📮 Complaint Route Finder
Who should I actually complain to?
Ireland has a different body for almost every kind of complaint, and sending yours to the wrong one costs weeks. This names the right one, says what it can and cannot do, and links straight to its own complaints page.
Figures reviewed September 2026. Free, no signup, nothing stored on our servers.
What this means
Two distinctions decide everything. First, whether the sector is regulated: banking, insurance, telecoms, energy and public bodies all have a statutory ombudsman or regulator that can investigate an individual complaint and direct a remedy. General retail does not.
Second, whether you have exhausted the organisation’s own process. Almost every body here requires it, and several — the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman most notably — will not open a file without a final response letter. Skipping that step is the most common reason a complaint bounces.
Where no regulator covers the sector, the route is the Small Claims Procedure for amounts up to €2,000. General retail, tradespeople and most services fall into this category — the CCPC enforces consumer law but does not resolve individual disputes.
What affects the result
- Which sector the organisation is in. Regulated sectors have their own ombudsman; most do not.
- Whether you have been through the organisation's own complaints process and have a final response.
- Time limits, which vary — six months for most WRC employment complaints, longer elsewhere.
- Whether the organisation is Irish. A trader elsewhere in the EU goes through the European Consumer Centre.
- Whether you are complaining as a consumer, an employee, a tenant or a member of the public.
Who should I actually complain to?
What a complaint should contain
What happened and when, what you have already done about it, what you want, and by when. A dated written complaint with a specific remedy is far harder to ignore than a phone call and it is what every ombudsman will ask to see. Keep reference numbers and names.
If the sector has no regulator
Most retail, building work and general services do not. The route there is the Small Claims Procedure — €25, no solicitor, claims up to €2,000. Before that, check what you are actually entitled to with the consumer rights checker, because asking for the wrong remedy is as fatal as going to the wrong body.
Important assumptions
Every figure on this page rests on these. Where one does not match your situation, the answer moves — sometimes a great deal.
- Only official Irish statutory bodies, regulators and ombudsmen are listed. No private claims companies, and none of these charge a fee.
- The listing reflects each body's published remit. Where a complaint spans two sectors, more than one may apply.
- Complaint routes and remits change. Each link goes to the body's own page, which is the authority.
Official sources
Where this tool applies a published rule, this is where the rule comes from. Check the source before acting on anything that matters.
- Citizens Information — how to complain
The state information service's own guide to complaint routes across sectors.
- CCPC — making a complaint
The consumer protection body's guidance, including template letters and what to say.
- Office of the Ombudsman
The route for complaints about government departments, local authorities, the HSE and most public bodies.
Common questions
Who do I complain to about my bank in Ireland?
The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, but only after you have been through the bank's own complaints process and received its final response. The FSPO service is free, it investigates individual complaints, and it can direct a provider to put things right.
Is there an ombudsman for shops?
No. The CCPC enforces consumer protection law and advises consumers, but it does not resolve individual disputes or recover your money. For a retail dispute the routes are the trader itself, then the Small Claims Procedure for amounts up to €2,000.
Does complaining cost anything?
Not to a statutory ombudsman or regulator — every body listed here is free. The Small Claims Procedure costs €25. You never need a solicitor or a claims management company to make a complaint to any of them.
How long do I have to complain?
It depends on the body. Most employment complaints to the WRC must be made within six months of the issue. Financial services complaints have their own limits, generally running from the conduct complained of or from when you became aware of it. Check the body's own page — the limits are strict and missing one usually ends the complaint.
What about a flight that was delayed or cancelled?
Complain to the airline first. If that fails, the Commission for Aviation Regulation is the Irish enforcement body for EU air passenger rights on flights departing from Ireland. Complaints are free and you do not need a claims company.
What to check next
What are my rights on this purchase?
Answer six questions about what you bought and see the Irish rights that may apply.
Consumer Rights CheckerNewCan I take this to the Small Claims procedure?
Whether your dispute looks eligible, what it costs, and where to file.
Small Claims CheckerNewAm I entitled to a refund?
Online, in-store, faulty, change of mind, services and digital content — what the law gives you.
Refund & Return CheckerIs my employer following the law?
Minimum wage, breaks, holidays, notice and payslips measured against Irish rules.
Employee Rights CheckerNext steps across CheckIreland
Picked for what you just worked out — not a list of everything we make.
CheckIreland is independent and is not affiliated with the Irish Government or any public body. This tool is general information built on published rules and typical costs — it is not financial, tax or legal advice, and it does not account for your individual circumstances. Confirm anything that matters with the relevant body or a qualified adviser before acting on it.