How to ensure your credit promotions are compliant…
What is a ‘promotion’? The term promotion covers a wide range of marketing and advertising. It includes websites, sales brochures, adverts in a magazines or newspapers, direct mail flyers – basically, it is anything seen, heard or read by customers that’s designed to influence or encourage them to reach a purchasing decision. You can’t rely […]
Mis-selling! Don’t be caught out by your advertising
There’s been a number of stories in the recent news about Green Deal providers and renewable energy companies that have fallen foul of advertising regulations. Mostly it’s because their claims for energy efficiency or financial savings haven’t been clear. Mis-selling can range from deliberately misleading advertising messages through to negligence and missing out key information […]
Appointed Representatives: How it works for businesses
What’s an FCA Appointed Representative (AR)? The FCA’s website states that “an appointed representative is a person or firm who conducts regulated activities and acts as an agent for a firm directly authorised by the FCA.” The directly authorised firm is known as the appointed representative’s ‘principal’. How does the AR / Principal Relationship Work? […]
G14 Awards now open for submissions from Glass & Glazing Companies
If you’re an exceptional Glass & Glazing Company then why not shout about it and enter this year’s G14 Awards? The G14 Awards celebrate and reward standards of excellence from across the UK industry. It’s a great opportunity for your business too – entering, being short-listed and, of course, winning awards is always a fantastic PR opportunity. It’s […]
FCA compliance is a top priority for the CCS Team
by Andy Wallace I’m often asked, why CCS isn’t FCA authorised? Quite simply, the FCA don’t need us to be. Only businesses in direct contact with the end-customer have to hold authorisation, and we, of course, provide a business-to-business service. This decision has, of course, been fully supported by our panel of lenders, including market-leading […]
On the road with Barrie Williams
by Barrie Williams A lot’s changed since I first started in the consumer credit sector over 35 years ago, but one thing’s still the same – lots of early morning starts! I’m always up and out of the house at the crack of dawn in order to fit in three or four meetings each day […]
Bathroom Manufacturers Association appoint new president
The Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) has appointed David Osborne as its new president. The appointment was announced at the BMA’s annual general meeting held on the 24 June in London Mr Osborne is the former chair of the BMA’s Centre of Excellence Group and marketing committee, and is following in his father’s footsteps. Gerry Osborne was the BMA’s first […]
FCA’s General Principles
Below are the FCA’s General Principles. Businesses applying for authorisation will need to provide evidence and demonstrate that they are embedded into the company’s culture. 1 Integrity A firm must conduct its business with integrity. 2 Skill, care and diligence A firm must conduct its business with due skill, care and diligence. 3 Management and control A firm must take reasonable care to organise and control […]
How to apply for FCA Authorisation
In order to offer credit to customers you need to be authorised by the FCA. If you currently hold an interim permission then you should have received a letter from the FCA outlining your date period for submitting your application. Applications need to be submitted using the FCA’s online system CONNECT. If you don’t apply […]
Green Deal Home Improvement Fund Latest Update
Last month the Government announced that people in England and Wales would be able to get up to £7600 back through a new Green Deal Home Improvement Fund. It appears the launch of the scheme has got off to a flying start and has instantly boosted uptake of the Green Deal. The Department of Energy and Climate Change have […]