Hi all,
In 2023 a CIFAS marker was wrongly put on my name. I only found out in 2025 through work.
I complained to the company — after 7 weeks they said they wouldn’t uphold it. Because of the impact this was having, I instructed solicitors. At first they ignored my solicitors, told me their decision was final, then later admitted the marker was a mistake and removed it. They offered me some compensation but I wasn’t happy with the amount.
This whole situation caused reputational damage at work (my access was restricted and colleagues knew about it), a lot of stress, and I had to pay legal fees I shouldn’t have needed if the company had dealt with my complaint properly.
Now I’m deciding what to do:
- FOS – free, low risk, but I’ve been told they won’t cover legal fees, only inconvenience.
- Small Claims Court – costs ~£300 to issue a claim, but I could ask for legal fees + inconvenience. If I lost, I think I’d only risk paying a few hundred in fixed costs.
Has anyone taken an insurer or financial firm to the FOS or to small claims before? What was your experience, and which route would you recommend?
Thanks in advance!