You can attach up to 5 files with your complaint — copies of emails, photographs, screenshots, letters, or anything else that helps explain what happened.
Files can be PDFs or photos (JPG or PNG). Photos and screenshots can be attached just as they are – we turn each one into a PDF for you. This guide explains what's useful to attach, and how to turn other documents, such as emails and Word files, into PDF.
What to attach
Helpful supporting documents include:
- Copies of emails or letters that relate to the complaint
- Photographs of the event, venue, or relevant items (attach the photo directly)
- Screenshots of social media posts, messages, or web pages (attach the screenshot directly)
- Statements or accounts from witnesses (typed up, saved as PDF)
- Official documents like entry forms, results sheets, programs, or membership records
The rules
| Limit | What it means |
|---|---|
| PDFs and photos | The form accepts files ending in .pdf, .jpg, .jpeg or .png. Photos are turned into PDFs for you. Other documents need converting to PDF first – see below. |
| Up to 5 files | Combine multiple smaller items into a single PDF if you have more than five documents. |
| 10 MB per file | Large scans or high-resolution photos may exceed this. See below for how to shrink them. |
How to convert other formats to PDF
Almost any document or image can be turned into a PDF, on almost any device. Here's how:
From a phone (iPhone or Android)
From a computer (Windows, Mac, or Chromebook)
| If you have... | Do this |
|---|---|
| A Word document (.docx) | Open it in Word. Click File → Save As, then choose PDF from the file type dropdown. |
| An email | Open the email. Click File → Print (or press Ctrl+P / Cmd+P). For the printer, choose "Save as PDF" or "Microsoft Print to PDF". |
| A photograph or screenshot (.jpg, .png) | Nothing to do – drag it straight onto the upload box. We turn it into a PDF for you. |
| A spreadsheet (.xlsx) | Open it in Excel. Click File → Export → Create PDF/XPS Document. |
| A web page | In your browser, press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac), then choose "Save as PDF" as the printer. |
If a file is too big
If your scan or photo is over 10 MB, you have a few options:
- Re-scan at a lower resolution. 200 dpi (dots per inch) is plenty for text. Many scanners default to 300 or 600 dpi, which makes huge files.
- Use a free online compressor. Search for "compress PDF" — there are many free tools available. Be cautious about uploading sensitive material to unknown sites; reputable options include Adobe's own online tool.
- Split the document. If it's a long scan, you can attach the first half as one file and the second half as another.
Combining multiple files into one PDF
If you have more than 5 documents, or want to keep related items together, combine them:
- On Mac: Open the PDFs in Preview, drag them into one window's sidebar, then File → Export as PDF.
- On Windows: Microsoft Edge can open multiple PDFs — or use a free online PDF merger.
- On any phone: Use a free PDF-merge app from your app store, or scan multiple pages in one go using the Notes / Files app.
What we'll do with your documents
Documents you attach are stored securely alongside your complaint in the DSA Complaints Register. They're visible only to authorised DSA Administrators handling the complaint — not to the public, and not to other Members.
For more on how DSA handles complaint information, see Privacy & Confidentiality.