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    2024-09-26

ATCS 3.1 Raising public awareness

Publication of information

ATCS 3.1.1 R

1A designated firm must publish information about cash access requests in writing in an easily accessible place on its website.

ATCS 3.1.2 R

1The information required to be published under ATCS 3.1.1R must include the following details:

  1. (1)

    a description of what a cash access request is;

  2. (2)

    the circumstances in which a cash access assessment must be undertaken under ATCS 4.1.1R(3), including the exceptions set out in ATCS 4.1;

  3. (3)

    whether the designated firm undertakes cash access assessments itself under ATCS 4.1.1R(3) or a designated coordination body undertakes them for it; and

  4. (4)

    how a cash access request can be submitted to the designated firm or designated coordination body (as appropriate).

ATCS 3.1.3 R
  1. (1)

    1Where a designated coordination body undertakes cash access assessments under ATCS 4.1.1R(3), it must publish information about cash access requests in writing in an easily accessible place on its website.

  2. (2)

    The information required to be published by a designated coordination body under (1) must include the details in ATCS 3.1.2R(1) and ATCS 3.1.2R(2), together with details of how a cash access request can be submitted to it.

ATCS 3.1.4 G

1See ATCS 4.2 for rules and guidance on the role of a designated coordination body in undertaking cash access assessments.

ATCS 3.1.5 R

1The methods for submitting a cash access request must:

  1. (1)

    be sufficiently diverse and straightforward to accommodate the various communications needs of persons who may make cash access requests; and

  2. (2)

    enable the cash access requester to indicate clearly which specified cash access services and which (if any) specified cash access facility features the cash access request relates to.

ATCS 3.1.6 G
  1. (1)

    1A cash access request must be made in writing. See GEN 2.2.14R and GEN 2.2.15G on use of the expression ‘in writing’.

  2. (2)

    The methods for submitting a cash access request should take account of people who may have difficulty dealing with online submissions.

Requiring specification

ATCS 3.1.7 R

1A designated person who undertakes cash access assessments under ATCS 4.1.1R(3) must ask a cash access requester to indicate which of the specified cash access services and which (if any) of the specified cash access facility features their cash access request relates to.

ATCS 3.1.8 R

1A designated person must:

  1. (1)

    allow the cash access requester to provide more information (if they wish) about the specified cash access services and any specified cash access facility features they have indicated;

  2. (2)

    not seek any additional information from the cash access requester unless it would be relevant for the purpose of undertaking the cash access assessment;

  3. (3)

    set out in plain language the types of specified cash access service and specified cash access facility feature, as well as any request for additional information; and

  4. (4)

    ensure any form it uses is easy to navigate.

ATCS 3.1.9 G

1The Glossary definition of specified cash access service is broken down by 4 types of service. It may not be immediately obvious to a cash access requester which type or types is/are their area of concern. The designated person referred to in ATCS 3.1.7R should give the cash access requester the opportunity to provide sufficient information about the relevant current accounts their concern relates to so that the designated person can establish what type or types of specified cash access service the cash access request relates to.

ATCS 3.2 Notification of information

Persons to be notified

ATCS 3.2.1 R

1A designated firm must notify the following in writing of the information set out in ATCS 3.1.2R:

  1. (1)

    Members of Parliament, Members of the Senedd, Members of the Scottish Parliament and Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly; and

  2. (2)

    local authorities.

Role of designated coordination body

ATCS 3.2.2 R
  1. (1)

    1Where a designated coordination body undertakes cash access assessments under ATCS 4.1.1R(3), that body may make the notifications required under ATCS 3.2.1R for its participating designated firms, subject to the modification that the information to be notified is that set out in ATCS 3.1.3R(2).

  2. (2)

    Compliance by the designated coordination body with the requirements of ATCS 3.2.1R, as modified by (1), will be treated as compliance by its participating designated firms with ATCS 3.2.1R.

ATCS 3.3 Action on receipt of cash access request

Acknowledging receipt

ATCS 3.3.1 R

1A designated person who undertakes cash access assessments under ATCS 4.1.1R(3) must promptly acknowledge receipt of a cash access request it receives, and at the same time provide the cash access requester with the following information:

  1. (1)

    confirmation of whether or not the cash access request has triggered the requirement to undertake a cash access assessment;

  2. (2)

    if it has not triggered the requirement, an explanation of why not;

  3. (3)

    if it has triggered the requirement:

    1. (a)

      confirmation that it will be undertaking a cash access assessment;

    2. (b)

      an estimated timeframe for completion;

    3. (c)

      how the cash access requester can find out the outcome; and

    4. (d)

      how the cash access requester can ask for a review in accordance with ATCS 9; and

  4. (4)

    contact details for any other designated person who will be undertaking a cash access assessment as a result of the cash access request.

Communications procedures

ATCS 3.3.2 R

1 Designated persons who undertake cash access assessments under ATCS 4.1.1R(3) must establish, implement and maintain effective and transparent procedures for the handling of communications received from a cash access requester.

ATCS 3.3.3 G

1The procedures referred to in ATCS 3.3.2R should:

  1. (1)

    recognise that communications can be sent by the cash access requester by any reasonable means; and

  2. (2)

    ensure that the designated person responds to any such communications promptly.

ATCS 3.3.4 G
  1. (1)

    1A cash access request must reference an address, street or retail area. This ensures that cash access requests are directed at local community issues, and that a designated person undertaking a cash access assessment as a result can identify the local area they need to consider in the assessment. Where the cash access request has sought to reference an address, street or retail area but further clarification is needed, this should be sought from the cash access requester. This should be done prior to any notification under ATCS 3.3.6R.

  2. (2)

    A cash access request may be withdrawn. See ATCS 4.1.16R and ATCS 4.1.17G for further details.

ATCS 3.3.5 R

1Where a designated firm receives a cash access request which should have been submitted to a designated coordination body in accordance with ATCS 3.1.2R, it must promptly provide the cash access requester with contact details for the designated coordination body.

Notification of receipt of cash access requests

ATCS 3.3.6 R

1When a designated person who undertakes cash access assessments under ATCS 4.1.1R(3) receives a cash access request, it must promptly give a copy to:

  1. (1)

    any designated coordination body; and

  2. (2)

    any non-participating designated firm.

ATCS 3.3.7 G
  1. (1)

    1ATCS 3.3.6R does not apply to receipt of a cash access request by a designated firm who does not undertake cash access assessments under ATCS 4.1.1R(3). In those circumstances, the designated firm must comply with ATCS 3.3.5R.

  2. (2)

    Where all designated firms participate in the cash access coordination arrangements of one designated coordination body which undertakes cash access assessments under ATCS 4.1.1R(3) for them, there is no one to notify under ATCS 3.3.6R.

ATCS 3.3.8 G

1The impact of the time it takes to obtain clarification from the cash access requester in the circumstances set out in ATCS 3.3.4G will be taken into account in considering the timing of any notification under ATCS 3.3.6R.

ATCS 3.3.9 R

1Where notification has been given by a designated person under ATCS 3.3.6R and the cash access requester withdraws their cash access request in accordance with ATCS 4.1.16R at any time before the cash access assessment is completed, the designated person must promptly give notification of the withdrawal in writing to any persons set out in ATCS 3.3.6R.