Miscellaneous The Ombudsman scheme
The FOS is an alternative dispute resolution scheme set up under Part XVI of, and Schedule 17 to FSMA 2000 and is referred to in that legislation as "the ombudsman scheme". The ombudsman scheme's statutory purpose is to provide for the resolution of certain disputes "quickly and with minimum formality by an independent person" section 225(1) of FSMA 2000 at no financial cost to the complainant based on what is, in the ombudsman’s opinion, fair and reasonable in all the circumstances of the case.
	The FOS is administered by the Financial Ombudsman Service Limited, a company limited by guarantee, which is the "body corporate" established by the Financial Services Authority (now the FCA) under paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 17 to FSMA 2000 (as originally enacted). FOS Ltd is the "scheme operator" for the purposes of FSMA 2000 (see section 2).
	Section 63 amends paragraph 15 of Schedule 17 to FSMA 2000 to enable HM Treasury to make regulations to add further categories of persons to the list of those to whom the FOS can charge case fees. This amendment prevents HM Treasury from adding eligible complainants (those bringing their own cases to the FOS) to the categories of persons to whom the FOS can charge case fees.