DISP 1.1 Purpose and application

Purpose

DISP 1.1.1GRP

30This chapter contains rules and guidance on how respondents should deal promptly and fairly with complaints in respect of business:30

30
  1. (1)

    carried on from establishments in the United Kingdom; or30

    30
  2. (2)

    carried on from establishments in an EEA State, in the case of a TP firm, a TA EMI firm, a TA PI firm or a TA RAISP firm with respect to services provided into the United Kingdom; or30

    30
  3. (3)

    carried on in Great Britain, in respect of regulated claims management activities, (see PERG 2.4A).30

DISP 1.1.1AG

30This chapter is also relevant to those who may wish to make a complaint or refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.30

Background

DISP 1.1.2GRP

Application to firms

DISP 1.1.3RRP
  1. (-1)

    This chapter applies to a TP firm. This rule demonstrates the contrary intention under GEN 2.2.26R.30

  2. (1)

    Subject to DISP 1.1.5 R, this15 chapter applies to a firm in respect of complaints from eligible complainants concerning activities carried on from an establishment maintained by it or its appointed representative:30

    15
    1. (a)

      in the United Kingdom; or30

    2. (b)

      in an EEA State, in the case of a TP firm with respect to services provided into the United Kingdom.30

  3. (1A)

    This chapter also applies to a firm in respect of complaints from eligible complainants concerning activities which are, or which are ancillary to, regulated claims management activities.28

  4. (2)

    For the MiFID complaints of a MiFID investment firm:23

    1. (a)

      DISP 1.1A applies; and23

    2. (b)

      the other provisions of this chapter apply only as set out in DISP 1.1A.23

    3. (c)

      [deleted]23

  5. (2A)

    For the MiFID complaints of a third country investment firm received from retail clients or elective professional clients:23

    1. (a)

      DISP 1.1A applies; and23

    2. (b)

      the other provisions of this chapter apply only as set out in DISP 1.1A.23

  6. (3)

    [deleted]30

    911
  7. (4)

    [deleted]30

    2116
DISP 1.1.3ADRP

24The complaints reporting directions apply to a firm that provides payment services or issues electronic money in respect of:

  1. (1)

    complaints from payment service users; and

  2. (2)

    complaints from electronic money holders that are eligible complainants

concerning activities carried on from an establishment maintained by the firm in the United Kingdom (or in an EEA State, in the case of a TP firm with respect to services provided into the United Kingdom).30

DISP 1.1.4RRP

Where a firm has outsourced activities to a third party processor, DISP 1.1.3 R does not apply to the third party processor when acting as such, but applies to the firm which is taking responsibility for the acts and omissions of the third party processor in respect of the outsourced activities.

DISP 1.1.5RRP

This chapter does not apply to:

  1. (1)

    [deleted]738

    738
  2. (2)

    [deleted]14

    14
  3. (3)

    an authorised professional firm in respect of expressions of dissatisfaction about its non-mainstream regulated activities; 15

    16
  4. (3A)

    a firm in respect of complaints concerning activities which:28

    1. (a)

      are not carried on in Great Britain but which would be regulated claims management activities if they were carried on in Great Britain; or28

    2. (b)

      are ancillary to activities described in (a);28

  5. (4)

    complaints in respect of auction regulation bidding;32

    301615
  6. (5)

    a full-scope UK AIFM or a small authorised UK AIFM,30 for complaints concerning AIFM management functions carried on for an AIF that is a body corporate unless it is a collective investment scheme21; 27

    16
  7. (6)

    a depositary, for complaints concerning activities carried on for an AIF that is21:

    16
    1. (a)

      a body corporate unless it is a collective investment scheme21; or16

    2. (b)

      another type of AIF unless it is:21

      1. (i)

        an authorised AIF; or21

      2. (ii)

        an LTIF29; or21

      3. (iii)

        a charity AIF; and27

        21
      16
  8. (7)

    complaints in respect of administering a benchmark.27

DISP 1.1.5-AGRP
DISP 1.1.5-BG

28For an activity to amount to a regulated claims management activity it must be carried on in Great Britain (see PERG 2.4A). The effect of DISP 1.1.3R(1A) and DISP 1.1.5R(3A) is that the application of this chapter to regulated claims management activities and activities ancillary to regulated claims management activities depends on whether the activity is carried on in Great Britain rather than whether it is carried on from an establishment maintained in the United Kingdom.

DISP 1.1.6GRP

CREDS 9 sets out rules for credit unions in relation to reporting complaints.14

14
DISP 1.1.6AGRP

14In relation to a credit union, the nature, scale and complexity of the credit union's business should be taken into account when deciding the appropriate procedures to put in place for dealing with complaints.

DISP 1.1.7RRP

This chapter applies to the Society, members of the Society and managing agents, subject to the Lloyd's complaint rules.

DISP 1.1.8RRP

[deleted]26

DISP 1.1.9G

[deleted]10

10
DISP 1.1.9AGRP

10The scope of this sourcebook does not include:

  1. (1)

    a complaint about pre-commencement investment business which was regulated by a recognised professional body (those complaints will be handled under the arrangements of that professional body); or

  2. (2)

    a complaint about the administration of an occupational pension scheme, because this is not a regulated activity (firms should refer complainants to the Pensions Ombudsman25 rather than to the Financial Ombudsman Service and should refer consumers’ general requests for information or guidance to MoneyHelper34).

    25
DISP 1.1.10RRP

In relation to a firm's obligations under this chapter, references to a complaint also include an expression of dissatisfaction which is capable of becoming a:33

21740174028281740
  1. (1)

    33relevant new complaint;

  2. (2)

    33relevant transitional complaint;

  3. (3)

    33relevant new credit-related complaint;

  4. (4)

    33relevant new claims management complaint; or

  5. (5)

    33relevant transitional funeral plan complaint.

Additional requirements for insurance and reinsurance distribution business in the UK

DISP 1.1.10-AR

26Where insurance distribution activities are carried on from an establishment maintained by it or its appointed representative in the United Kingdom (or in an EEA State, in the case of a TP firm with respect to services provided into the United Kingdom)30, a firm must have in place and operate appropriate and effective procedures for registering and responding to complaints from a person who is not an eligible complainant.

[Note: article 14 of the IDD]

DISP 1.1.10-BR

[deleted]30

26

Application to payment services providers that are not firms

DISP 1.1.10ARRP

8This chapter (except 24 the complaints reporting rules and the complaints data publication rules9) applies to payment service providers that are not firms24 in respect of complaints from eligible complainants concerning activities carried on from an establishment maintained by that payment service provider24 or its agent in the United Kingdom (or in an EEA State, in the case of a TA PI firm or a TA RAISP firm with respect to services provided into the United Kingdom)30.

99
DISP 1.1.10ABDRP

24The complaints reporting directions apply to a payment service provider that is not a firm in respect of complaints from payment service users concerning activities carried on from an establishment maintained by that payment service provider or its agent in the United Kingdom (or in an EEA State, in the case of a TA PI firm or a TA RAISP firm with respect to services provided into the United Kingdom)30.

DISP 1.1.10BGRP
  1. (1)

    8In this sourcebook, the term payment service provider does not include credit institutions24 (which are covered by this sourcebook as firms), but it does includesmall electronic money institutions and registered account information service providers24.1339

    13391339
  2. (2)

    [deleted]24

    8

Application to electronic money issuers that are not firms

DISP 1.1.10CRRP

1339This chapter (except 24the complaints reporting rules, and the complaints data publication rules) applies to an electronic money issuer that is not a firm24 in respect of complaints from eligible complainants concerning activities carried on from an establishment maintained by that electronic money issuer24 or its agent in the United Kingdom (or in an EEA State, in the case of a TA EMI firm with respect to services provided into the United Kingdom)30.

DISP 1.1.10CADRP

24The complaints reporting directions apply to an electronic money issuer that is not a firm in respect of complaints from eligible complainants concerning activities carried on from an establishment maintained by that electronic money issuer or its agent in the United Kingdom (or in an EEA State, in the case of a TA EMI firm with respect to services provided into the United Kingdom)30.

DISP 1.1.10DGRP
  1. (1)

    1339In this sourcebook, the term electronic money issuer does not include credit institutions, credit unions or municipal banks (which will be carrying on a regulated activity if they issue electronic money and will be covered by this sourcebook as firms in those circumstances), but it does include small electronic money institutions and persons who meet the conditions set out in regulation 75(1) or regulation 76(1) of the Electronic Money Regulations.

  2. (2)

    [deleted]24

Application to UCITS management companies

DISP 1.1.10ERRP

11For complaints related to collective portfolio management services of a UK UCITS management company for a UCITS scheme or a scheme which, immediately before IP completion day31, was30 an EEA UCITS scheme, DISP 1.1.3R (1) applies, except where modified as follows:

  1. (1)

    the consumer awareness rules, complaints handling rules and complaints record rule apply in respect of complaints from Unitholders rather than from eligible complainants; and

  2. (2)

    [deleted]30

DISP 1.1.10FRRP

[deleted]30

Application to CBTL firms18

DISP 1.1.10GRRP

This chapter (except the complaints record rule, the complaints reporting rules and the complaints data publication rules) applies to CBTL firms in respect of complaints from eligible complainants 19concerning activities carried on from an establishment maintained in the United Kingdom.

19
18
DISP 1.1.10HGRP
  1. (1)

    In this sourcebook, the term CBTL firm does not include a firm. A firm carrying on CBTL business is covered by this sourcebook as a firm.

  2. (2)

    CBTL firms are reminded of their obligation to retain information relevant to demonstrating the firm’s compliance or non-compliance with the requirements of Schedule 2 to the MCD Order.

18

Application to designated credit reference agencies

DISP 1.1.10IRRP

20This chapter (except the complaints record rule, the complaints reporting rules and the complaints data publication rules) applies to a designated credit reference agency in respect of complaints from eligible complainants concerning activities carried on from an establishment maintained by it or its agent in the United Kingdom.

DISP 1.1.10JGRP

20Although designated credit reference agencies are not required to comply with the complaints record rule, they must retain records in accordance with regulation 24 of the Small and Medium Sized Business (Credit Information) Regulations and these can be used to assist the Financial Ombudsman Service should this be necessary.

Application to designated finance platforms

DISP 1.1.10KRRP

22This chapter (except the complaints record rule, the complaints reporting rules, and the complaints data publication rules) applies to a designated finance platform in respect of complaints from eligible complainants concerning activities carried on from an establishment maintained by it or its agent in the United Kingdom.

DISP 1.1.10LGRP

22Although designated finance platforms are not required to comply with the complaints record rule, they must retain records in accordance with regulation 21 of the Small and Medium Sized Business (Finance Platforms) Regulations and these can be used to assist the Financial Ombudsman Service should this be necessary.

Application to firms in relation to a relevant motor finance discretionary commission arrangement complaint

DISP 1.1.10MR

35In relation to a relevant motor finance DCA complaint:

  1. (1)

    DISP 1.6; and

  2. (2)

    DISP 1.9,

apply as modified by DISP App 5 (Relevant motor finance discretionary commission arrangement complaint handling rules).

DISP 1.1.10NG

FSAVC Review

DISP 1.1.11RRP

Where the subject matter of a complaint is subject to a review directly or indirectly under the terms of the policy statement for the review of specific categories of FSAVC business issued by the FSA on 28 February 2000, the complaints resolution rules, the complaints time limit rules, the complaints record rule,9 the complaints reporting rules and the complaints data publication rules9 will apply only if the complaint is about the outcome of the review.

9

Consumer redress schemes

DISP 1.1.11ARRP

12Where the subject matter of a complaint falls to be dealt with (or has properly been dealt with) under a consumer redress scheme, the complaints resolution rules, the complaints time limits rules, the complaints record rule and the complaints reporting rules do not apply.

20Exemptions for firms, payment service providers, electronic money issuers, designated credit reference agencies and designated finance platforms221339

DISP 1.1.12RRP
  1. (1)

    A firm, payment service provider20, electronic money issuer, 22designated credit reference agency20 or designated finance platform22 falling within the Compulsory Jurisdiction which does not conduct business with eligible complainants and has no reasonable likelihood of doing so, can, by written notification to the FCA , claim exemption from the rules relating to the funding of the Financial Ombudsman Service, and from the remainder of this chapter.

    133981339
  2. (2)

    Notwithstanding (1):11

    1. (a)

      DISP 1.1A will continue to apply to MiFID complaints23; and11

    2. (b)

      the consumer awareness rules, the complaints handling rules and the complaints record rule will continue to apply in respect of complaints concerning the provision of collective portfolio management services.11

  3. (3)

    The exemption takes effect from the date on which the written notice is received by the FCA and will cease to apply when the conditions relating to the exemption no longer apply.

DISP 1.1.13GRP

SUP 15.6 refers to and contains requirements regarding the steps that firms must take to ensure that information provided to the FCA is accurate and complete. Those requirements apply to information submitted to the FCA under this chapter.

Application to VJ participants1740

DISP 1.1.15RRP
DISP 1.1.16GRP

Although VJ participants are not required to comply with the complaints record rule, it is in their interest to retain records of complaints so that these can be used to assist the Financial Ombudsman Service should it be necessary.

1740

Outsourcing of complaint handling

DISP 1.1.19GRP
  1. (1)

    This chapter does not prevent:

    1. (a)

      the use by a respondent of a third party administrator to handle or resolve complaints (or both); or

    2. (b)

      two or more respondents arranging a one-stop shop for handling or resolving complaints (or both) under a service level agreement.

  2. (2)

    These arrangements do not affect respondents' obligations as set out in DISP or the provisions relating to outsourcing by a firm set out in SYSC 8 and SYSC 13.

DISP 1.1.20GRP

Further guidance on the application of this chapter is set out in the table in DISP 1 Annex 2.