United Kingdom

Regulator

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FSA The Financial Services Authority is the UK's combined regulator for investment, securities, banking and insurance business. It assumed responsibility from its predecessors on 1 December, 2001. Internal links at the FSA site include:-
  • Library
  • Press Releases
  • Handbook of Rules
  • UK Shares Listing Authority
  • Money Made Clear - consumer site
    Find whether a firm is authorised at the Central Register
  • Bank of England The central bank for the UK. The publications section has a wealth of economic and regulatory information
    Pensions Regulator The Pensions Regulator is responsible for securing compliance with relevant regulations in respect of Occupational Pensions
    FSCS The Financial Services Compensation Scheme levies the industry to pays towards the claims of depositors of banks and customers of firms that have
    FOS
    FOS/FSA
    The Financial Ombudsman Service is the UK's central complaints handling bureau for financial services
    Tribunals Finance Tribunals for people wishing to appeal against FSA
    FSCP The Financial Services Consumer Panel's role is to assess the FSA's effectiveness in meeting its objectives to protect consumers' interests and promote public understanding of the financial system
    FSPP The Financial Services Practitioner Panel represents the industry's interests and monitors the FSA's effectiveness
    OCC The Office of the Complaints Commissioner investigates complaints against the FSA
    HM Treasury Check for recent online Consultative Documents that will impact the investment management industry
    Takeover Panel The Takeover Panel issues and administers the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers
    HMRC The UK's taxation authority drafts tax-related rules that affect investment business. The site offers useful guidance to ISA Managers including monthly ISA Bulletins. Other useful internal links include Legislation and Statutory Instruments
    BIS The Department for Business Innovation and Skills is the government department responsible for creating conditions for business success and innovation. Press releases are available here
    Competition Commission Formerly named the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, this government department is concerned with mergers, monopolies and anti-competetive practices
    Gambling Commission This government department regulates casinos, bingos, gaming machines lotteries and “remote gambling” under the Gambling Act 2005. Firms that offer certain derivatives such as spread betting may have to obtain a licence
    Information Commissioner The Office of the Information Commissioner (prior to 2/01 known as the Data Protection Commissioner) enforces the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000
    OFT Office of Fair Trading - this government department regulates the market for consumer credit and promotes fair competition
    HO The Home Office of the British Government
    FCO British Foreign & Commonwealth Office
    SFO The Serious Fraud Office takes cases over from the SROs where large scale fraud (over £1 Million) is suspected
    SOCA The Serious Organised Crime Agency investigates suspicious financial transactions
    DWP The Department for Work and Pensions is the Government department responsible for pensions legislation
    CPS The Crown Prosecution Service prosecutes people in England and Wales who have been charged by the police with a criminal offence
    TLS
    TLSS
    The Law Society and The Law Society of Scotland are Recognised Professional Bodies (RPBs) that regulate lawyers in the UK in the conduct of Investment Business
    LCS The Legal Complaints Service (LCS) investigates complaints about solicitors
    SRA The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regulates more than 100,000 solicitors in England and Wales, as well as registered European lawyers and registered foreign lawyers
    IBAS How to complain about your bank - the Independent Banking Advisory Service
    ASA The Advertising Standards Authority - this self-regulatory organisation sets standards for advertising in the UK. Check adjudications section for specific rulings on cases and complaints. The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) writes and enforces the British Codes of Advertising and Sales Promotion
    PCC The Press Complaints Commission monitors the conduct of journalists. The PCC's self-regulatory Editors' Code of Practice covers, among other things, financial dealings by journalists who tip shares (not allowed)
    CDP The City Disputes Panel helps resolve disputes in the wholesale financial markets
    ICAEW
    ICAS
    CAI
    The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales is the RPB that regulates accountants in England and Wales in the conduct of Investment Business. ICAS and CAI do the same in Scotland and Ireland respectively
    FRC The Financial Reporting Council makes rules about financial reporting for accountants
    ACCA The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants is another RPB that regulates accountants in the UK in the conduct of Investment Business
    FAIA Faculty and Institute of Actuaries (Actuarial Profession) is the RPB that regulates actuaries in the UK
    TPAS The Pensions Advisory Service handles pensions consumer issues
    Lloyds of London London's reinsurance market is regulated by FSA
    Lending Standards Board The role of the Lending Standards Board is to monitor and enforce the Lending Code and to ensure subscribers provide a fair deal to their personal and micro-enterprise borrowing customers
    CMLThe Council of Mortgage Lenders published a code of practice prior to FSA taking over mortgage regulation. CML publishes a list of members