goods, and legal limits for starting a claim. They differ by problem and between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Our Know Your Rights guide and action plan show the dates for your situation.

If There Is No Resolution

If the business does not resolve the matter, we will explain what else you can do, for example a formal complaint, an ombudsman or ADR scheme, a chargeback or Section 75 claim, or the small claims process. Our Service Standards set out what to expect from us along the way.

Closing a Case

We close a case when it is resolved, when you ask us to, or under our Fair Use and Termination Policy.

Last updated: 4 October 2026. Next review due: 4 October 2027, or sooner if our service changes.

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