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FEES 9.3 PSR Special Project Fee

FEES 9.3.1R

1The PSR Special Project Fee (the PSPF) is only payable by operators of regulated payment systems, operators of IFR card payment systems, and operators of payment systems under the Payment Services Regulation.

FEES 9.3.2G

1The purpose of this section is to enable the PSR to undertake and fund specific, time-limited projects which relate to one or more persons falling within FEES 9.3.1R in such a way as to promote the interests of payment service users as a whole.

FEES 9.3.3R

1The PSPF becomes payable by a person falling within FEES 9.3.1R if:

  1. (1)

    The PSR is to undertake or is already undertaking work (the Project) in relation to or consequential upon the designation of a new regulated payment system, new IFR card payment system, or new payment system under the Payment Services Regulations.

  2. (2)

    The PSR determines that:

    1. (a)

      the costs for the Project should be met by means of the PSPF, on the basis of an assessment which includes (but is not limited to) the compatibility of the levying of a PSPF in relation to that Project with the regulatory principles applicable to the PSR under section 53 of FSBRA, and the degree of support which the levying of a PSPF would offer to the PSR in discharging its statutory duties; and

    2. (b)

      it is appropriate to charge a PSPF for the Project to an operator of the new regulated payment system, new IFR card payment system, or new payment system under the Payment Services Regulations.

FEES 9.3.4R
  1. (1)

    1For each year in which a Project in connection with which the PSPF is payable is anticipated to be undertaken, the PSPF to be charged is calculated by estimating the total expenditure on the Project during that year, comprising the PSR’s internal costs and any fees and disbursements the PSR reasonably assesses it will be invoiced.

  2. (2)

    Where more than one person is to be charged a PSPF in relation to that Project, the determination undertaken by the PSR pursuant to FEES 9.3.3R(2) will include an assessment of the appropriate allocation of the PSPF between those persons.

FEES 9.3.5G

1Where a person is charged a PSPF in a given year, the PSPF is payable in addition to, and not instead of or as part of, any PSR fee which is payable by that person.

FEES 9.3.6R

1A person who is liable to pay a PSPF must pay it in full to the FCA:

  1. (1)

    by 1 September of the fee year in which the PSPF is invoiced; or

  2. (2)

    if later, within 30 days of the date of the invoice.

FEES 9.3.7G

1A person who is liable to pay a PSPF should pay it to the FCA by direct debit, electronic credit transfer, cheque, Maestro, Visa Debit or by credit card (Visa / MasterCard only) or by any other method of payment which the FCA permits from time to time.

FEES 9.3.8R

1If a person who is liable to pay a PSPF does not pay it in full before the end of the date on which it is due, that person must pay to the FCA:

  1. (1)

    an administrative fee of £250; plus

  2. (2)

    interest on any unpaid part of the fee at an annual rate of 5% above the Official Bank Rate from time to time in force, accruing daily from the date on which the amount concerned became due.

FEES 9.3.9G
  1. (1)

    1The FCA may recover a PSPF as a debt owed to it under paragraph 23(8) of Schedule 1ZA of the Act.

  2. (2)

    The FCA will consider taking action for the recovery (including interest) through the civil courts.

  3. (3)

    In addition, the FCA or PSR may be entitled to take regulatory action in relation to the non-payment of a PSPF. What action, if any, that is taken by the FCA or PSR will be decided upon given the particular circumstances of the case.

FEES 9.3.10R

1Where the actual cost of the regulatory work undertaken by the PSR on a Project referred to in FEES 9.3.3R which is the subject of a PSPF differs in a given year from the total PSPF charged to one or more persons in relation to that Project for that year:

  1. (1)

    Where the actual cost exceeds the total PSPF charged in respect of that Project in that year, the additional cost (or, if more than one person was charged the PSPF in relation to that Project, a share of the additional cost proportionate to the share of the PSPF for that Project allocated pursuant to FEES 9.3.4R(2) to that person) will, in the following year:

    1. (a)

      be added to the PSPF to be invoiced to the person or persons; or

    2. (b)

      if the Project has come to an end, be invoiced as a PSPF to the person or persons.

  2. (2)

    Where the actual cost is lower than the total PSPF charged in respect of that Project in that year, the difference (or, if more than one person was charged the PSPF in relation to that Project, a share of the difference proportionate to the share of the PSPF for that Project allocated pursuant to FEES 9.3.4R(2) to that person) will, in the following year:

    1. (a)

      be deducted from the PSPF invoiced to the person or persons; or

    2. (b)

      if the Project has come to an end, be refunded to the person or persons.