Summary of a post.
What is the Financial Services Compensation Scheme?
You often hear the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) mentioned within the realm of UK personal finance. Indeed, in the peer-to-peer lending sector, platforms are at pains to remind consumers that any losses on capital are not covered by the FSCS. Yet, what exactly is this scheme, and what are the rules pertaining to it? That’s what this guide seeks to clarify for you.
An overview of the FSCS
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme is a statutory fund of last resort for customers of specific firms authorised and regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority. If a relevant firm is unable, or likely to be unable, to pay claims against it, the FSCS – a non-profit, independent body – then steps in. The scheme covers deposits, insurance policies, insurance brokering, selected investments, mortgages and mortgage arrangement, and was created back in 2001 under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
A levy is placed on member firms, thus making the FSCS free to consumers. In the past 16 years, nearly 5 million people have been paid out for a collective total of roughly £30 billion. Between 2006 and 2011 (during the years of the financial crisis), the fund paid out nearly £26 billion alone.
FSCS limits
Compensation rules and limits for the scheme were last changed in 2010 so as to bring them into line with the EU (and EEA) deposit guarantee requirements under the European Union directive 94/19/E. Limits are thus linked to those set by the European Commission – currently €100,000.
The following table outlines the limits and percentages of a claim to which an individual is entitled to as at August 2017 (Note: these limits apply per person per firm, and per claim category):
A refund of an individual’s savings is triggered automatically when a member firm goes bust, and payouts on savings are usually made within seven working days thereafter. With regard to general insurance, it is likely that a settlement will be paid out within 14 days of agreement of the claim. For all other categories, compensation is usually made within six months.
Eligibility
Authorised firms to which the above is applicable are usually banks, building societies and credit unions, and, since 2012, it has been a requirement for these institutions to display information about the FSCS both in branch and on their website, while also presenting customers and depositors with this information too.
The FCA and PRA Handbook explains all rules pertaining to eligibility and limits, but the key points are as follows:
- Compensation is paid only when an authorised firm is declared in default
- The scheme only pays out for financial loss, and is designed to protect consumers from losses in the event of a firm holding their money going bust, rather than losses from bad investments
- Consumers are eligible, but the eligibility of other entities such as businesses and charities is subject to certain criteria
- The FSCS applies to firms in the UK, except those in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man (bar a few exceptions)
Peer-to-peer lending and the FSCS
As is the case with losses on other investments such as stocks and shares, losses on peer-to-peer (P2P) loans are not covered by the FSCS, and capital is thus not guaranteed should a borrower default. It is therefore important that all prospective lenders appreciate that there is risk involved with this particular asset class. However, it should also be remembered that it is very much in the interest of P2P platforms to take measures to mitigate this risk, as customer trust and retention is key to long-term success.
Central to this is protecting against borrower default, but, at Lending Works, we go a step further. In the unlikely event of platform failure, we have an agreement in place with an independent third party, who will wind down the loan book and ensure that all loans remain collectable, and are repaid by borrowers as usual. You can therefore rest assured that, even in the worst-case scenario, there are measures in place to help keep your investment safe.
Final thoughts on the FSCS
At a time of political and economic instability, the merits of the FSCS are clear, and the fund has been an important source of reassurance for customers, and even provided a boost to consumer confidence given that depositors can sleep peacefully knowing their savings are guaranteed. The limits of the FSCS should be borne in mind, as should the fact that derisory, sub-inflation savings rates mean that even FSCS-covered money is, in effect, losing value in real terms. However, the FSCS has nonetheless been a force for good, and one of the pillars upon which a more consumer-friendly financial services landscape in the UK can be built.
Related articles:
Our website offers information about saving, investing, tax and other financial matters, but not personal advice. If you're not sure whether peer-to-peer lending is right for you, please seek independent financial advice, and if you decide to invest with Lending Works, please read our Key Lender Information PDF first.
As with all investments, your capital is at risk.
- Summary of a post.
- Summary of a post.
- Summary of a post.
In line with our risk management framework, today we published our Q4 2019 performance update.
As a platform, we take great pride in all that we've achieved since opening our doors for business nearly six years ago. We’ve
Featured
Wednesday’s Budget speech, coupled with the cut to Bank of England rates, represented a decisive response to the coronavirus. Here we analyse the impact it will have on mitigating disruption from Covid-19, along with the long-term implications of this significant fiscal stimulus.
Rumblings from the Treasury ahead of next week's Budget suggest tax grabs will be needed to fund increased spending, and it appears UK enterprise could be in the firing line. Here we articulate why targeting entrepreneurs and small business is ill advised.
In a difficult climate, customer acquisition and lead generation present stern challenges for UK retailers, and a great deal of marketing spend invariably gets directed towards getting feet through the door.
There is a variety of literature and research illustrating the importance of building brand loyalty, albeit with some degree of variance.
Over the last decade, there can be little dispute that the reputation of mainstream banks – and particularly the so-called ‘Big Four’ (HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds and RBS) – is at its lowest ebb.
The idea of peer-to-peer (P2P) lending is a simple one; you lend money to those who wish to borrow, with a view to receiving a great return for doing so.
Most popular
- Summary of a post.
The 2019-20 ISA season has been a damp squib, with banks disinterested in attracting savers’ cash, rates cut, and the stock market in freefall. However, the emergence of the IFISA means alternatives beckon for those seeking a stable middle ground in terms of risk and reward.
In a decade of slow recovery, the rapid rise in asset prices has been the standout. But how sustainable has price growth been, and could we be in the midst of a bubble?
- Summary of a post.
Most people consider income tax to be a given, but in the UK it is barely two centuries old. In this article, we look at how this tax has developed over the years, and also why it is set to remain at the core of our tax system for many decades to come.
Open banking celebrated its second birthday last month, but has the ‘revolution for financial services’ that was promised actually come to pass? In this article, we look at the progress the initiative has made so far, and what the future holds in the face of high levels of scepticism.
Recent
The Lending Works Shield does not give you a right to a payment so you may not receive a pay-out even if you suffer loss. The Lending Works Trustee has absolute discretion as to the amount that may be paid, including making no payment at all. Therefore, investors should not rely on possible pay-outs from the Lending Works Shield when considering whether or how much to invest. For more information click here.