Complaints Guidelines

1. PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT

Fundhouse Investment Advisors (Pty) Ltd is an authorised financial services provider in terms of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act. As such we have certain specific duties to you, our clients. One of these duties is to offer you a formal complaints resolution system, which will enable you to exercise your rights as provided for in the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act. The purpose of this document is to inform you of how you can make use of our complaints resolution system.

2. COMPLAINTS MANAGEMENT MISSION

We are committed to providing our clients with quality service and undertake to manage the affairs of our clients in such a way that it would not be necessary to have a complaint about our service, integrity and commitment. However should it happen that a client does have a complaint, we undertake to:
Resolve client complaints in such a way that is fair to our clients, our FSP and our staff
We undertake to inform all our clients of the procedures established for the internal resolution of their complaints, details of which will be given to them in writing
We undertake to ensure easy access to our complaints resolution process at our offices, or by way of post, e-mail or telephone
Empower and properly train the people in our FSP to deal with complaints, as well as with the escalation of non-routine complaints
If necessary, appoint an independent mediator to resolve the complaint to the benefit of both the client and our FSP
Deal with complaints in a timely and fair manner, with every complaint receiving proper consideration in a process that is managed appropriately and effectively by the responsible staff member
Offer appropriate remedy in all cases where a complaint is resolved in favour of a client
Inform clients of their right to refer their complaints to the FAIS Ombud, should a complaint not be resolved to their satisfaction within six weeks from the date on which the complaint is received
Appropriate engagement between the organisation and the relevant Ombud;
Maintain records of all complaints received for a period of 5 years, which will specify the outcome of all the complaints lodged
If so required, implement follow-up procedures to:
Implement remedial actions to prevent similar complaints from occurring
Improve services and procedures where necessary within the FSP

3. DEFINITION OF A COMPLAINANT

Complainant means a person who submits a complaint, which includes a -
client;
person nominated as the person in respect of whom a product supplier should meet financial product benefits or that persons' successor in title;
person whose life is insured under a financial product that is an insurance policy;
person that pays a premium or an investment amount in respect of a financial product;
member;
person whose dissatisfaction relates to the approach, solicitation marketing or advertising material or an advertisement in respect of a financial product, financial service or related service of the provider,
who has a direct interest in the agreement, financial product or financial service to which the complaint relates, or a person acting on behalf of a person referred to in the above list.

4. DEFINITION OF A COMPLAINT

Complaint means a specific complaint relating to a financial service rendered to the client on or after the 30th of September 2004, being the commencement of FAIS, alleging that the FSP:
Contravened or failed to comply with a provision of FAIS and that, as a result, the client has suffered or is likely to suffer financial prejudice or damage;
Wilfully or negligently rendered a financial service to the client which has caused prejudice or damage to the client or which is likely to result in such prejudice or damage; or
Treated the client unfairly
The complaint must not be about the investment performance of the product unless the financial performance was guaranteed or the financial performance was so deficient that it creates the presumption that there has been misrepresentation, negligence or mal-administration.

5. SUBMITTING YOUR COMPLAINT

Should you wish to lay a complaint with us please follow the procedure as outlined below: If any of our representatives provided you with financial advice or any other intermediary service, and you feel that we or our representative:
did not comply with the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act and that you suffered financial prejudice as a result;
intentionally or negligently gave financial advice or rendered an intermediary service to you which caused prejudice or damage or is likely to cause damage;
treated you unfairly,
Clients should submit complaints in writing and may complain by:
a) Contact: Amy Ord - Head of Operations
b) Email: [email protected]
c) Tel: 021 670 3340
d) Letter to: Fundhouse Investment Advisors (Pty) Ltd, 5th Floor Montclare Place, Cnr Campground and Main Road, Claremont 7708, South Africa
If the complaint is not in writing, Fundhouse Investment Advisors (Pty) Ltd must inform the client to lodge the complaint in writing with all supporting documentation.
Please include the following details with your complaint:
  1. Your name, surname and contact details;
  2. A complete description of your complaint;
  3. The name of the person who provided you with financial advice or an intermediary service;
  4. The date on which the matter complained about occurred;
  5. All documentation relating to your complaint;
  6. How you would prefer to receive communication from us regarding your complaint i.e. by e-mail, fax, post and please provide us with the e-mail address, fax number or address where you would prefer to receive such communication.

6. OUR COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

As soon as we receive your complaint, we will send you an acknowledgement of receipt. Please take into consideration that the method of communication chosen by you will determine how quickly we will receive and respond to your complaint.
We will investigate and attempt to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction within 6 weeks of receipt of your complaint.
If we are unable to resolve your complaint within 6 weeks, or are unable to resolve the complaint to your satisfaction, you have the right to refer your complaint to the Ombud appointed specifically for this purpose.
The contact details of the Ombud is as follows:

PO Box 74571
Lynnwood Ridge
0040
Telephone number (012) 470 9080 / 99
Fax number (012) 3483447
E-mail [email protected]

Please remember however that you must refer the complaint to the Ombud within 6 months from the date of the notice in which we inform you that we cannot resolve the complaint to your satisfaction.

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