Financial Adviser Hertfordshire is an information-only site.  Financial Adviser Hertfordshire does not provide financial advice or make any financial services arrangements for any party.

Companies who advise on or arrange investments, insurance or mortgages within the UK must be authorised by The Financial Services Authority (FSA). 

Any person or company advising on or arranging investments nsurances or mortgages within  the UK that is not properly authorised by The FSA is commiting a criminal offence.

To check the authorisation status of a company or individual, click on the following link.

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/register/home.do;jsessionid=ab28cf15da9c46cc9aa182c2b269e851.s6fNml1Ka38InBbv-ArJrwTPoNCNa30Qcybtah0IaNuIahiIbh0IaNfwmxiInxiObk9ynhvybMSHc30Ka2aToi5hch0Na2TSn7bvq70KawTAqQ4InQXQ-BjF8NeRb3iOcgbMnkrDqRfzqwbMnkrDqRfzqwbynknvrkLOlQzNp65In0__

or telephone The FSA Consumer Helpline

From UK: 0845 606 1234 (call rates may vary)
From Overseas: +44 20 7066 1000

If you are approached by any individual or organisation regarding any investment, insurance or mortgage matter you should check with The FSA by using the above link or telephone number.  If you suspect a firm is not properly authorised you may report them using the above telephone number.

Financial Adviser Hertfordshire is an information-only site.  Financial Adviser Hertfordshire does not provide financial advice or make any financial arrangements for any party.  For this reason the site is not regulated by The FSA.

Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) is a new initial by The Financial Services Authority (FSA) as part of their move towards principles based regulation.  Every FSA regulated company that deals with investors must have internal systems in place from directors to managers to all staff that interact with companies.  These systems should ensure that the firm is fair in all of it's dealings with customers.

Customer Initial Disclosure Document (CIDD) replaces the former Terms of Business (TOB).  When a firm first starts to deal with a customer i.e. when any quotes or services are offerred, the Customer Intial Disclosure Document (CIDD) must be presented to the customer.  If the firms terms of business change, the firm must provide a new CIDD.  If the firm deals with a repeat customer a new CIDD must be provided if the previous one was given more than six months ago.

The Customer Initial Disclosure Document (CIDD) provides detailed information about various aspects of the firm including by which authority it is regulated (The FSA), whether the firm is an independent financial adviser or multi-tied or tied to one firm or group. The name of the firms compliance officer.  It will advise how you can make a complaint against the firm.  There are also tables showing the commission the firm will earn compared to the average market rate.