Give us your feedback

Your feedback and our promise to reply

Here you can find out how to send us your comments, positive or negative, and the procedures for our response. These include: 

Want to share a positive experience?

You may want to give positive comments on the service you have received. These are important to us as they let us know what we are doing right. To tell us about your positive experience please complete our online contact form. Or you can telephone, email or write to us. Of course, you’re also welcome in person.

Our pledge to supporters

We always aim to provide the highest level of customer service to all of our supporters. We do accept that on occasion we may not always get things right. If you’re not satisfied with the level of service you have received we have a complaints procedure and welcome the opportunity to respond.  

When handling a complaint the RNLI will:

  • treat all complaints seriously
  • resolve complaints promptly and deal with them effectively
  • learn from complaints and take action to improve our service

What is a complaint?

A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction by a supporter about a particular solicitation, transaction or action carried out by the RNLI. General enquiries or comments regarding the RNLI are not defined as complaints.

What to do if you have a complaint

You can make a complaint via our online contact form or by telephone, email, in writing or in person. If you know the name or title of the member of staff or the department your complaint relates to, you should make your complaint direct to them. If your complaint relates to our Sales Company - if you are an RNLI Shop customer, for example - this will be answered by our Sales Company.

The RNLI will aim to deal with all complaints within 2 working days of receipt. If the complaint is complex or cannot be dealt with in this timescale then it will be acknowledged and the complainant advised of progress at regular intervals.

If you are not happy with the initial response you receive, you should contact us again addressing your comments to our Complaints Coordinator, Alison Murphy.

Following our second response, if you are still not satisfied, you can ask for your complaint to be referred to the relevant RNLI Director in relation to your complaint. In the event that you are still not satisfied your complaint may be referred to the RNLI’s Chief Executive.

If your complaint refers to fundraising and you remain unhappy with the RNLI’s response you may contact the Fundraising Regulator (UK) or the Charities Regulator (Ireland) both of which the RNLI is a member. They will investigate your complaint and/or the way it has been handled.

As a member of the Fundraising Regulator (UK) and the Charities Regulator (Ireland) we adhere to their standards and guidelines and promote the Fundraising Promise wherever practical. We are committed to high standards:

  • we are honest and open
  • we are clear
  • we are respectful
  • we are fair and reasonable
  • we are accountable

How your support helps the RNLI

Every donation will help keep our brave volunteers safe on the water and bring them home to their families when the job is done. Our volunteer lifesavers give up their time for free, but they need training, well-maintained equipment, lifeboats and shore facilities. Your kindness saves lives. For more about how your support helps or for more information on how the RNLI is run.

How to contact us

Should you wish to contact us regarding a positive experience or to make a complaint, you can do so by email, telephone, in writing, in person or by completing our online contact form. 

Telephone: 
 0300 300 9990 (from the UK), 01 511 9837 (from Ireland) and +44 1202 663234 (from outside the UK) - Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm- excluding Bank Holidays.

Write to:
 Royal National Lifeboat Institution, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ

Email: 
 [email protected]

Privacy and Security

At the RNLI we’re committed to treating everybody’s personal information responsibly and being open and transparent about how we do that. For more information check our Privacy Policy.