Lender status updates

Who’s settling, who’s stalling, and what to expect.

What each status means

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We're making progress
These banks seem to be reviewing complaints on their individual merits, making fair offers and paying out within the expected timeframe. If your complaint is with one of these banks, expect a final response within the standard 8-week window.

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Lender is delayed
These banks have acknowledged they are behind. We are in active dialogue with them to keep your complaint moving.

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Lender is rejecting complaints
These banks seem to be issuing denials across every complaint to see who will walk away. We are regularly assessing which complaints are strong enough to be escalated to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

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Barclays

Updated: 21 April 2026
While roughly 14% of our active cases are slightly overdue, they are generally on track, with only 2% of complaints that have received a response experiencing a delay.

We are currently seeing a 49% offer rate for complaints where we've received a response from Barclays. If you receive a denial, please sit tight. We’re reviewing every complaint to determine which ones we can escalate to the FOS and when. If your complaint is a candidate, we’ll be in touch to get your permission to keep fighting.

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Bank of Scotland

Updated: 21 April 2026
32% of complaints submitted are overdue a response. We’ve had several meetings with the complaints department at Bank of Scotland (Lloyds Banking Group) to address the delays. They’ve been transparent with us that they have been under resourced in dealing with the volume of complaints that they have experienced in this area but they have taken steps to address this.

We understand that they are working through their backlog and we don’t currently believe that pushing any complaints to the FOS at this stage is going to accelerate responses.

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First Direct

Updated: 21 April 2026

Right now, First Direct are issuing rejections to every complaint we send their way. When we take overdraft complaints (all lenders) to the FOS, the investigator has upheld the complaints 88% of the time.

If you receive a denial, please sit tight. We’re reviewing every complaint to determine which ones we can escalate to the FOS and when. If we think it’s in your best interests to escalate your complaint to the FOS, we’ll be in touch to get your permission to keep fighting.

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Halifax

Updated: 21 April 2026
55% of complaints submitted are overdue a response. We’ve had several meetings with the complaints department at Halifax (Lloyds Banking Group) to address the delays. They’ve been transparent with us that they have been under resourced in dealing with the volume of complaints that they have experienced in this area but they have taken steps to address this.

We understand that they are working through their backlog and we don’t currently believe that pushing any complaints to the FOS at this stage is going to accelerate responses.

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HSBC

Updated: 21 April 2026
Right now, HSBC appear to be issuing rejections to almost every complaint we send their way, with an offer rate of 2% for complaints where we've received a response. When we take overdraft complaints (all lenders) to the FOS, the investigator has upheld the complaints 88% of the time.

If you receive a denial, please sit tight. We’re reviewing every complaint to determine which ones we can escalate to the FOS and when. If we think it’s in your best interests to escalate your complaint to the FOS, we’ll be in touch to get your permission to keep fighting.

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Lloyds Bank

Updated: 21 April 2026
52% of complaints submitted are overdue a response. We’ve had several meetings with the complaints department at Lloyds Bank to address the delays. They’ve been transparent with us that they have been under resourced in dealing with the volume of complaints that they have experienced in this area but they have taken steps to address this.

We understand that they are working through their backlog and we don’t currently believe that pushing any complaints to the FOS at this stage is going to accelerate responses.

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Monzo

Updated: 21 April 2026
We currently have a 100% offer rate for complaints where we've received a response from Monzo Bank.

All other active complaints are currently within the 8-week window and we expect to receive a response within that timeframe.

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NatWest

Updated: 21 April 2026
NatWest have issued rejections to every complaint we've received a response for - sometimes in as little as 24 hours. When we take overdraft complaints (all lenders) to the FOS, the investigator has upheld the complaints 88% of the time.

If you receive a denial, please sit tight. We’re reviewing every complaint to determine which ones we can escalate to the FOS and when. If we think it’s in your best interests to escalate your complaint to the FOS, we’ll be in touch to get your permission to keep fighting.

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Royal Bank of Scotland

Updated: 21 April 2026
Royal Bank of Scotland (NatWest Group) have issued rejections to every complaint we've received a response for - sometimes in as little as 24 hours. When we take overdraft complaints (all lenders) to the FOS, the investigator has upheld the complaints 88% of the time.

If you receive a denial, please sit tight. We’re reviewing every complaint to determine which ones we can escalate to the FOS and when. If we think it’s in your best interests to escalate your complaint to the FOS, we’ll be in touch to get your permission to keep fighting.

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Santander

Updated: 21 April 2026
Right now, Santander have issued rejections to almost every complaint we've sent their way, with an offer rate of less than 1% for complaints where we've received a response.

If you receive a denial, please sit tight. We’re reviewing every complaint to determine which ones we can escalate to the FOS and when. If we think it’s in your best interests to escalate your complaint to the FOS, we’ll be in touch to get your permission to keep fighting.

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TSB

Updated: 21 April 2026

We currently have a 100% offer rate for complaints where we've received a response from TSB.

All other complaints are currently within the 8-week window and we expect to receive a response within that timeframe.

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Ulster Bank

Updated: 21 April 2026
Ulster Bank (NatWest Group) have issued rejections to every complaint we've received a response for - sometimes in as little as 24 hours. When we take overdraft complaints (all lenders) to the FOS, the investigator has upheld the complaints 88% of the time.

If you receive a denial, please sit tight. We’re reviewing every complaint to determine which ones we can escalate to the FOS and when. If we think it’s in your best interests to escalate your complaint to the FOS, we’ll be in touch to get your permission to keep fighting.

Data taken from complaints submitted by Clear Legal Limited, as a result of enquiries generated by Cotton Media Limited from 18th December 2025 until the update date for the relevant lender.

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