Robert Buckland has welcomed a new service to help businesses and charities with banking complaints.

The South Swindon MP is encouraging those with unresolved issues to register for the Business Banking Resolution Service at thebbrs.org/register

Any business, charity, or individual with a relevant involvement - such as personal guarantors - who has an unresolved business banking complaint dating back to December 2001 – and with a turnover of between one and £10 million at the time of the complaint – could qualify for the free support.

The service helps small-to-medium-sized enterprises and charities to find solutions to unresolved complaints against their bank, providing free, personalised support from highly skilled and experienced dispute resolution specialists. The free, independent service is led and overseen by a deputy High Court judge.

Approximately 5,000 businesses in the south west could be eligible for the historic and contemporary schemes offered by the service.

Mr Buckland said: “Now, more than ever, small and medium-sized businesses and charities need to have confidence in their dealings with their banks.

“For some SMEs, things have, unfortunately, gone wrong in the past, and they now have somewhere to turn that isn’t costly.

“This is a valuable service covering both historical and more recent issues and could offer a new solution where none previously existed to those who have had problems with their bank which have seriously affected their business, or former business.

“I encourage any businesses or charity who has not been able to resolve a complaint with their banks to go online, see if they are eligible and, if they are, to register now: https://thebbrs.org/register”