Who can I complain to

Ask the authority that you are complaining about who will handle the complaint. An authority must tell you where to send the complaint. In some cases, the complaint is handled by a higher level of the same authority or its supervisory body.

The Finnish Supervisory Agency handles for example complaints about health care, family and social welfare services, teaching and education, municipalities’ activities and the rescue services.

You can also send your complaint directly to one of the highest overseers of legality in Finland: the Chancellor of Justice or the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

• Instructions on filing a complaint to the Chancellor of Justice (oikeuskansleri.fi)Opens in a new window.
• Instructions on filing a complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman (oikeusasiamies.fi)Opens in a new window.

You complaint will still be handled. The authority that received your complaint will send it on to the right place.

You can send your complaint to either. The Chancellor of Justice and the Parliamentary Ombudsman perform more or less the same tasks. Both make sure that the authorities and office holders do not break the law. The Chancellor of Justice also oversees private attorneys, licensed legal counsels and public legal aid attorneys.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman oversees the Defence Forces, the Border Guard and prisons. The Chancellor of Justice ensures that the president, the government, the ministries and the courts do not break the law.

Before you complain to the Chancellor of Justice or the Parliamentary Ombudsman, you should find out if some other body handles complaints about the authority you wish to complain about. An authority has a duty to tell you where to send a complaint about them.

If you send your complaint to the wrong place, the authority that received it will send it on to the right authority. The Chancellor of Justice and the Parliamentary Ombudsman can also ask each other to handle certain complaints in other cases. You will always be informed of this.

No, you cannot. Neither will take on a matter that is already being handled by the other. The Chancellor of Justice will also not take on matters that the Parliamentary Ombudsman has already handled, and the other way around.