Ms Dorothy Donovan:

Going back to those that are ruled out, every appeal is treated with gravitas even if we do not have any jurisdiction. Sometimes, somebody gives an auctioneer a property to sell and may be unhappy with the way something has happened and complain, or a potential purchaser may complain to us about the conduct of an auctioneer, querying the bidding. Auctioneers are obliged to keep lists of the bidding. These all go to the authority first and it carries out an investigation, but sometimes it will decline to carry out an investigation. The reason is usually that it is outside its remit or jurisdiction, but that decision too can be appealed to the board.