Public Enquiry Point Complaints Procedure

The Public Enquiry Point aims to provide an efficient service. We can be contacted as follows:

By telephone
0845 300 4100 (UK only)
+44 1355 84 3132 (from outside the UK)
By email: enquiry@dfid.gov.uk

By post
Public Enquiry Point
Department for International Development
Abercrombie House
Eaglesham Road
East Kilbride
Glasgow
G75 8EA

Our telephone line is open 10am-4pm (GMT/BST) Monday-Friday, excluding public holidays. Outside these hours, and during public holidays, messages can be left on our answerphone.

We aim to respond to all telephone calls with at least an interim response within two working days. More complex enquiries which have to be referred to colleagues may require longer in order to provide a full response.

Our staff should be courteous and helpful at all times.

DFID's target is to provide a response to enquiries by email and letter within 15 working days.

If we are unable to provide a full response within the above target times, an interim response should be made within the recommended timescale.

How to complain

If you are unhappy with the standard of service that you have received from the Public Enquiry Point, we would like to hear about it so that we can improve the service we provide. We also welcome any positive feedback about the Department.

If your complaint is made by telephone, we will deal with the matter promptly. More complex complaints are better put in writing and sent to one of the points of contact listed above. In all cases, you should provide:

  • a clear name, address and telephone number
  • a clear description of your complaint, including any relevant details such as names of DFID staff, dates, etc.

You should complain in the first instance to the officer who dealt with your initial enquiry. In all cases, we will treat your complaint as a matter of priority and aim to provide a full reply within 20 working days. If we are unable to supply a full response within this time, we will tell you when we expect to be able to do so and keep you informed of progress.

What to do if you are still not satisfied

If you consider that we have not dealt with your complaint adequately, you can ask for the complaint to be forwarded to the Head of Openness Unit at:

DFID
Abercrombie House
East Kilbride
G75 8EA

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your complaint, you should contact the Head of Corporate Performance Group Hub at the above address.

Refer to the Ombudsman

If you remain dissatisfied, you should contact your MP and ask for your complaint to be referred to:
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
Millbank Tower
Millbank
London
SW1P 4QP
Complaints Helpline : 0345 015 4033
Email: phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk

You can write to your MP at:
House of Commons
Westminster
London
SW1A 0AA