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<p>The Government is committed to improving standards in the debt management industry
to deliver a better deal for consumers and greater transparency for creditors. The
Debt Management Plan Protocol played a crucial role in meeting this objective, working
in complement with the OFT regulatory framework, and paved the way for more robust
regulation of the sector by the FCA.</p><p> </p><p>From 1 April, responsibility for
regulating debt management firms, along with all other consumer credit firms, transferred
from the Office of Fair Trading to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).</p><p> </p><p>Consumers
will be better protected under the new regime - the FCA will:</p><p>· police the gateway
to the market more thoroughly;</p><p>· proactively identify risks to consumers;</p><p>·
focus its supervisory resources on areas most likely to cause consumer harm;</p><p>·
approve individuals in influential roles in firms;</p><p>· operate a flexible and
responsive regime;</p><p>· use its wide enforcement toolkit;</p><p>· and ensure consumers
have access to redress.</p><p> </p><p>The FCA will thoroughly assess every debt management
firm's fitness to trade as part of the authorisation process – debt management firms
will be amongst the first to require authorisation.</p><p> </p><p>The FCA has also
introduced new requirements for debt management firms, including:</p><p>· Prudential
requirements: Debt management firms often hold consumers' money - the FCA is requiring
large debt management firms to hold capital to ensure that consumers don't risk losing
their money if things go wrong.</p><p>· Guidance added that debt management firms
should not allocate more than half the money received from customers in debt management
plans to meeting their fees and charges.</p><p> </p><p>With the new FCA regulatory
regime in place which will greatly improve consumer protection in the debt management
market, the Government decided following discussions with a range of stakeholders
that it was the right time to step away from an active role in the Protocol.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government hopes that the stakeholders involved in the Protocol will continue
to work together to help the FCA monitor the market and drive best practice in the
sector.</p><p> </p>
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