ABC COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
If you are an ABC member please submit an official complaint using the notification of
complaint form together with the relevant document or article which you are complaining
about. Section 12 of the ABC Byelaws details the Official Complaints Procedure.
We may look into informal complaints in certain circumstances, depending on the nature of the
complaint.
We would also like to hear from you if you have a complaint against a media owner which is not
a member of ABC who you feel is misrepresenting ABC or ABC data.
We publish upheld official complaints concerning ABC members on our website and via
our eAlerts notifications. Complaints that are not upheld remain confidential.
What happens after you've made a complaint?
Below is a summary of the official complaints procedure applicable to ABC members - please
refer to section 12 of the Byelaws for the full procedure.
Complaint received
Unless the complaint is manifestly ill-founded it will be forwarded to the member concerned
and you will receive an acknowledgement.
Statement of response
The member concerned has 10 working days from receipt to respond.
Reply to statement of response
If ABC feels a reply is required from the Complainant, it will send a copy of the response to
the complainant.
Decision
When ABC feels sufficient information has been provided, it will make a decision on the
complaint and notify both parties of that decision. The decision will include whether the
complaint has been upheld and if so, what corrective action (if any) is required.
Complaint not upheld
If the complaint is not upheld all parties
must keep the matter confidential.
Complaint upheld
Details of the complaint will be published
on the ABC website and via the eAlerts
notifications after 5 working days. ABC
will ensure any corrective action required
is carried out.
Appeal
The decision will not come into effect if either party requests an appeal before the expiry of
5 working days.
