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Complaints procedure

The purpose of this complaints procedure is to help customers who wish to make a complaint.  This procedure will guide you through the process we follow in handling complaints.

Underpinning the procedure is the ethos of ‘getting it right first time’. Our emphasis is firmly on quicker, simpler and more streamlined complaints handling with local, early resolution by empowered and well trained staff. Our procedure is designed to address customer dissatisfaction by providing a quick, fair and considered response to complaints, explaining clearly the reasons for any disagreement we may have with service users, and using the lessons we have learned from complaints to improve our services.

We recognise that some of our subscribers may be vulnerable or need extra help with their service or to raise a complaint. Our staff are trained to recognise such circumstances and encourage additional authorised account holders to be added to the account as well as using the most appropriate means of communication for the circumstance. If you wish to add an additional contact to the account please contact us by phone, email or via our contact form below.

How We Will Deal with Your Complaint

Stage 1 – Front line resolution

Our front line team handle issues that are straightforward and easily resolved, typically those requiring little or no investigation. We aim to resolve such issues within five working days and resolution may include any one or more of the following actions:

* ‘On-the-spot’ apology
* explanation
* other action to resolve the complaint quickly

In exceptional circumstances it may take longer than five days. Our front line staff are trained to deal with such complaints and in some circumstances they may pass on your complaint to the appropriate point for front line resolution.

Your complaint will remain open until we have received confirmation from you that you are satisfied with our response or 28-days has elapsed from the date of the response.

We will use complaint details, outcomes and resolutions to help continuously to improve our services.

Stage 2 – Investigation and communicating the outcome

We will initiate a formal investigation for issues that have not been resolved at the front line stage, or that are complex, serious or ‘high risk’.

We aim to provide a definitive response within 20 working days following a thorough investigation of the points raised. Our response will be signed off by senior management; our senior management take an active interest in complaints and use information gathered to improve our services.

We will communicate the outcome using your preferred method of contact.

Your complaint will remain open until we have received confirmation from you that you are satisfied with our response to you, or 28-days has elapsed from the date of the response.

Stage 3 – Independent External Review

You have the opportunity to escalate your complaint for issues that we are unable to resolve at the front line or by investigation.

We are members of the industry body representing wireless networks, UKWISPA. If you wish to escalate your complaint to this organisation we will give them a summary of the case to date and provide you a copy of the summary together with their contact details so you can directly monitor the progress of your case.

UKWISPA is committed to providing a response within 2 weeks of being notified of the detail of the complaint .

Phone: 03333 660036
Email: info@ukwispa.org
Address: Member Complaints, UKWISPA, 4 Croftside Court, Cullingworth, Bradford, BD13 5DE

Stage 4 – Access to Alternative Dispute Resolution

If you disagree with the Independent External Review then you have then have the opportunity to further escalate your complaint to the Alternative Dispute Resolution Scheme (ADR).

ADR: Ombudsman Services
Phone: 0330 440 1614
Email: osenquiries@oscommunications.org
Address: Ombudsman Services: Communications PO Box 730 Warrington WA4 6WU

How to Make a Complaint

Contact us if you have an issue or problem

If something goes wrong or you have a problem please contact us straight away to give us a chance to put things right.

You can report any problems or initiate a complaint (including abuse) by calling our support team, emailing us, completing our contact form or writing to us. We do not differentiate or prioritise complaints by how they are raised so please us the most convenient contact method for making your complaint.

Telephone: 0333 7000 227
Email: support@swsbroadband.net
Online: contact form below
Write to: Mala McLeod, Sycamore House, Shrewsbury Business Park, Shrewsbury, SY2 6LG

If you are not happy with our response or resolution

If our initial response is not satisfactory or does not resolve the issue, please contact us again. Let us know if you wish to make a formal complaint and are not just contacting us about the the problem.

Explain what the problem is and what you would like us to do about it.

Supply evidence if available or requested

Depending on the nature of your complaint, we may request evidence to help us investigate – especially if it is regarding the quality of your service.

We often require evidence at several stages during an investigation – while we are waiting for your response, we may put our investigations on hold.

How we will respond

We will respond in line with our 4 stage process described above, in the timescales we have committed to.

Our preference is to respond to you by email, however if you prefer an alternative method of contact please inform us when making your complaint.

After your confirmation that the complaint is resolved we will email you with a summary of the final outcome.

Unresolved Complaints

Independent External Review (IER)

Unresolved complaints will be referred initially for an Independent External Review (IER) of the complaint.

The IER for SWS Broadband is UKWISPA.

An IER email will be sent by us to the complainant when we have told the complainant of the outcome of its investigation into the complaint and:

a) The complainant has told us that they consider the proposed outcome does not resolve the complaint to their satisfaction; and

b) We do not intend or are unable to take additional steps to resolve the complaint to the complainant’s satisfaction that would produce a different outcome.

It is usual for the IER information to be contained within the complaint outcome notification.

UKWISPA response time is up to 2 weeks from receiving the case file and the outcome will be communicated both to the complainant and us.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

If the complainant does not accept the findings of the IER, or the complaint remains unresolved after 8 weeks since the date on which the complaint was first received, then we will issue an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) email to the complainant.

The ADR for SWS Broadband is Ombudsman Services.

An ADR email will be sent by us to the complainant when we have told the complainant of the outcome of its investigation into the complaint and:

a) The complainant has told us that they consider the proposed outcome by the IER does not resolve the complaint to their satisfaction; and

b) We do not intend or are unable to take additional steps to resolve the complaint to the complainant’s satisfaction that would produce a different outcome.

Closing Complaints

Closing complaints

We will not close a complaint unless:

a) The complaint has been resolved in accordance with the circumstances set out below:

i. The complainant has expressly agreed that the complaint has been resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction;
ii. It is reasonable for us to conclude that the complaint has been resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction because;
iii. We have informed the complainant of the outcome of our investigation and complied with our obligations as set out in this document; and
iv. The complainant has not come back to us within 28-days to say they consider the complaint remains unresolved.

b) An ADR letter has been issued by us to the Complainant.

c) It is reasonable for us to consider the Complaint to be frivolous or vexatious.

Record Keeping and Monitoring

For every complaint

For each complaint received, we will keep a record of:

a) the date on which the complaint was received;
b) how the complaint was made (for example, by email or by phone);
c) the identity of and contact details of the complainant;
d) a description of what the complaint is about;
e) all communications made or received between us and the complainant regarding the complaint, including, as a minimum:

i. the date on which the communication was made or received;
ii. how the communication was made or received (for example, by email or by phone);
iii. a description of what was contained in the communication (for example, advice given and/or action proposed to be taken and/or action agreed with the complainant to be taken, to resolve the complaint);
iv. copies of any written communication; and
v. the date on which the complaint was resolved or otherwise closed.

Where the complaint is resolved

Where the complaint is resolved because the complaint expressly agrees that the complaint has been resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction, we will keep a record of that express agreement.

We will keep a record showing the basis for concluding the complaint has been resolved and that it complies with this guidance.

When the complaint is closed

When the complaint is closed by us because the relevant time has passed since an ADR letter being issued, a copy of the ADR letter will be retained.

When a complaint is closed because we consider the complaint to be frivolous or vexatious, a record will be kept detailing the reasons why.