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:-
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| FSA | UK Government site for various press releases. Scroll down for FSA. | |
| OPRA | The Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority is responsible for securing compliance with relevant regulations in respect of Occupational Pensions. Check also OPRA's Stakeholder Pensions site | |
| 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 | |
| ICS | The Investors' Compensation Scheme pays up to £48,000 to customers of firms that have failed | |
| HM Treasury | Check for recent online Consultative Documents that will impact the investment management industry | |
| Inland Revenue | 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 | |
| DTI | The Department of Trade and Industry is the government department responsible for financial legislation. Their press releases are available here | |
| HO | The Home Office of the British Government | |
| DSS | The Department of Social Security is the Government department responsible for pensions legislation | |
| Bank of England | Publications section has a wealth of economic and regulatory information, including the latest Practical Issues arising from the introduction of the Euro. Link to FSA pages for lists of authorised deposit takers | |
| FOS | The Financial Ombudsman Service is the UK's central complaints handling bureau for financial services | |
| OBO IBAS |
How to complain about your bank - Office of the Banking Ombudsman and the Independent Banking Advisory Service | |
| IOB | How to complain about your insurer - the Insurance Ombudsman Bureau | |
| Competition Commission | Formerly named the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, this government department is concerned with mergers, monopolies and anti-competetive practices | |
| OFT | Office of Fair Trading - this government department regulates the market for consumer credit and promotes fair competition | |
| 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 | |
| DPR | The Data Protection Registrar | |
| 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 such as the Admark opt-in scheme | |
| PCC | The Press Complaints Commission monitors the conduct of journalists. The PCC's voluntary Code of Conduct covers, among other things, financial dealings by journalists who tip shares | |
| CDP | The City Disputes Panel helps resolve disputes in the wholesale financial markets | |
| CPS | The Crown Prosecution Service prosecutes people in England and Wales who have been charged by the police with a criminal offence | |
| SFO | The Serious Fraud Office takes cases over from the SROs where large scale fraud is suspected | |
| 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 | |
| OSS | The Office for the Supervision of Solicitors handles complaints against lawyers | |
| ICAEW ICAS ICAI |
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 ICAI do the same in Scotland and Ireland respectively | |
| ASB | The Accounting Standards Board makes rules about financial reporting | |
| ACCA | The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants is another RPB that regulates accountants in the UK in the conduct of Investment Business | |
| IAFA | The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries is the RPB that regulates actuaries in the UK in the conduct of Investment Business | |
| OPAS | The Occupational Pensions Advisory Service handles pensions consumer issues | |
| LGPD | Local Government Pensions Division - you can download the rules for local government pensions from here | |
| Lloyds of London | London's reinsurance market has responsibility for its own regulation for the present but will be regulated by FSA in due course | |
| GISC | The General Insurance Standards Council is the new regultator (6/2000) for non-life insurance business | |
| BCSB | The Banking Code Standards Board enforces The Banking Code, a voluntary code of best practice for banks developed by The British Bankers' Association | |
| MCCB | The Mortgage Code Compliance Board enforces The Mortgage Code, a statement of best practice for mortgage lenders developed by the Council of Mortgage Lenders |
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