FCA Issues Update on Tailored Support Guidance Amid Ongoing Crisis

The guidance confirms that, from April 01, 2021, subject to any relevant government rules that prevent enforced repossessions for public health reasons, firms taking steps to enforce repossession of properties should only do so as a last resort in accordance with the FCA rules, updated guidance, and normal legal processes. The guidance also highlights that, as the deadline to apply for a payment deferral ends on March 31, 2021, FCA wants to reassure consumers in financial difficulty that support will continue to be available under the Tailored Support Guidance. FCA also published a report on how the firms are implementing this tailored support. The report is relevant for mortgage lenders and administrators, smaller deposit-taking lenders, non-bank mortgage lenders, credit card and loan providers, high-cost credit firms, and motor finance firms. The report found that firms have progressed well in implementing the Tailored Support Guidance and have acted quickly to build their capacity, though the report also highlights the improvement areas for firms. The following are the key findings of the report:  

• Consumers have generally been able to get support as they come to the end of a payment deferral. FCA has not identified any systemic issues with firms' ability to meet the demand from customers seeking further help. The support identified in the report has typically been short term in nature, given the uncertainty of customers’ financial circumstances during the pandemic.
• All assessed firms had vulnerable customer policies in place and, as noted, 94% of mortgage firms and 64% of credit firms had reviewed or added to these policies light of the pandemic. Firms are encouraged to review the recently published guidance on vulnerable consumers and to embed relevant aspects into their processes to ensure that vulnerable customers are treated fairly.
• Due to the pandemic, some firms anticipated an increase in demand from customers in financial difficulty and recruited more staff to address that demand. Thus, there has been a significant increase in inexperienced staff helping customers, which may lead to an increased risk of harm. Firms are expected to ensure that all staff members are adequately trained and supervised to ensure that the right support is provided to customers.
• Some firms accelerated plans to automate aspects of the customer support journey. FCA found that, in general, these automated approaches were easy to navigate with minimal steps and helpful menus for customers to select from. However, some firms could improve the ease of access to non-digital support.

Related Links

• News Release
• Final Guidance (PDF)
• Feedback on Proposed Guidance (PDF)
• Key Findings of Report

Keywords: Europe, UK, Banking, COVID-19, Credit Risk, Payment Deferrals, Consumer Credit, FCA