The work of the Insurance Ombudsman Bureau (IOB) will be subjected to external scrutiny in an independent study of its work and history.

The IOB has commissioned Peter Tyldesley, a senior lecturer in financial services regulation at London Guildhall University, to produce a study into its establishment, key cases, the contributions of successive ombudsmen and broader issues such as self and statutory regulation.

The IOB opened in 1981 as the first private-sector ombudsman scheme in the UK and Tyldesley will have access to all its records, subject to the IOB's obligations to protect its users' confidentiality.

Tyldesley is keen to hear from anyone who can provide information or opinion for his study.

“I'd welcome contributions to the study from complainants, insurers, past and present staff of the IOB, consumer groups and others,” he said. “Material will be accepted on a confidential or non-attributable basis if requested.”


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