TERMS OF BUSINESS
1. Our dealings with you
We prefer our clients to give us instructions in writing to avoid possible disputes. We will, however, accept oral instructions providing they are subsequently confirmed in a letter.
Any advice we give you will normally be in writing, but if given orally will be recorded on your file.
Occasions can arise where we, or one of our other customers, will have some form of interest in business which we are transacting for you. If this happens, or we become aware that our interests, or those of one of our other customers, conflicts with your interests, we will inform you and obtain your consent before we carry out your instructions.
When we arrange investments for you we will register these in your name unless otherwise agreed in writing. Additionally, we will ensure you receive either a contract note, documents of title, or certificates evidencing title. All such paperwork will be forwarded to you by post as soon as possible after we receive them. Where a number of documents relating to a series of transactions is involved, the documents will normally be retained until the series is completed.
2. TerminationOur authority to act on your behalf may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by either party giving the other written notice to that effect. Such termination will be without prejudice to either party’s obligations to complete transactions already initiated on your instructions whether written or verbal.
3. Client MoneyWe do not handle client’s money and all cheques (other than those for our own charges) should be made payable to the product provider concerned.
4. Professional Indemnity InsuranceWe maintain professional indemnity insurance to the value required by the Financial Services Authority for your protection in the event of any breach in our duty of care to you.
5. Money LaunderingWhere we are required to verify your identity in accordance with the Criminal Justice Act 1993 and Money Laundering Regulations, no investment will be made until such verification has been obtained.
6. Data Protection & RecordsWe are a Data Controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998. In order to advise you properly, we must obtain certain information from you about your financial and personal circumstances in order to assess your suitability for particular products and services. We will also need to maintain certain records and may use such information we hold to let you know about products and services we feel may be of interest to you. Unless we hear to the contrary, we assume that you agree that the personal information we hold about you can be held on computer and/or paper files and that this information can be disclosed to third parties for the purposes of providing our services to you, including:
- Insurance companies, investment houses and associated companies and actuaries for the purpose of processing your applications
- Our regulator, the Financial Services Authority, who have a legal authority to check all our records
- Other professional advisers such as accountants and solicitors who may have referred you to our practice or to whom we may wish to refer you for specialist advice when we consider that it would be in your best interest to do so
- We will not disclose your information to any other parties without your express permission in writing to do so.
About Our Services
1. The Financial Services Authority (FSA)The FSA is the independent watchdog that regulates financial services. It requires us to give you this document. Use this information to decide if our services are right for you.
2. Whose products do we offer?
InvestmentWe offer products from the whole market.
InsuranceWe offer products from a range of insurers for life, critical illness, income protection, payment protection insurance and buildings and contents insurance.
Mortgages We offer mortgages from the whole market.
3. Which service will we provide you with InvestmentWe will advise and make a recommendation for you after we have assessed your needs.
InsuranceWe will advise and make a recommendation for you after we have assessed your needs for critical illness, term assurance, income protection, and payment protection.You will not receive advice or a recommendation from us for buildings and contents insurance. We may ask some questions to narrow down the selection of products that we will provide details on. You will then need to make your own choice about how to proceed.
Mortgages We will advise and make a recommendation for you after we have assessed your needs.
4. What will you have to pay us for our services?
InvestmentBefore we provide you with advice, we will give you our Keyfacts guide 'about the cost of our services'.
Insurance No fee for life, critical illness, income protection, payment protection insurance and buildings and contents insurance.
You will receive a quotation which will tell you about any other fees relating to any particular insurance policy.
Mortgages A minimum fee of £500 for new clients and £350 for existing clients up to a maximum of the lender procuration fee, payable on completion. This fee may be in part offset by commission received from the lender. You will receive a key facts illustration when considering a particular mortgage, which will tell you about any fees relating to it.
Refund of fees
If we charge you a fee, and your mortgage does not go ahead, you will receive:
A full refund if the lender rejects your application.
A refund of £250 or £175 if you decide not to proceed
5. Who regulates us? Messer and Matthews Limited, 1 Riverview Business Park, Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4UX is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Our FSA Register number is 121007
Our permitted business is advising on and arranging investments, pensions, mortgages, and non-investment insurance contracts.
You can check this on the FSA’s Register by visiting the FSA’s website www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting the FSA on 0845 606 1234
6. What to do if you have a complaintIf you wish to register a complaint, please contact us:
In writing: Write to Messer and Matthews Limited, 1 Riverview Business Park, Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4UX.
By phone: Telephone 01483 579123
If you cannot settle your complaint with us, you may be entitled to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
7. Are we covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)? We are covered by the FSCS. You may be entitled to compensation from the scheme if we cannot meet our obligations. This depends on the type of business and the circumstances of the claim.
Investment Most types of investment business are covered for 100% of the first £30,000 and 90% of the next £20,000 so the maximum compensation is £48,000.
InsuranceInsurance advising and arranging is covered for 100% of the first £2,000 and 90% of the remainder of the claim, without any upper limit.
Mortgages Mortgage advising and arranging is covered for 100% of the first £30,000 and 90% of the next £20,000 so the maximum compensation is £48,000.
Further information about compensation scheme arrangements is available from the FSCS.
Last updated: 17th April 2007
For information about the cost of our services please refer to the Key Facts Document which can be found under the "Useful Documents" section.