Stuck in Red Tape? Contact the National Ombudsman

The Small Business Administration (SBA) recently appointed a new national ombudsman and assistant administrator for Regulatory Enforcement Fairness, Esther H. Vassar, whose office’s job it is to act as a liasion between small businesses and federal organizations. Complaints sent to the SBA Office of the National Ombudsman are put under review, and the fairness of the action against the company is brought to the federal agency to reconsider.

Though the national ombudsman ultimately cannot rule against the federal regulatory decision, the office provides a venue to file complaints and potentially have decisions reversed, and in the best of cases, financial reimbursement. Complaints can be filed online and entered in the National Ombudsman Case Management System, or by printing and mailing in a comment form. The complaint forms ask you to list the federal agency you or your business is having a problem with, and it includes a confidentiality disclosure for safety. Click here for more information.