Topic 5 - Other Rules Flashcards
What is the Competition and Marketing Authority (CMA)?
Non-ministerial department of the Dept of Business Innovation and Skills.
It works to promote competition for the benefit of consumers.
It aims to make markets work well for consumers, business and the economy.
What is CMA responsible for?
7 items.
Investigating mergers that may restrict competition.
Conducting market studies and investigations.
Investigating breaches of competition law
Bring criminal charges against cartels.
Enforcement of Consumer Protection and Unfair Trading Laws
Coop with regulators.
Considering regulatory references and appeals.
What Acts and Regulations govern Consumer Credit in the UK?
4items
Consumers Credit Acts
1974 and 2006
Consumer Credit Regulations 2010
Consumer Credit Sourcebook (CONC).
Who is responsible for licensing consumer credit business?
FCA assesses whether a business is fit to hold a licence before granting one.
This includes -
Lenders
Brokers
all businesses “concerned with the provision of credit”.
What does the FCA’s Approved Persons Regime mean for consumer credit firms?
Individuals who undertake significant or management functions need to be approved by the FCA.
What is the purpose of the Consumer Credit Act 1974?
4 items
Regulate, Supervise and Control lending to individuals.
Provide borrowers with protection from unscrupulous lenders.
It sets out the standards by which all lenders from multinational banks to individual moneylenders must conduct their business.
Including safeguards under which potential borrowers are advised of the regulatory requirements of the firm.
What loans aren’t covered by the CCA 1974
2 items 1 exemption
Loans for the purchase of a private dwelling.
Home improvement loans (from the same provider as the Mortgage)
Loans raised on security of a home but for other purposes are not exempt.
What are CCA 1974’s main provisions?
6 items
Suppliers of loans and Credit must be licensed.
Clients must receive a copy of the loan agreement.
A cooling-off period applies except when the loan is signed on the lender’s premises
Undesirable marketing Practices banned.
Credit reference agencies must disclose info held on request. And correct errors.
Introduced APR to allow comparisons between suppliers.
How is the APR calculated?
It’s the total annual cost of borrowing. Its two main elements are
Interest Rate
Additional costs and fees for arranging the loan.
CCA 2006 made improvements in what three areas?
Consumer rights and redress - Enhanced client’s rights to challenge unfair lending and access to dispute resolution.
Targeted action to drive out the rogues.
Make regulation fit for all consumer credit transactions.
What is the Unfair Relationships Test?
It enables borrowers to challenge credit agreements in court on the basis of the relationship between borrower and lender being unfair.
What is the Upper Limit for loans covered by the Consumer Credit Act?
None.
It was abolished in April 2008.
What prompted the Consumer Credit Regulations 2010?
EU Consumer Credit Directive 2008.
What are the main requirements of the Consumer Credit Regulations 2010?
4 items
Advertising and APR - must include a representative rate reflecting at least 51% of the business the ad is expected to generate.
Creditworthiness and adequate explanations- the borrowers creditworthiness must be assessed and the credit agreement must be adequately explained to them.
Pre-contract info and agreements - given in good time before the borrower enters into agreement. It must be clear and legible.
Right of Withdrawal- within 14 days of taking out the borrowing or getting a copy of the agreement.
CONC 3 : financial promotions and communications with customers.
What must communications with customers be?
Fair and not misleading.
Plain language.
Specify who is making the offer.
What rules does CONC provide for high-cost short term credit like pay-day loans?
Must carry the message “WARNING: Late repayment can cause you serious money problems. For help go to moneyadviceservice.org.uk”
Why is there a pension crisis in the UK?
Inadequate personal provision
Ageing population
Leading to increasing demands being placed on the state system.
How have efforts been made to address the pension crisis?
Building confidence and understanding of Pensions.
Incentivising / compelling people to join a pension scheme.
What body has regulatory responsibilities for pensions?
The Pensions Regulator.
What provides some protection to members if the employer providing a pension scheme becomes insolvent?
The Pension Protection Fund
What is The Pensions Regulator’s Mission Statement?
To improve confidence in work-based Pensions by protecting the benefits of scheme members and encouraging high standards and good practice in running pension schemes.
What are the Pensions Regulator’s objectives?
5 items
Protect benefits and rights of occupational pension scheme members.
To protect members who have direct payment arrangements.
Good administration of work-based pension schemes.
Reduce instances of need to rely on the Pension Protection Fund.
Maximise employer take up of auto-enrolment.
Minimise impact on the growth of an employer.
In taking a proactive approach The Pensions Regulator assesses risks to it meeting its statutory objectives.
What are those risks…
4 items
Inadequate funding
Inaccurate records
Lack of knowledge amongst trustees
Dishonesty and fraud.
The Pensions Regulator considers which two factors when considering risk events?
Likelihood - of an event occurring
Impact - on the scheme and it’s members
The Pensions Regulator.
What is the consequence of a higher risk profile?
Schemes with a higher risk profile will be more closely monitored than those with a lower risk level.
The Pensions Regulator’s Powers fall into what three categories?
Investigating Schemes to identify and monitor risks.
Putting right if things go wrong
Action Against Avoidance - ie the deliberate avoidance of pension obligations by employers.
How does the Pensions Regulator ensure it has sufficient INFORMATION to fulfil its investigatory role?
3 items
Schemes make regular returns to the Regulator.
Trustees notify Regulators of significant changes
Regulator demands early notification if the scheme discovers that it cannot meet funding requirements.