Regulatory Information

Company identity

Regulatory status

[[FCA_STATUS_STATEMENT]]

Financial Conduct Authority reference number: [[FCA_REFERENCE_NUMBER]].

Nature of our service

Finance Business Debt provides information about business debt and business finance options in the United Kingdom. Where a business asks us to, we may introduce it to a third-party finance provider or specialist adviser. To be clear about what we are not:

• We are not a lender. We do not provide finance, and any finance agreement is between you and the provider.
• We do not give regulated debt advice. Debt counselling and debt adjusting are regulated activities, and we do not carry them on. If you need advice about debts you cannot pay, Business Debtline provides free, impartial help.
• We are not an insolvency practitioner. Only a licensed insolvency practitioner can act in a formal insolvency procedure such as a CVA, administration, liquidation or IVA.
• We are not agents of HM Revenue & Customs. We can explain how a Time to Pay arrangement works, but we cannot negotiate with HMRC on your behalf.
• We are not a law firm or accountancy practice.

When business borrowing is regulated

Not all business lending is regulated in the same way. Under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, a credit agreement with a sole trader, a partnership of two or three people, or an unincorporated body is a regulated agreement where the credit does not exceed £25,000 and it is not exempt. Lending to limited companies and limited liability partnerships generally falls outside that regime, whatever the amount.

What this means for you:

• If you are a sole trader or small partnership borrowing £25,000 or less, the provider must hold FCA permission for consumer credit and must follow FCA rules on affordability, pre-contract information and treating customers fairly. Introducing you to such a provider may itself amount to credit broking, which is a regulated activity. Our regulatory status statement above sets out our position.
• If you are a limited company or LLP, the agreement is usually unregulated. You will have fewer statutory protections, and the terms, including any personal guarantee, will be enforced as written. Independent legal advice before signing is sensible.
• Whatever your business type, the FCA's Consumer Duty and rules on financial promotions may still apply to how products are described to you by authorised firms.

How we are paid

[[COMMISSION_STATEMENT]]

Any commission or fee that we would receive in connection with an introduction, and any fee payable by you, will be disclosed to you before the introduction proceeds. You are free to decline an introduction and to approach any provider directly.

Professional memberships

None claimed. Any memberships will be listed here once verified.

Financial promotions

Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 restricts the communication of invitations or inducements to engage in investment activity, which includes certain credit activities, unless the communication is made or approved by an authorised person or an exemption applies. The content of this website has been written to be informational rather than promotional of any specific product or provider, and has been reviewed with section 21 in mind. [To be confirmed: the name of the approver, or the exemption relied on, must be recorded here before publication.]

Data protection

[[COMPANY_LEGAL_NAME]] is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office under number [[ICO_REGISTRATION_NUMBER]]. Our privacy policy explains what personal data we collect, how we use it and your rights.

Complaints

If you are unhappy with any aspect of our service, our complaints procedure explains how to tell us and what will happen next, including when a complaint may be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

See also: Website Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer and About us.