Making a formal complaint

You can make a formal complaint, also known as a Box 49 complaint, in writing or by e-mail direct to our Chief Executive:

Chief Executive
Intellectual Property Office
PO Box 49
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8YU

E-mail: box49@ipo.gov.uk

What happens next?

We will reply to your complaint within one working day and fully answer your enquiry within 10 working days. If we cannot meet this target, we will explain why and give you a new deadline.

If you are not satisfied, you can ask your Member of Parliament (MP) to take up your complaint and our handling of it with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (the Ombudsman). Your local Citizens Advice Bureau will give you the address of your MP. You can get further advice from the Ombudsman's office:

The Parliamentary Ombudsman
Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
Millbank Tower
Millbank
London
SW1P 4PU

Helpline: 0345 015 4033
Fax: +44 (0)20 7217 4160

E-mail: opca-enqu@ombudsman.org.uk

Freedom of Information

If you have followed these procedures and your complaint is about an application for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2004, you can make a complaint to the Information Commissioner. You can get further information from:

The FOI Compliance Team (complaints)
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

A leaflet detailing our complaints procedure can be obtained from our Information Centre on 0300 300 2000.