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All Legal Journeys
Public Law
UK-wide
5 stages
3–12 months
Reviewed 2026-05-22
Ofcom complaint journey
Broadcasting Code, telecoms, postal, and Online Safety Act complaints to Ofcom.
Who Uses This Journey
Viewers, listeners, and platform users complaining about broadcast content or telecoms / postal services. Online Safety complaints since OSA 2023 commencement.
Stage-by-Stage Timeline
1
1
Identify the regulated activity
Broadcasting (Code), telecoms (consumer protection), postal services, or online safety (OSA 2023 codes).
2
2
Provider complaint (telecoms/postal)
For telecoms/postal, must first complete the provider's process — usually 8 weeks.
3
3
Submit to Ofcom
Online form on Ofcom website. Broadcast complaints: 20 working days from broadcast.
4
4
Investigation / publication
Ofcom investigates serious matters; publishes findings in the Broadcast Bulletin.
5
5
Enforcement
Sanctions: directions, fines (up to 10% of turnover for OSA breaches), licence variation, criminal referral.
Possible Outcomes
- Upheld + sanction
- Resolved
- Not in breach