Related provisions for MCOB 6.8.4
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A mortgage intermediary must take reasonable steps to ensure that an illustration which it issues, or which is issued on its behalf, other than that provided by a mortgage lender:(1) is accurate within the following tolerances:(a) no more than one percent or £1, whichever is the greater, below the actual figures charged by the mortgage lender for the following:(i) the total amount payable in Section 5 of the illustration;(ii) the amount payable for every £1 borrowed in Section
It is the responsibility of a mortgage intermediary to ensure compliance with MCOB 5.4.3 R. However, where a firm can show that it was reasonable for it to rely on information provided to it by another person, other than the mortgage lender, that an illustration was within the tolerances described in MCOB 5.4.3 R, he may be able to rely on MCOB 2.5.2 R, if this turns out not to be the case.
The purpose of MCOB 5.4.8 R is not to require a firm to ascertain whether a customer is eligible for a particular regulated mortgage contract before providing an illustration. Instead, the purpose is to ensure that the firm takes into account the information it has obtained from the customer before providing an illustration to the customer.
A firm may satisfy MCOB 5.4.10 R by drawing the customer's attention orally to the importance of reading and understanding the illustration, for example in a face-to-face meeting, or by referring to its importance in a covering letter or electronic communication or other written information that accompanies the illustration.
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 financial promotion2 and be subject to the provisions of MCOB 3 (Financial promotion).2
Where the illustration provided to the customer does not contain an accurate quotation or a reasonable estimate of the payments the customer will need to make in connection with any tied product that the customer must take out with the regulated mortgage contract, and the customer applies for that regulated mortgage contract:(1) the firm must provide the customer with an accurate quotation as soon as possible after he has applied, and in good time before the offer document is
The rules on the content of an illustration at MCOB 5.6 (Content of illustrations) mean that if the regulated mortgage contract requires the customer to take out a tied product, the illustration must include an accurate quotation or a reasonable estimate of the payments the customer would need to make for the tied product (see MCOB 5.6.52 R(2) on a repayment vehicle that is a tied product and MCOB 5.6.74 R on insurance that is a tied product). If it is not possible to include
(1) A firm must provide the customer with an illustration for a regulated mortgage contract before the customer submits an application for that particular regulated mortgage contract to a mortgage lender, unless an illustration for that particular regulated mortgage contract has already been provided.(2) A firm must provide the customer with an illustration for a regulated mortgage contract when any of the following occurs, unless an illustration for that regulated mortgage contract
The effect of the requirements at MCOB 5.3.1 R and MCOB 5.5.1 R(1) is that if a customer's application to enter into a regulated mortgage contract with a mortgage lender, made via a mortgage intermediary, is subsequently passed by that mortgage intermediary to another mortgage lender, then the mortgage intermediary must ensure that the application is amended and the customer is provided with an illustration for the other mortgage lender'sregulated mortgage contract before the
Where a firm has already provided an illustration in accordance with MCOB 5.5.1 R and the terms for the proposed regulated mortgage contract are subsequently materially altered, the firm must ensure that the customer is provided with a revised illustration, before acting on the amendment, when the change occurs at the point at which a customer submits an application for the regulated mortgage contract.
(1) If, at the point an illustration must be provided in accordance with MCOB 5.5.1 R, a firm is uncertain whether the contract will be a regulated mortgage contract, the firm must:(a) provide an illustration; or(b) seek to obtain from the customer information that will enable the firm to ascertain whether the contract will be a regulated mortgage contract.(2) Where (1)(b) applies, an illustration must be provided, unless, on the basis of the information the customer provides,
If the firm has reasonable evidence that the contract is not a regulated mortgage contract and has not provided an illustration before a customer submits an application, and it is subsequently found that the contract is a regulated mortgage contract, there is no requirement to provide a separate illustration at that stage. However, the requirement to integrate an illustration into the offer document at MCOB 6.4.1 R will apply.
Where the customer requests written information from the firm that is specific to the amount that the customer wants to borrow on a particular regulated mortgage contract under MCOB 5.5.1 R(2)(c), the purpose of MCOB 5.5.15 R, MCOB 5.5.16 R and MCOB 5.5.17 G is to ensure that the customer receives an illustration without unnecessary delay. These requirements do not restrict the information that the firm may obtain from the customer after it has provided the customer with an i
In meeting a request under MCOB 5.5.1 R (2)(c), the firm must not delay the provision of the illustration by requesting information other than:(1) the information necessary to personalise the illustration in accordance with MCOB 5.6.6 R, if the firm does not already know it;(2) where the firm acts in accordance with MCOB 5.5.11 R(2), such information as is necessary to ascertain whether or not the contract will be a regulated mortgage contract;(3) where the regulated mortgage
A firm may use information that it already holds on the customer for the purpose of producing the illustration (for example, if it already holds the customer's credit record), providing the use of this information does not delay the customer receiving the illustration and the customer's consent is obtained where appropriate.
If, on the basis of the information obtained from the customer or on the basis of information that the firm already holds on the customer, the firm would do business with the customer, but not on the terms requested, the firm may provide the customer with an illustration in respect of a different regulated mortgage contract if it chooses to do so.
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,
In relation to MCOB 5.6.6 R(3), in orderfor the firm to comply with the principle of 'clear, fair and not misleading' in MCOB 2.2.6, an estimated valuation, where the estimated valuation is not that provided by the customer, must be a reasonable assessment based on all the facts available at the time. For example, an overstated valuation could enable a more attractive regulated mortgage contract to be illustrated on the basis of a lower ratio of the loan amount to the property
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)
MCOB 5.6.6 R sets out minimum requirements. The illustration may be personalised to a greater degree if the mortgage lender or mortgage intermediary wishes, subject to the restrictions on the information that can be obtained from the customer in MCOB 5.5.15 R when the illustration is provided in accordance with MCOB 5.5.1 R(2)(c).
MCOB 5.6.9 R(1) does not require information to be obtained from the customer before providing an illustration in order to ascertain the amount the customer is eligible to borrow. Instead, its purpose is to avoid a firm being in a position where it would otherwise have to provide a customer with an illustration for an amount it knew the customer would not be eligible for, based on whatever information it had obtained from the customer before providing the illustration.
The purpose of the illustration is to provide the customer with details of the cost of borrowing the amount required over the term specified in MCOB 5.6.6 R(2) and MCOB 5.6.6 R(4). Section 12 has been designed specifically to illustrate any additional features of the regulated mortgage contract such as a linked current account, a linked savings account or the availability of unsecured lending. These features should therefore be shown in section 12 and not in section 3 of the
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
MCOB 5.6.27 R sets out some examples of descriptions of interest rate types and rates of interest which must be used in the illustration to comply with MCOB 5.6.25 R(2). If an interest rate is not described in MCOB 5.6.27 R, it must be presented in the illustration in a way that is consistent with the descriptions in MCOB 5.6.27 R.
Where the loan under the regulated mortgage contract is divided into more than one part (for example where part of the loan is a fixed interest rate and part of the loan is a discounted variable interest rate) and the firm displays this in a tabular format in the illustration:(1) the following text must be used to introduce the table 'As this mortgage is made up of more than one part, these parts are summarised below:';(2) each part must be numbered for ease of reference in the
The following information must be included in the description of the interest rate required by MCOB 5.6.42 R(3)(c) except where MCOB 5.6.54 R applies:(1) where the interest rate can change, the word 'currently' must be used to illustrate the current interest rate payable; and(2) where the interest rate changes after a given period the words 'followed by' must be used to indicate this.
Where all or part of the regulated mortgage contract to which the illustration relates is an interest-only mortgage:(1) the illustration must include the sub-heading 'Cost of repaying the capital' with the following text under it:'You will still owe [insert amount of loan on an interest-only basis] 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
Where the loan under the regulated mortgage contract is divided into more than one part (for example, where part of the loan is on a fixed interest rate and part on a discounted variable interest rate) and the firm displays the initial cost of all parts, and the total cost, in a tabular format in the illustration, MCOB 5.6.42 R(3) and MCOB 5.6.46 R do not apply; instead:(1) each part must be numbered for ease of reference in the illustration;(2) the loan amounts must be totalled;(3)
(1) Under the section heading 'Insurance' the illustration must include details of:(a) insurance which is a tied product; and(b) insurance which is required as a condition of the regulated mortgage contract which is not a tied product.(2) A firm may also provide details of insurance which it is optional for the customer to take out under this section heading.(3) It must be clear to the customer which products he is required to purchase under which circumstances (for example, where
(1) If none of the features at MCOB 5.6.94 R are applicable to the regulated mortgage contract to which the illustration relates, the section headed 'Additional features' must be retained, but the sub-headings must not be included and a statement must be added to explain that there are no additional features.(2) Only those features available on the regulated mortgage contract need be included in the illustration.(3) If a firm provides a customer with supplementary information
Under the sub-heading 'Additional secured borrowing', the illustration must provide details of circumstances in which additional secured lending is offered with the regulated mortgage contract that would allow the customer, subject to certain conditions, to increase the amount of the loan on which the illustration is based.
MCOB 9.4.13 R(3) does not require information to be obtained from the customer before providing an illustration in order to ascertain the amount the customer is eligible to borrow or to release from the property8. Instead, its purpose is to avoid a firm being in a position where it would otherwise have to provide a customer with an illustration for an amount it knew the customer would not be eligible for, based on whatever information it had obtained from the customer before providing
Under the sub-heading 'Insurance you must take out through [insert name of mortgage lender or where relevant the name of the mortgage intermediary, or both]' the following information must be included if the lifetime mortgage7 requires the customer to take out insurance that is a tied product either through the mortgage lender or where relevant the mortgage intermediary:7(1) details of which insurance is a tied product;(2) for how long the customer is obliged to purchase the insurance;(3)
If the lifetime mortgage7 does not require the customer to take out insurance as a tied product, the sub-heading "Insurance you must take out through [insert name of mortgage lender and where relevant the name of the mortgage intermediary] "must be retained and a statement must be provided under this heading that the customer is not obliged to take out any insurance through the mortgage lender or, where relevant, the mortgage intermediary.7
Under the heading "What happens if you do not want this mortgage any more?", the illustration must include the following information on the lifetime mortgage:77(1) under the sub-heading "Early repayment charges":(a) an explanation of whether early repayment charges are payable;(b) an explanation of when early repayment charges are payable;(c) an explanation of any other fees that are payable if the lifetime mortgage7 is repaid early, and the current level of these fees;7(d) a
Under the sub-heading "Additional secured borrowing", the illustration must provide details of circumstances in which additional secured lending is offered with the lifetime mortgage7 that would allow the customer, subject to certain conditions, to increase the amount of the loan on which the illustration is based.7
8Under the heading "Risks - important things you must consider" the illustration must also include the following if they apply:(1) for an instalment reversion plan, a statement that if the customer dies in the early years of the plan, income payments will cease and therefore the full expected benefits of the plan will not be obtained;(2) (a) for an instalment reversion plan where there is a regular cash sum payable; and(b) where:(i) the home reversion plan is linked to an investment;
8Under the section heading "What fees must you pay?" the illustration must: (1) itemise all the fees that the customer must pay, excluding any charges for insurance set out in Section 10 of the illustration; and(2) include a statement regarding taxes and costs using the following text: "You may have to pay other taxes or costs in addition to any fees shown here.".
(1) 8If any fees are to be deducted from the amount to be released, this must be stated alongside each fee.(2) If the customer has the option of deducting from the amount to be released any of the fees included in this section, the following text must be included: "If you wish you can deduct [this/these/the {type of fee}] fee(s) from the amount to be released under this home reversion plan. This will reduce the amount you get to £ [insert amount of the amount to be released minus
(1) 8Under the section heading "Insurance" the illustration must include details of:(a) insurance which is a tied product; and(b) insurance which is required as a condition of the home reversion plan which is not a tied product.(2) Under this section heading a firm may also provide details of insurance which is optional for the customer to take out.(3) It must be clear to the customer which products he is required to purchase under which circumstances (for example, where both
8The following information must be included if the home reversion plan requires the customer to take out insurance that is a tied product either through the reversion provider or the reversion intermediary:(1) details of which insurance is a tied product;(2) the name of the firm imposing the requirement for the insurance;(3) for how long the customer is obliged to purchase the insurance;(4) an accurate quotation or a reasonable estimate of any payments the customer needs to make
8This section must: (1) follow Section 11 "What happens if you do not want this home reversion plan any more?", unless the illustration is issued by a reversion intermediary, in which case it must follow Section 12 "Using a home reversion intermediary"; and(2) include the name, address and contact point of the firm providing the illustration.
Subject to MCOB 7.5.2 R, a firm must provide the customer with a statement at least once a year (or, in relation to the first statement, within the first 13 months)2:(1) covering the regulated mortgage contract and any tied product purchased through the firm; and(2) giving information about the existence of any linked borrowing or linked deposits, or any other products purchased through the firm where the payments for those products are combined with the payments on the regulated
Where a tied product is operated separately from the regulated mortgage contract, for example where the premiums on a tied insurance product are not combined with payments on the regulated mortgage contract, the statement required by MCOB 7.5.1 R in relation to the tied product may be provided in a separate communication.
The statement required by MCOB 7.5.1 R must contain the following:(1) except in the case of mortgage credit cards, information on the type of regulated mortgage contract, including:(a) a clear statement of whether the regulated mortgage contract is an interest-only mortgage, or repayment mortgage, or a combination of both; and(b) a prominent reminder, where all of the regulated mortgage contract is an interest-only mortgage, that:(i) the customer's payments to the firm do not
Where a firm provides a customer with a statement containing the information set out in MCOB 7.5.3 R(2) more frequently than once a year, the information set out in MCOB 7.5.3 R(1), MCOB 7.5.3 R(3) and MCOB 7.5.3 R(4) may be provided in a separate communication, but must be provided at least once a year.
Whether a firm is likely to provide the information set out in MCOB 7.5.3 R(2) more frequently than once a year will depend on the nature of the regulated mortgage contract. In determining how frequently to provide that information, a firm should take into account the need to keep the customer informed of any changes in the amount they owe, the customer's expectations and, where appropriate, the duration of the loan. For example, for a mortgage credit card the information might
In some circumstances, a firm may agree a temporary payment plan with a customer that does not involve the customer paying the full amount he owes in each payment period. Where an account in arrears is subject to such a payment plan, and the amount that falls due each payment period is greater than the agreed payment, the firm will still need to show the payments that were due in accordance with MCOB 7.5.3 R(2)(b). However, in these circumstances, the firm may wish to add information
If the tariff of charges has changed since the last annual statement was sent to the customer (or, where the annual statement is the first statement, since the customer entered into the regulated mortgage contract) and a firm has not already sent a revised tariff of charges to the customer, it must include one with the annual statement.
(1) A firm must make an adequate record of each offer document which it issues to a customer in accordance with MCOB 6.(2) The record required by (1) must be retained for a year from the date that the offer document is issued to the customer.(3) If, in accordance with MCOB 6.5 (Information to be provided in the offer document or separately), information is included in a separate document that is sent with the offer document, that information must also be retained as part of the
(1) One consequence of MCOB 6.4.4 R(5)(b) is that the mortgage lender will need to know, for each individual transaction arranged by a mortgage intermediary, whether or not the customer has received advice from that mortgage intermediary.(2) When complying with MCOB 6.4.4 R(5)(b), mortgage lenders may wish to include a statement after the level of service in Section 2 confirming that the level of service described was given by another firm, and explaining that they, as the mortgage
A firm must ensure that the offer document contains a prominent statement:(1) of the period for which the offer is valid;(2) explaining, where the regulated mortgage contract contains features, such as additional unsecured borrowing facilities, which could result in the customer borrowing more money, that where such features are used, the amount of the customer's debt will increase;(3) explaining when any interest rate change on the regulated mortgage contract takes effect. This
A firm must ensure that the contact details section of the offer document (as required by MCOB 5.6.122 R) also includes information on how to complain to the firm about the services provided by the firm in relation to the regulated mortgage contract and whether or not complaints may subsequently be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
In addition to the information required by MCOB 6.4.13 R, a firm may include information about how to complain to any other firm about the services that firm provided to the customer in relation to the regulated mortgage contract. For example, where the customer received advice from another firm, a mortgage lender may include contact details for the firm that provided the advice.
If the firm knows at the point that the offer is made to the customer that its interest in the regulated mortgage contract will be assigned (by sale or transfer) and the firm will no longer be responsible for setting interest rates and charges, the offer document must:(1) state this; and(2) state, where known, who will be responsible for setting interest rates and charges after the sale or transfer.
A firm must give the customer reasonable notice, in advance, of:(1) any changes to the payments that the customer is required to make resulting from interest rate changes; and(2) any material change by the firm (other than changes which come within MCOB 7.6.2 R) to the terms and conditions of the regulated mortgage contract, where that change is permitted without the customer's prior consent.
A firm must notify a customer, as soon as the details are known, of who will be responsible for setting interest rates and charges on the regulated mortgage contract if any interest in the regulated mortgage contract is to be sold, assigned, or transferred, and the firm will no longer be responsible for this.
Where the customer has, in accordance with the terms of the regulated mortgage contract, taken up an additional tranche of borrowing on a mortgage that is released in tranches and this did not require any further approval of the mortgage lender, a firm must provide confirmation as soon as possible of:(1) the new amount owed by the customer under the regulated mortgage contract; (2) the amount of each payment that is due; and(3) the interest rate charged.
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.
If a customer requests, or agrees to, a change to a regulated mortgage contract (other than a change as described in MCOB 7.6.7 R to MCOB 7.6.27 R) that changes the amount of each payment due, a firm must provide the customer with the following information, in a single communication, before the change takes effect:(1) the amount outstanding on the regulated mortgage contract at the date the change is requested;(2) the payment due and the frequency of payments; where it is known
If a number of different firms are involved in relation to the transaction referred to in MCOB 7.6.28 R, having regard to MCOB 2.5.4 R(2), those firms should take reasonable steps to establish which one of them is responsible for providing the customer with the information required by MCOB 7.6.28 R.
It is for the committee of management of a friendly society to decide whether to recommend an amalgamation or a transfer of engagements to the society's members. This section provides some guidance on the procedures to be followed and the information to be provided to a friendly society's members so that they are appropriately informed before they exercise their right to vote on the proposals.
Schedule 15 to the Friendly Societies Act 1992 requires a statement to be sent to every member of a friendly society entitled to vote on a transfer or amalgamation. Among other matters this statement has to cover the financial position of the friendly society and every other participant in the transfer or amalgamation. The members should be provided with sufficient financial information about the respective financial positions of the participants to gain an understanding of the
The financial information provided under SUP 18.4.13 G would normally contain comparative statements of balance sheets at the same date, and include main investments, reserves and funds or technical provisions, with details of the number of members of each participant as at the balance sheet date and the premium income of the relevant fund of each participant during the financial year to which the balance sheet relates. SUP 18.4.15 G to SUP 18.4.18 G give further guidance on the
If the information relates to a position some time in the past, the information should state that there has been no significant change or include a clear description of the changes. Differences in accounting policies and reporting requirements could lead to the loss of some comparability between participants. Such differences and their estimated financial effects (if any) should be explained.
The information should state whether any of the participants has any significant future capital commitments. The FSA will require it to state that the transfer of engagements or amalgamation will not conflict with any contractual commitment by a society, any subsidiary or any body jointly controlled by it and others.
The requirement in MCOB 13.3.1 R(2) for a written policy and procedures is intended to ensure that a firm has addressed the need for internal systems to deal fairly with any customer in financial difficulties. MCOB 13.3.1 R(2) does not oblige a firm to provide customers with a copy of the written policy and procedures. Nor, however, does it prevent a firm from providing customers with either these documents or a more customer-orientated version.
The record referred to in MCOB 13.3.9 R should contain, or provide reference to, matters such as:(1) the date of first communication with the customer after the account was identified as being in arrears;(2) in relation to correspondence issued to a customer in arrears, the name and contact number of the employee dealing with that correspondence, where known;(3) the basis for issuing tailored information in accordance with MCOB 13.7.1 R;(4) information relating to any new payment
If a firm makes an offer to a retail customer with a view to entering into a regulated mortgage contract a which is a distance contract, it must provide the retail customer with the following information with the offer document:(1) the EEA State or States whose laws are taken by the firm as a basis for the establishment of relations with the customer prior to the conclusion of the regulated mortgage contract;(2) any contractual clause on law applicable to the regulated mortgage
A business illustration provided to a customer must:(1) use the headings and prescribed text in MCOB 5 Annex 1 (except as provided in MCOB 5.7) but need not follow the format;(2) include the content required by MCOB 5.6.3 R to MCOB 5.6.130 G (except MCOB 5.6.5 R, MCOB 5.6.101 R, MCOB 5.6.109 R to MCOB 5.6.112 G, MCOB 5.6.120 R and MCOB 5.6.121 R);1(3) use the key facts logo followed by the text 'about this [term used by the firm to describe the borrowing, for example 'mortgage']';(4)
(1) MCOB 5.7.2 R(1) means that firms do not have to follow the ordering of sections set down in MCOB 5.6, although they may choose to do so.(2) In accordance with MCOB 5.7.2 R(8) an example of an appropriate variation to the risk warning would be:'Your home may be repossessed if you are unable to fulfil the terms of this secured overdraft'.(3) A firm may also choose to include other information beyond that required by MCOB 5.6. However, when adding additional material a firm should
(1) When providing a business illustration in accordance with MCOB 5.7.2 R a firm should describe facilities provided under the regulated mortgage contract that are not a loan within section 12 (Additional features) of the business illustration.(2) In complying with (1), a firm should follow the requirements in MCOB 5.6.92 RMCOB 5.6.108 G where these are relevant. Where the facility is of a type not considered in MCOB 5.6.92 RMCOB 5.6.108 G the firm should provide in section 12:(a)
Where a sponsor has been appointed under LR 8.2 by a listed company or an applicant, a sponsor must:(1) provide assurance to the FSA when required that the responsibilities of the listed company or applicant under the listing rules have been met; and(2) guide the listed company or applicant in understanding and meeting its responsibilities under the listing rules anddisclosure rules and transparency rules.