Claims management company
In
History
The abolition of
- Advertising for cases;
- Advising a claimant in respect of claims;
- Certain large-scale referral activities;
- Investigating the circumstances, merits or foundation of a claim, with a view to litigation;
- Representing a claimantto any body, in writing or orally;
— in respect of claims:
- For personal injuries;
- Under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme;
- For certain industrial injuries;[7]
- In relation to employment law;
- For housing disrepair;
- In relation to financial products or services.
Regulation
In
It is aSolicitors, barristers, advocates and some other lawyers are exempt, as are:[13]
- Persons regulated by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;
- not for profitbodies;
- Motor Insurers' Bureau;
- Medical Protection Society, Medical Defence Union, and Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland; and
- Trade Unions.
Incidental referrals to lawyers are also exempt[13] as are services in respect of counterclaims, or claims for contribution or indemnity.[14]
Claims Management Services Regulator
The Claims Management Services Regulator was created by section 11 of the Compensation Act 2006.[15] The post of Regulator was held by the Secretary of State for Justice to authorise and regulate claims management companies and:[16]
- Set and monitor standards of competence and professional conduct;
- Promote good practice, in particular as to the provision of information about charges and other matters to users;
- Promote practices likely to facilitate competition;
- Ensure that arrangements are made for the protection of users, including complaints handling.
The rules and procedure for authorisation are defined in the Compensation (Claims Management Services) Regulations 2006.
A person may
When section 161 of the Legal Services Act 2007 comes into force, claims management services and the Regulator will fall under the supervision of the Office for Legal Complaints and its ombudsman scheme. It has been suggested that the first complaints will not be handled until 2010.[21]
Claims Management Services Tribunal
The Claims Management Services Tribunal was created by section 12 of the Compensation Act 2006 to hear:[20]
- appeals from persons against a decision of the Regulator about authorisation; and
- after section 13(2) of the 2006 Act comes into force, references from the Claims Management Services Regulator in respect of complaints or questions about the professional conduct of a claims management company.
In January 2010 the Tribunal was abolished and its functions transferred to the First-tier Tribunal.
Transfer of Regulation to the FCA
On 1 April 2019, regulation of claims management companies was transferred to the Financial Conduct Authority. Claims management companies previously regulated by the Claims Management Services Regulator, and that wished to continue trading, had to register for temporary permission by 31 March 2019.[22]
References
- ^ Compensation Act 2006, s.4(2)
- ^ Robert Watts (11 June 2003). "This disaster was no Accident". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 August 2003. Retrieved 21 March 2008.
- ^ Better Regulation Task Force (2004) pp. 11-17
- ^ Department for Constitutional Affairs (2004)
- ^ Office of Public Sector Information (2006)
- ^ Compensation (Regulated Claims Management Services) Order 2006, SI 2006/3319
- ^ Compensation (Specification of Benefits) Order 2006, SI 2006/3321
- ^ Compensation Act 2006, s.4(1)
- ^ Compensation Act 2006 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2007, SI 2007/922
- ^ Compensation Act 2006, s.7
- ^ Compensation Act 2006, s.11
- ^ Claims Management Companies Q&A, [1]
- ^ a b Compensation (Exemptions) Order 2007, SI 2007/209
- ^ Compensation (Exemptions) (Amendment) (No.1) Order 2007, SI 2007/1090
- ^ "Compensation Act 2006". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
- ^ Compensation Act 2006, s.11
- ^ SI 2006/3322
- ^ Compensation Act 2006, s.8
- ^ Compensation Act 2006, s.10
- ^ a b Compensation Act 2006, s.13
- ^ Gibb, F. (8 November 2007). "Who will police the lawyers now? Only a non-lawyer need apply ..." The Times. London. Retrieved 4 March 2008.
- ^ "Claims management companies: Our regulation". 5 December 2018.
Bibliography
- Better Regulation Task Force (2004) Better Routes to Redress, Cabinet Office
- Department of Constitutional Affairs (2004) Making Simple CFAs a Reality, CP22/04
- Office of Public Sector Information (2006) Explanatory Notes to Compensation Act 2006, TSO
External links
- "Complaining about a legal adviser or claims management company". Directgov. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- "Compensation for accidents and injuries: using solicitors and claims companies". Directgov. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
- "Claims Management Regulation". Ministry of Justice. Retrieved 22 June 2011.