News

The Financial Ombudsman Service has published its final policy statement on modernising the redress system, with key changes taking effect from 1 October 2026. The reforms introduce new grounds for dismissing complaints, including where a firm has already reviewed a matter in line with the standards that applied at the time or under a formal regulatory requirement. Changes are also being made to the fair and reasonable test, while the proposed registration stage has been deferred until at least April 2027.

The government’s plans for Consumer Credit Act reform are now much more defined and some of the proposed changes will have a major impact on motor finance firms. We have produced a new white paper looking at what is changing, what is staying and what firms can start preparing for now.

The FCA wants firms to understand what customers experience, not just what the data says. It has published further commentary on outcomes monitoring under the Consumer Duty, sharing examples of good practice and areas where firms still need to improve. The focus is on using information to understand what customers are experiencing, identify where things may be going wrong and take action before customer harm occurs.

The FCA has updated its good and poor practice paper on complaints and root cause analysis, adding new examples and practical guidance, particularly for smaller firms. The regulator reviewed complaints handling and root cause analysis arrangements across 40 firms and places considerable emphasis on the role complaints play in helping firms understand customer outcomes, identify customer harm and improve products, services and processes.

Consumer Duty, governance and data remain at the centre of the FCA's supervisory approach.

The FCA has published its latest consultation on phase 2 reforms to the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR) .

The FCA’s motor finance commission consumer redress scheme is now the subject of formal legal challenge in the Upper Tribunal by four applicants: three captive lenders and  Consumer Voice Limited. The FCA’s scheme was established under sections 404 and 404A FSMA, and that the Tribunal is hearing challenges brought under section 404D(1) FSMA.

The countdown is on. From 15 July 2026, many Deferred Payment Credit (DPC) products - previously known as Buy Now Pay Later - provided by third-party lenders will become regulated by the FCA. With regulation day now just around the corner, firms should be carrying out a final readiness check.

The Upper Tribunal has made an order partially suspending the FCA's motor finance consumer redress scheme, on terms agreed between the FCA and the parties challenging it.

Court route confirmed as FCA scheme stays paused under Tribunal challenge

The FCA has published the findings from recent supervisory work looking at firms’ sanctions systems and controls, following the sharp rise in UK sanctions activity in recent years, particularly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Two-page practical guide for smaller firms, with a clear focus on Consumer Duty, financial promotions, complaints and governance. 

HM Treasury has now published its long-awaited policy statement on reform of the Consumer Credit Act, setting out the biggest proposed shake-up of consumer credit regulation in decades. While the full detail will come through future FCA consultations and rule changes, the direction of travel is now much clearer.

We have now expanded our financial promotions and website compliance review offering for lenders, brokers and other consumer credit firms as regulatory expectations around customer communications, digital journeys and financial promotions continue to increase.

On 11 June 2026, the FCA published ‘Further information for firms on the Motor Finance Compensation Scheme’, a 20-page technical document responding directly to queries raised by firms since the publication of Policy Statement PS26/3 in March 2026.  

On 8 June 2026, FCA Chief Executive Nikhil Rathi wrote to Dame Meg Hillier MP, Chair of the Treasury Committee, setting out the FCA's detailed position on the Motor Finance Compensation Scheme in response to questions raised by the Committee on 20 May 2026. 

The FCA’s proposed CONC 3 reforms could bring significant changes to the way lenders and brokers approach financial promotions, customer journeys and cost disclosures.

The FCA has finalised Phase 1 of its SM&CR reforms through PS26/6, introducing a wide range of changes aimed at making the regime more proportionate and operationally efficient while retaining individual accountability.

The FCA has published a new statement reminding firms that rising pressure on household finances as a result of increasing costs for fuel, food and utilities means that firms should consider whether their current approach to supporting customer is still relevant.

Following confirmation from the FCA that it had received four separate legal challenges to its Motor Finance Compensation Scheme, the FCA set out further guidance on Friday 8 May 2026. 

New FCA guidance warns principals not to treat inactive ARs as low-risk relationships and highlights growing scrutiny around oversight, reporting and consumer understanding.

We are delighted to let you know that our practical board-level guide to FCA expectations on redress is now available to purchase at the price of £195.

Today the FCA published a short but significant statement confirming it has received four separate legal challenges to its motor finance consumer redress scheme. The statement is characteristically measured in tone. The message, however, is unambiguous: the FCA intends to defend the scheme robustly and regards it as lawful, proportionate and the best available route to compensation for millions of consumers.

There is already a legal challenge against the recently announced motor finance redress scheme, demonstrating the level of scrutiny around both its design and delivery.

On the same day the FCA confirmed the final motor finance redress scheme, four regulators announced a joint taskforce targeting poor practice by CMCs and law firms.

The FCA, SRA, ICO and ASA are now working together to tackle misleading promotions, weak claims, multiple representation and unfair fees. This is a more co ordinated response than the market has seen before.

Following our initial paper on the FCA’s final motor finance redress scheme we’ve now produced a second briefing focused specifically on the obligations placed on brokers and dealers. 

While redress is paid by lenders, the rules place significant and immediate responsibilities on brokers. This includes complaint handling, responding to lender requests, providing historic data and supporting redress assessments within tight timelines.

The FCA has now confirmed that it will proceed with a motor finance redress scheme and has published PS26/3 together with a public statement outlining its objectives and expectations. The FCA says the scheme will return £7.5 billion to consumers, with millions of claims paid this year and the vast majority settled by the end of 2027.

This includes Auxillias’ first read and a more detailed paper on the FCA’s final motor finance redress rules - setting out what has changed and what firms should be thinking about now.

The FCA has published its 2026 Regulatory Priorities for consumer finance. It reads like a clear signal of where firms will be tested over the next 12 months. The focus is on three areas: access to credit, support for customers in financial difficulty and complaints and redress. Across all of this firms need to evidence outcomes.

Earlier today the FCA and the Financial Ombudsman Service jointly published CP26/9, Modernising the Redress System. The paper is both a consultation and a part-policy statement, finalising aspects of last July's CP25/22 while introducing new proposals on how complaints are triaged, investigated, and resolved.

The FCA has launched a call for input on how its regulatory framework can help SMEs access finance. The exercise spans debt, equity, hybrid and alternative finance, and seeks views from SMEs, providers and distributors on barriers to finance, opportunities for future regulatory support, sector-specific issues and future trends such as open finance.