Check that the company you are using is Regulated?

[Amethyst]

The offence of providing claims management services without authorisation or exemption came into force on 23 April 2007.

Before using any Claims Management company visit CMR: Claims Management Regulation and check the current Authorisation status of the Company.

The company should also display its claim regulation authorisation number on its website and /or and marketing literature.

Only use fully Authorised businesses.

From 1 October 2008 the following activities will require a consumer credit licence:

• debt administration - this applies to those who administer agreements (but do not collect debts) on behalf of creditors or assignees
• credit information services - this applies to businesses that help individuals to locate and correct records about their financial standing held by credit reference agencies and others in the credit and hire industries.

To search the public register, telephone 020 7211 8608 between 9.30am and 4pm Monday to Friday.

Or search the register online - Public Register





As companies will have access to a great deal of personal financial information they also need to be registered with the Information Commisionner under the Data Protection Act.

You can search the public register here - http://www.ico.gov.uk/ESDWebPages/search.asp

If the company you are considering using is not registered, licenced and regulated - then we would strongly advise against using them.

Some companies profess to be solicitors - you can check their status online on the Law Society database - http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/choosin...asolicitor.law


ALSO CHECK THEY ARE MEMBERS OF DEMSA - Members | DEMSA - Debt Managers Standards Association - it gives you at least some form of redress if things go wrong.

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Re: Check that the company you are using is Regulated?

Regulation

Solicitors in England and Wales are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, an independently administered branch of The Law Society of England and Wales and, in order to become a solicitor, must have passed the Academic and Vocational stages of training.
Moreover, solicitors must pay theThe Law Society of England and Wales a practising fee each year in order to keep practising. If they do not do this they are 'non-practising' and may not give legal advice to the public (although they can start practising again at will, unlike those who have been struck off the roll).