Jul 20 – Regulated fees and levies 2020/21

The FCA yesterday published its policy statement and ‘made rules’ for regulated fees and levies 2020/21. Whilst the FCA fees remain broadly level for mortgage intermediaries,

Jun 20 – True Colours

The first week of June saw the interim Chief Executive of the FCA make his boldest move since taking the reins.  In announcing that the FCA was invoking FSMA Section 165 powers linked to a data request to 13,000 firms they clearly indicated that they mean business.  All surveyed firms must complete the return within […]

Jun 20 – Product value in insurance

On 3 June the FCA published guidance on the value of insurance products (GI and pure protection). The focus is on products which, due to coronavirus, may not be able to provide the expected contractual benefits or there is a fundamental change in risk and products are providing little or no utility to customers. The […]

May 20 – Government guidance on home moving

Following lobbying work and policy development by AMI with other trade bodies and member firms, the government has today issued updated guidance on home moving during the Covid-19 outbreak

May 20 – Business as usual at FCA

In its proposed fees budget for 2020/21, the FCA has considered the effect of any fee increases on small firms and has moved to freeze minimum fees and defer the payment deadline for the fees of small and medium sized firms.  However, it has not amended its total budget requirements in view of the pandemic […]

May 20 – Putting remortgage to the sword

As part of the Mortgages Market Study, the FCA said that more needed to be done to help ‘less active’ consumers who remain on their mortgage reversion rate at the end of any initial term.  This was also highlighted in the Citizens Advice super-complaint to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), and in its response, […]

Apr 20 – Keeping your customers safe

It’s hard to believe that it’s been less than two weeks since the UK went into lockdown and Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp and Skype became our preferred way to communicate.  In an industry that has always favoured face to face contact, the changes that came thick and fast have altered our routines immeasurably and, I […]