The act will require businesses to have procedures in place to comply with the complaints handling rules and to refer customers to the FOS if the complaint is not resolved.
Find out more about this weeks industry news
Under the CCA, the FOS will handle disputes involving consumer credit. CCA changes also mean that how a consumer credit license holder handles complaints could affect its ability to obtain or renew its license.
As a result, customers of all businesses which hold a consumer credit license will have access to a dispute-resolution scheme other than the courts.
Jane Hingston, lead ombudsman for banking and credit at the FOS, said: “The rules governing our existing compulsory jurisdiction have simply been amended to include consumer credit activities from 6 April 2007.
Get the daily news delivered to your inbox
The changes will enable the FOS to look at disputes involving businesses with a consumer credit license in areas relating to consumer credit and hire, credit brokerage, debt adjusting, counseling and collecting, and the operation of a credit reference agency.”
Kim Barret, proprietor at KS Barret and Associates, commented: “This will put everyone on a level playing field. Complaint handling will become more robust under this move.”
