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Latest News

14
Feb

Distribution Chains in 2026

February 14, 2026
Why Brokers, Introducers and Lenders Are All Still on the Hook Distribution chains have been a regulatory concern for years, but in 2026 the FCA’s position is clearer (and firmer) than ever. Where consumer outcomes fall short, responsibility will not be deflected down the chain. Lenders, brokers and intermediaries are all accountable for the part...
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11
Feb

Consumer Duty Another Year On

February 11, 2026
What the FCA Is Now Challenging in Practice When the Consumer Duty came into force, most consumer credit firms responded with urgency. Frameworks were built, policies updated, Board papers drafted and implementation plans rolled out. One year on, however, the FCA’s focus has moved decisively beyond whether firms implemented the Duty to whether they can...
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07
Feb

The ICO–Government Memorandum of Understanding

February 7, 2026
Why Financial Services Firms Should Pay Attention In early January, the Information Commissioner’s Office entered into a formal Memorandum of Understanding with HM Government. On the surface, this may appear to be an internal, public-sector focused development. In reality, it signals something far broader, and far more relevant to regulated firms. For the ICO this...
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04
Feb

Credit Brokers in the Spotlight: Key FCA Expectations for 2026

February 4, 2026
Credit brokers have always attracted a high level of regulatory attention, but in 2026 that scrutiny has intensified. As Consumer Duty beds in and the FCA focuses more heavily on distribution chains, brokers are increasingly viewed as outcome shapers, not just intermediaries. For the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), credit brokers sit at a critical point...
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30
Jan

January Under the Microscope

January 30, 2026
How the FCA Assesses Consumer Credit Firms After the Festive Period January is one of the most revealing months in the regulatory calendar for consumer credit firms. While December is often dominated by volume, marketing and operational pressure, January is where the consequences surface. Arrears increase, complaints rise, vulnerability becomes more visible, and systems that...
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28
Jan

Updated DSAR Guidance Under the Data (Use and Access) Act:

January 28, 2026
What Financial Services Firms Need to Know Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs) have long been a pressure point for financial services firms. They are operationally disruptive, legally sensitive and often triggered at moments of heightened customer dissatisfaction whether that be complaints, arrears, collections or disputes. With the introduction of the Data (Use and Access) Act...
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26
Jan

January Affordability, Creditworthiness and the FCA

January 26, 2026
Affordability, Creditworthiness and the FCA: Why January Is a Regulatory Flashpoint January has become one of the most important months in the FCA’s supervision of consumer credit firms. While affordability and creditworthiness are permanent regulatory themes, January is where weaknesses are most likely to surface — and where the regulator can see, in real time,...
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22
Jan

ICO Complaints Handling Reform

January 22, 2026
Why Financial Services Firms Need to Rethink Their Approach Complaints handling has always been a sensitive area for financial services firms. It sits at the intersection of customer dissatisfaction, regulatory scrutiny and operational pressure. With the Information Commissioner’s Office consulting on reforms to the data protection complaints process, that pressure is set to increase, particularly...
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22
Jan

Financial Ombudsman Update

January 22, 2026
New Interest Rate and Calculator for Compensation Awards — What Firms Need to Know As we enter 2026, one of the most significant shifts in redress practice for financial services firms has quietly taken effect. The Financial Ombudsman Service has introduced a revised way of calculating the interest applied to compensation awards in complaint decisions...
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