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On 18 June 2024, LCC Trans-Sending Limited (LCC) entered special administration under the Payment and Electronic Money Institution Insolvency Regulations 2021.
Payment services firm LCC entered special administration on 18 June 2024 and has now ceased trading.
Christine Mary Laverty, Russell Simpson and Jarred Erceg of Grant Thornton UK LLP, have been appointed as joint special administrators.
LCC is authorised and regulated by the FCA to provide payment services, specifically money remittance services, under the Payment Services Regulations 2017 (PSRs).
LCC traded as:
Small World Money Transfer
Small World Financial Services
Express Funds
Global Link
Bayba (UK)
It is also supervised by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for money laundering purposes.
On 10 June 2024, LCC closed to new business and stopped accepting funds from customers.
On being made aware of LCC’s situation, the FCA took steps to protect consumers. On 13 June 2024, LCC signed an undertaking that it will not:
on-board new customers
on-board or register new agents
accept new funds from existing customers
Read the undertaking on our Financial Services Register
Who to contact
If you have money with LCC or have used one of LCC’s agents and have trouble accessing your funds, you should first visit the frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the joint special administrators' website.
If you still have questions you can contact the Small World customer service team.
Phone: +44 (0)20 3198 0387
Email: support@smallworldfs.com
You can also contact our Consumer Helpline.
What is special administration?
The Payment and Electronic Money Institution Insolvency Regulations 2021 introduced a new special administration regime for payment and e-money institutions.
A special administration is similar to an ordinary administration – however the special administrators have an additional objective of returning customer funds as soon as reasonably practicable.
More about agents
LCC had a number of agents who accepted money from customers for them.
If you are an agent holding any customer funds or believe you have commissions owing by LCC, you should first visit theFAQson the joint special administrators' website.
If you still have questions, contact the Small World customer service team.
Phone: +44 (0)20 3198 0387
Email: support@smallworldfs.com
If you are an agent and a customer has asked for a refund of their money, please direct them to the Small World customer service team using the contact details above. You can also direct customers to visit the FAQson the joint special administrators' website.
Are my funds protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)?
No. The FSCS only applies to certain types of activity. This does not include payment services. Under the PSRs, with which regulated payments firms must comply, there are requirements on how customers’ money should be protected, and these requirements are known as ‘safeguarding’.
What is safeguarding?
When LCC provided regulated payment services (specifically, money remittance services), it was required to have appropriate arrangements in place to protect customer funds. The way in which these customer funds need to be protected is set out in the PSRs and they are referred to as safeguarded funds.
There are different ways in which a payment institution can safeguard customer funds–however, the safeguarding requirements apply to LCC’s regulated money remittance activities and LCC must comply with them at all times.
Safeguarding is a key consumer protection measure within the PSRs. The purpose of safeguarding is to protect customer funds if a firm fails. The joint special administrators will carry out an assessment of all funds held by LCC to establish which are safeguarded for customers.
Is the FCA overseeing the special administration?
Following the special administration order, the joint special administrators are responsible for LCC, but LCC continues to be FCA-authorised.
The joint special administrators are officers of the court and need to comply with all insolvency law. The individuals appointed are authorised to act as licensed insolvency practitioners. The joint special administrators have statutory objectives which include engaging with authorities, including the FCA.
We will work with the joint special administrators as appropriate.
Do I need to use a third party to get my money back?
If you are approached by a company offering to help you recover your money, you should proceed with caution. For most of LCC’s customers, there will be no benefit in involving a third party in making a claim.
If you have any questions about the special administration process, please contact the joint special administrators.
Email: SmallWorldUK@uk.gt.com
Be alert to scams
All customers should stay alert to the possibility of fraud.
If you get an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from LCC, the joint special administrators or the FCA, you should end the call straight away and contact the relevant party using the contact details below.
LCC:
Phone: +44 (0)20 3198 0387
Email: support@smallworldfs.com
Joint special administrators:
Email: SmallWorldUK@uk.gt.com
FCAConsumer Helpline
Find out more about protecting yourself from scams.
https://www.fca.org.uk/news/news-sto...administration
