Related provisions for MCOB 4.1.5
1 - 20 of 58 items.
(1) Article 2 of the Ombudsman Transitional Order requires that, irrespective of whether the conditions set out in section 226(2) of the Act are met (see DISP 2.2.1 G), a complaint which:(a) was referred to a former scheme (other than the Personal Insurance Arbitration Service) at any time before commencement, by a person who was at that time entitled, under the terms of the former scheme, to refer such a complaint (whether described in that scheme as the making of a complaint,
The definition of a relevant existing complaint excludes complaints referred to the Personal Insurance Arbitration Service before commencement, which will be completed by the Personal Insurance Arbitration Service, not FOS Ltd. It also excludes complaints about pre-commencement investment business conducted by firms which were formerly authorised by a recognised professional body. These will be handled by the relevant professional body.
An illustration provided to a customer must:(1) contain the material set out in MCOB 5 Annex 1 in the order and using the numbered section headings, sub-headings and prescribed text in MCOB 5 Annex 1, except where provided for in MCOB 5.6;(2) follow the layout of the template in MCOB 5 Annex 1 with:(a) prominent use of the Key facts3 logo followed by the text 'about this mortgage';33(b) each section clearly separated;(c) all the amounts to be paid in Sections 5, 6, 8 and 9 in
As a minimum the illustration must be personalised to reflect the following requirements of the customer:(1) the specific regulated mortgage contract in which the customer is interested;(2) the amount of the loan required;(3) the price or value of the property on which the regulated mortgage contract would be secured (estimated where necessary);(4) the term of the regulated mortgage contract (where the customer is unable to suggest a date at which he expects to repay the loan,
The amount referred to in MCOB 5.6.6 R(2) is:(1) in cases where on the basis of the information obtained from the customer before providing the illustration it is clear that the customer would not be eligible to borrow the amount he requested, an estimate of the amount that the customer could borrow based on the information obtained from the customer; or(2) where the regulated mortgage contract is a revolving credit agreement such as a secured overdraft or mortgage credit card:4(a)
(1) MCOB 5.6.13 R applies where, for example, the illustration covers a regulated mortgage contract that is:(a) divided so that a certain amount of the loan is payable on a fixed interest rate, and a certain amount on a discounted interest rate; or(b) a combination of a repayment mortgage and an interest-only mortgage and the loan is subdivided into different types of interest rate and/or different rates of interest.(2) MCOB 5.6.13 R does not apply where an illustration covers
(1) Unless (2) applies, under the section heading 'Which service are we providing you with?' the prescribed text in MCOB 5 Annex 1 under this heading must be included, with a 'check box' for each statement, one of which must be marked prominently to indicate the level of service provided to the customer.(2) If the level of service described in the illustration is provided by another firm, (1) may be replaced by the following:Under the section heading 'Which service are we providing
Under the section heading 'Description of this mortgage' the illustration must:(1) state the name of the mortgage lender providing the regulated mortgage contract to which the illustration relates (a trading name used by the mortgage lender may also be stated in accordance with MCOB 5.6.2 R(6)), and the name, if any, used to market the regulated mortgage contract;(2) (a) provide a description of the interest rate type and rate of interest that applies in accordance with the format
Under the section heading 'Overall cost of this mortgage' where the regulated mortgage contract has an agreed term for repayment and a regular payment plan (that is, it is not a revolving credit agreement such as a secured overdraft or mortgage credit card, or a regulated mortgage contract where all of the interest rolls up, such as an open-ended bridging loan):(1) the following text must be included in the illustration: 'The overall cost takes into account the payments in Sections
Under the section heading 'Overall cost of this mortgage' where the regulated mortgage contract has no agreed term for repayment, (and a 12 month term has been assumed), or no regular payment plan, or both (for example, a revolving credit agreement such as a secured overdraft or mortgage credit card or a regulated mortgage contract where all the interest rolls up such as an open-ended bridging loan):(1) the following text must be included in the illustration: 'The overall cost
(1) The APR and the total amount payable in MCOB 5.6.34 R must be calculated on the basis of information obtained from the customer under MCOB 5.6.6 R.(2) Where there is a charge to be included in the APR and total amount payable and the precise amount of that charge is not known at the time that the illustration is provided, MCOB 10.3 (Formula for calculating the APR) sets out a number of relevant assumptions to be used. If the method for including the charge is not addressed
Section 6 of the illustration must contain the following information: (1) the loan amount on which the illustration is based. This figure should include all fees, charges and insurance premiums that have been added to the loan in accordance with MCOB 5.6.18 R(2) and MCOB 5.6.18 R(3), and the following text must follow the loan amount:'and include[s] the [fees] [and] [insurance premiums] that are shown in [Section 8] [and] [Section 9] as being added to your mortgage.'(2) the assumed
An example of how the information required by MCOB 5.6.52 R (1), MCOB 5.6.52 R (3) and MCOB 5.6.52 R (5) may be presented is as follows:
Cost of repaying the capitalYou will still owe £Z at the end of the mortgage term. You will need to make separate arrangements to repay this. When comparing the payments on this mortgage with a repayment mortgage, remember to add any money that you may need to pay into a separate savings plan to build up a lump sum to repay this amount. |
|
Savings plan that you do not have to take out through [insert name of mortgage lender or mortgage intermediary] |
Monthly payments |
XYZ savings plan (see separate product disclosure document) |
£C |
What you will need to pay each month including the cost of a savings plan to repay the capital |
|
36 payments at a fixed rate currently x% followed by: |
£(A+C) |
264 payments at a variable rate currently y%. |
£(B+C) |
(1) If a higher lending charge is payable by the customer, the following text must be used to describe such a charge for the purposes of MCOB 5.6.69 R:'A higher lending charge is payable because you are borrowing [insert the ratio of the mortgage amount (from MCOB 5.6.6 R(2)) to the property's price or value (from MCOB 5.6.6 R(3))] of the property's [estimated] [price/value].'(2) If the customer has asked for any fees to be added to the loan, this must be stated alongside each
The following information must be included under the sub-heading 'Insurance you must take out as a condition of this mortgage but that you do not have to take out through [insert the name of the mortgage lender, or where relevant the name of the mortgage intermediary, or both]':(1) if the regulated mortgage contract requires the customer to take out an insurance policy (other than that which is a tied product which the customer is obliged to purchase through the mortgage lender,
Under the sub-heading 'Insurance you must take out as a condition of this mortgage but that you do not have to take out through [insert name of mortgage lender or where relevant the name of the mortgage intermediary, or both]' the illustration should not include any insurance policy that may be taken out by a mortgage lender itself to protect its own interests rather than the customer's interests, for example, because of the ratio of the loan amount to the property value.1
Under the heading 'What happens if you do not want this mortgage any more?', the illustration must include the following information on the regulated mortgage contract:(1) under the sub-heading 'Early repayment charges':(a) an explanation that the customer cannot repay the regulated mortgage contract early, if this is the case;(b) an explanation of whether early repayment charges are payable;(c) an explanation of when early repayment charges are payable;(d) an explanation of any
MCOB 2.3.7 R requires any material inducements provided by a mortgage lender, whether directly or indirectly, to a mortgage intermediary or third party (unless the payment only reflects the cost of outsourcing work relating to the processing of mortgage applications by a firm unconnected to the mortgage intermediary) to be quantified in cash terms, which will enable the cash values to be included in the illustration in accordance with MCOB 5.6.117 R.1
4(1) 4The following words must be prominently displayed in the illustration, after the contact details: 'Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage'.(2) If the loan may be secured on property which is not the customer's home the statement in (1) may be amended but only to the extent necessary in order to reflect that fact.4
Section 6 of the illustration must contain the following information:(1) the loan amount on which the illustration is based. Where fees are being added to the loan then this figure should include all fees, charges and insurance premiums that have been added to the loan in accordance with MCOB 5.6.18 R(2) and MCOB 5.6.18 R(3), and the following text must follow the loan amount:'and include[s] the fees [and insurance premiums] that are shown in Section 8 [and Section 9] as being
The illustration provided in accordance with MCOB 7.6.7 R must:(1) be based on the amount of the further advance only;(2) use the term 'additional borrowing' in place of the term 'mortgage' where appropriate throughout the titles and text of the illustration;(3) include an additional section headed: 'Total borrowing' and numbered '7a' after Section 7, including the following text:(a) "This section gives you information about how your mortgage will be affected by taking out this
For the purposes of MCOB 7.6.9 R(3) and (4):(1) a customer's existing mortgage includes a mortgage entered into prior to 31 October 2004 as well as a regulated mortgage contract;(2) the frequency of payments is that in MCOB 5.6.40 R; and (3) a firm may generally rely on information provided by the customer unless, taking a common-sense view of this information, it has reason to doubt it.
Where not all of the mortgage interest rates described in accordance with MCOB 5.6.25 R(2)(a) apply for the term of the loan part to which they apply, the firm must disclose the amount that will be paid in each instalment when complying with MCOB 7.6.9 R(3)(b), including the following information:(1) when a change in payment will occur;(2) the reason for the change in payment; and(3) confirmation that the payment illustrated assumes rates will not change.
MCOB 7.6.14 R allows the firm to make changes to wording and to add, remove or alter information that would otherwise be misleading for the customer. For example, the firm may add text to let the customer know if conditions applying to the original mortgage do not apply to the additional borrowing, such as 'The early repayment charges applying to your existing loan do not apply to this additional borrowing.'
(1) (In the case of a business illustration), MCOB 5.6.16 R is replaced with the following: "Section 1: 'About this illustration' Under the section heading 'About this illustration', the following text must be included:'We are required by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) - the independent watchdog that regulates financial services - to provide you with this illustration.' "(2) (In all other cases), MCOB 5.6.16 R is replaced with the following; "Section 1: 'About this illustration'
(1) Where the further advance for which the customer has applied is in the form of an annual insurance premium secured by a first legal charge, a firm:(a) may, instead of providing an illustration in accordance with MCOB 7.6.7 R, provide confirmation of the matters required by MCOB 7.6.5 R; and(b) where (a) applies use the following text:"Your annual insurance premium has been/will be added to your mortgage account [unless you pay it by dd/mm/yy]. If you choose to pay it in full
In the FSA's view, the circumstances in which a person is giving advice on the borrower varying the terms of a regulated mortgage contract so as to vary his obligations under the contract include (but are not limited to) where the advice is about:(1) the borrower obtaining a further advance secured on the same land as the original loan; or(2) a rate switch or a product switch (that is, where the borrower does not change lender but changes the terms for repayment from, say, a variable
Typical recommendations and whether they will be regulated as advice under article 53A of the Regulated Activities Order
This table belongs to PERG 4.6.5 G and PERG 4.6.6 G.
Recommendation |
Regulated or not? |
I recommend you take out the ABC Building Society 2 year fixed rate mortgage at 5%. |
Yes. This is advice which steers the borrower in the direction of a particular mortgage which the borrower could enter into. |
I recommend you do not take out the ABC Building Society 2 year fixed rate mortgage at 5%. |
Yes. This is advice which steers the borrower away from a particular mortgage which the borrower could have entered into. |
I recommend that you take out either the ABC Building Society 2 year fixed rate mortgage at 5% or the XYZ Bank standard variable rate mortgage. |
Yes. This is advice which steers the borrower in the direction of more than one particular mortgage which the borrower could enter into. |
I recommend you take out (or do not take out) an ABC Building Society fixed rate mortgage. |
This will depend on the circumstances. If, for example, the society only offers one such mortgage, this would be a recommendation intended implicitly to steer the borrower in the direction of that particular mortgage which the borrower could enter into and therefore would be advice. |
I suggest you take out (or do not take out) a mortgage with ABC Building Society. |
No. This is not advice which steers the borrower in the direction of a particular mortgage which the borrower could enter into. However, if the society only offers one mortgage, this would be a recommendation intended implicitly to steer the borrower in the direction of that particular mortgage which the borrower could enter into and therefore would be advice. |
I suggest you change (or do not change) your current mortgage from a variable rate to a fixed rate. |
No in respect of the advice about rate type, as this does not steer the borrower in the direction of a particular mortgage which the borrower could enter into. Yes in respect of the advice about varying the terms of the particular mortgage that the borrower had already entered into. |
I suggest you take out (or do not take out) a variable rate mortgage. |
No. This is not advice which steers the borrower in the direction of a particular mortgage which the borrower could enter into. |
I recommend you take out (or do not take out) a mortgage. |
No. This is not advice which steers the borrower in the direction of a particular mortgage which the borrower could enter into. |
I would always recommend buying a house and taking out a mortgage as opposed to renting a property. |
No. This is an example of generic advice which does not steer the borrower in the direction of a particular mortgage that he could enter into. |
I recommend you do not borrow more than you can comfortably afford. |
No. This is an example of generic advice. |
If you are looking for flexibility with your mortgage I would recommend you explore the possibilities of either a flexible mortgage or an off-set mortgage. There are a growing number of lenders offering both. |
No. This is an example of generic advice. |
In the FSA's view, advice requires an element of opinion on the part of the adviser which steers or is intended to steer a borrower or potential borrower in the direction of one or more particular mortgages. In effect, it is a recommendation as to a course of action. Information on the other hand, involves objective statements of facts and figures.
Information relating to entering into regulated mortgage contracts may often involve one or more of the following:(1) an explanation of the terms and conditions of a regulated mortgage contract, whether given orally or in writing or by providing leaflets and brochures;(2) a comparison of the features and benefits of one regulated mortgage contract with another;(3) the production of scripted questions for the borrower to use in order to exclude options that would fail to meet his
In the FSA's opinion, however, such information is likely take on the nature of advice if the circumstances in which it is provided give it the force of a recommendation as described in PERG 4.6.10 G. Examples of situations where information provided by a person ('P') are likely to take the form of advice are given below.(1) P provides information on a selected, rather than balanced and neutral, basis that would tend to influence the decision of the borrower. This may arise where
Scripted questioning involves using any form of sequenced questions in order to extract information from a person with a view to facilitating the selection by that person of a mortgage or other product that meets his needs. A decision tree is an example of scripted questioning. The process of going through the questions will usually narrow down the range of options that are available. Scripted questions must be prepared in advance of their actual use.
Article 4(2) of the Ombudsman Transitional Order requires an Ombudsman to extend the time limits set under DISP 2.3.1 R(1)(b) and (c) in respect of a relevant existing complaint where the effect of that extension is that the time limit applying to the complaint is the same as that which would have applied under the former scheme in question as it had effect immediately before commencement.
Under the section heading "Description of this mortgage" the illustration must:(1) state the name of the mortgage lender providing the regulated lifetime mortgage contract to which the illustration relates (a trading name used by the mortgage lender may also be stated in accordance with MCOB 9.4.2 R(6)), and the name, if any, used to market the regulated lifetime mortgage contract;(2) include a statement describing the regulated lifetime mortgage contract;(3) if the regulated
An explanation of the table required in accordance with MCOB 9.4.51 R must be shown in a box immediately under the heading using the following text:"This shows how the amount(s) paid to you and the interest and any fees that we charge mount up over [insert number of years estimated in accordance with MCOB 9.4.10 R or MCOB 9.4.12 R] years. It has been calculated using the current interest rate(s) of [insert interest rate(s)]. Interest is added to the amount you owe [insert frequency
Section 10: "How the value of your home could change" must contain the following text in addition to the text in accordance with MCOB 9.4.62 R or MCOB 9.4.63 R:"Based on the estimated value of your home now of [insert amount from MCOB 9.4.6 R(3)] this example shows what the value of your home would be after [insert term from MCOB 9.4.10 R or MCOB 9.4.12 R] years if the value went up by 1% each year or went down by 1% each year. Remember also that the mortgage may run for more
(1) If a higher lending charge is payable by the customer, the following text must be used to describe such a charge for the purposes of MCOB 9.4.68 R:"A higher lending charge is payable because you are borrowing [insert the ratio of the mortgage amount (from MCOB 9.4.13 R) to the property's price or value (from MCOB 9.4.6 R(3))] of the property's [estimated] [price/value]."(2) If the customer has asked for any fees to be added to the loan, this must be stated alongside each fee.2(3)
The following information must be included under the sub-heading "Insurance you must take out as a condition of this mortgage but that you do not have to take out through [insert name of mortgage lender or where relevant the name of the mortgage intermediary, or both]":(1) if the regulated lifetime mortgage contract requires the customer to take out an insurance policy (other than that which is a tied product which the customer is obliged to purchase through the mortgage lender
Under the sub-heading "Insurance you must take out as a condition of this mortgage but that you do not have to take out through [insert name of mortgage lender or where relevant the name of the mortgage intermediary, or both]", the illustration should not include any insurance policy that may be taken out by a mortgage lender itself to protect its own interests rather than the customer's interests, for example, because of the ratio of the loan amount to the property value.1
MCOB 2.3.7 R requires any material inducements provided by a mortgage lender, whether directly or indirectly, to a mortgage intermediary or third party (unless the payment only reflects the cost of outsourcing work relating to the processing of mortgage applications by a firm unconnected to the mortgage intermediary) to be quantified in cash terms, which will enable the cash values to be included in the illustration in accordance with MCOB 9.4.123 R.1
A firm that enters into a regulated lifetime mortgage contract with a customer where interest payments are required (whether or not they will be collected by deduction from the income from an annuity or other linked investment product) must provide the customer with the following information before the customer makes the first payment under the contract:(1) the amount of the first payment required;(2) the amount of the subsequent payments;(3) the method by which the payments will
A firm that enters into a regulated lifetime mortgage contract which is a drawdown mortgage, with fixed payments to the customer, must provide the customer with the following information before the first payment is drawn down by the customer:(1) the amount of the first payment to be made;(2) the amount of subsequent payments, if different; (3) the method by which the payment will be made (for example, by transfer to the customer's bank account) and the date of issue of the first
Where the regulated lifetime mortgage contract is a drawdown mortgage and the customer can choose the amount and frequency of the payments they receive, or the amount and frequency of payments can vary for other reasons (for example in line with interest rates) the firm must provide the customer with the following information before the first payment is drawn down by the customer:(1) (a) where the customer can choose the amount and frequency of the payments they receive, details
Where the regulated lifetime mortgage contract provides for a lump sum payment to be made to the customer, and all or part of the interest will be rolled up during the life of the mortgage, the firm must provide the customer with the following information before the customer makes the first payment under the contract, or if no payments are required from the customer, within seven days of completion of the mortgage:(1) if no payments are required from the customer, confirmation
If, notwithstanding the steps taken by a firm to comply with MCOB 1.6.3 R, it transpires that a mortgage which the firm has treated as unregulated is in fact a regulated mortgage contract, the firm must as soon as practicable after the correct status of the mortgage has been established:(1) contact the customer and provide him with the following information in a durable medium:(a) a statement that the mortgage contract is a regulated mortgage contract subject to FSA regulation,
(1) MCOB 1.6.4 R(2) means, for example, that if a firm discovered immediately after completion that a loan was a regulated mortgage contract, the firm would be required to comply with MCOB 7.4 (Disclosure at the start of the contract).(2) Although MCOB 1.6.4 R recognises that firms may become aware that a mortgage is a regulated mortgage contract at a late stage, the FSA expects this to be an extremely rare occurrence. It could arise, for example, if a firm has acted on the understanding,
The statement required by MCOB 7.5.1 R must contain the following information:(1) except in the case of mortgage credit cards, information on the type ofregulated lifetime mortgage contract, (for example, fixed rate or variable rate) including a clear statement of how the firm expects the capital, or capital and interest (whichever is applicable) to be repaid (for example, from the proceeds of the sale of the property);(2) details of the following transactions and information
A firm must give the customer reasonable notice, in advance, of any of the following:(1) any changes to the payments that the customer is required to make (where payments are required, and whether or not they are collected by deduction from the income provided by a linked investment product such as annuity) resulting from interest rate changes;(2) the exercising of the firm's right (if allowed by the terms of the regulated lifetime mortgage contract ) to enter the property to
If a customer requests, or agrees to, a change to a regulated lifetime mortgage contract (other than a change as described in MCOB 7.6.7 R to MCOB 7.6.27 R (as modified by MCOB 9)) that changes the amount paid to the customer under a drawdown mortgage, or the amount that the customer will owe under a roll-up of interest mortgage, or both, a firm must provide the customer with the following information, in a single communication, before the change takes effect:(1) the amount outstanding
MCOB 5.4.13 R places no restrictions on the provision of information that is not specific to the amount the customer wants to borrow, for example, marketing literature including generic mortgage repayment tables or graphs illustrating the benefits of making a regular overpayment on a flexible mortgage. Such literature may, however, constitute a qualifying credit promotion and be subject to the provisions of MCOB 3 (Financial promotion).
Further guidance on the arranging activities as they relate toregulated mortgage contracts and contracts of insurance is in PERG 4.5 (Arranging regulated mortgage contracts) and PERG 5.6 (The regulated activities: arranging deals in, and making arrangements with a view to transactions in, contracts of insurance) respectively.
If a firm ceases to be a participant firm part way through a financial year of the compensation scheme:(1) it will remain liable for any unpaid levies which the FSCS has already made on the firm; and(2) the FSCS may make a levy upon it (which may be before or after the firmhas ceased to be a participant firm, but must be before it ceases to be an authorised person) for the costs which it would have been liable to pay had the FSCS made a levy on all participant firms at the time
The purpose of this chapter is to establish the requirements for the proper calculation of the APR. As a cost measure which facilitates comparisons between similar mortgages offered on a similar basis, the APR is an integral element of the rules relating to qualifying credit promotions and disclosure.
(1) If, in any communication:(a) made to a private customer or, in the case of a communication relating to non-investment insurance contracts, a retail customer,1(b) in connection with a regulated activity carried on from an establishment of the firm (or its appointed representative) that is not in the United Kingdom;the firm indicates that it is an authorised person, it must also, where relevant, and with equal prominence, give the information in (2) in writing.(2) The information
A firm may have entered into a mix of regulated mortgage contracts and non-regulated mortgage contracts with a customer secured on the same property. In such circumstances, if the regulated mortgage contract is in arrears, notwithstanding that the overall position in respect of the mortgages generally is not in arrears, the firm will need to comply with all the requirements of MCOB 13 in respect to the regulated mortgage contract. Where this involves providing the customer with