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GEN 7.1 1Application

Who? Where?

GEN 7.1.1RRP

This chapter applies to a firm carrying on activities from an establishment in the United Kingdom.

What?

GEN 7.1.2RRP

This chapter applies where a firm operates a telephone line for the purpose of enabling a consumer to contact the firm in relation to a contract that has been entered into with the firm in the course of, or in connection with:

  1. (1)

    regulated activities; or

  2. (2)

    payment services.

MiFID firm exception

GEN 7.1.3RRP

This chapter does not apply for telephone lines provided in respect of contracts relating to the MiFID business of a firm.

Payment services exception

GEN 7.1.4RRP

This chapter does not apply to2 telephone lines which:

  1. (1)

    enable payment service users to request information to which paragraph (2) of regulation 562 of the Payment Services Regulations applies; or

  2. (2)

    relate to the termination of a framework contract, unless:

    1. (a)

      the framework contract was concluded either for a fixed period of more than 12 months or for an indefinite period; and

    2. (b)

      at least 12 months of the framework contract have expired.

Complaints exception

GEN 7.1.5RRP

This chapter does not apply for telephone lines provided by a respondent for the purpose of enabling an eligible complainant to submit a complaint.

GEN 7.1.6GRP

DISP 1.3 contains rules that apply for telephone lines provided by respondents for the purpose of enabling eligible complainants to submit complaints to a respondent.

Application to firms carrying on credit-related regulated activities

GEN 7.1.7GRP

An effect of GEN 7.1.1R and GEN 7.2.1R is that this chapter applies for contracts by which a firm provides, or agrees to provide, credit broking services. In particular, this chapter applies where a telephone line is operated by a credit broker so that following the entry into a contract for the provision of credit broking services, a customer is able to contact the firm with a view to entering into a credit agreement or a consumer hire agreement.

Related consumer credit rules

GEN 7.1.8GRP

The following provisions of CONC continue to apply where a firm operates a telephone line in respect of the relevant credit-related regulated activities but the call charges rule does not apply (for example, where a telephone line is operated for the purpose of enabling a consumer to contact the firm before a contract has been entered into):

  1. (1)

    CONC 2.5.8R and CONC 2.5.9G (unfair business practices: credit broking);

  2. (2)

    CONC 2.6.3R and CONC 2.6.4G (unfair business practices: debt counselling, debt adjusting and providing credit information services);

  3. (3)

    CONC 3.3.9G (financial promotions and communications);

  4. (4)

    CONC 3.9.5R and CONC 3.9.6G (financial promotions and communications in relation to debt counselling and debt adjusting);

  5. (5)

    CONC 7.9.5R (arrears, default and recovery); and

  6. (6)

    CONC 8.7.6R (charging for debt counselling, debt advice and related services).