The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001

[F1 Operating an electronic system in relation to lending U.K.

36H.— (1) Where the [F2 conditions in paragraphs (2), (2A) and (2C) are] satisfied, operating an electronic system which enables the operator (“A”) to facilitate persons (“B” and “C”) becoming the lender and borrower under an article 36H agreement is a specified kind of activity.

(2) The condition [F3 in this paragraph] is that the system operated by A is capable of determining which agreements should be made available to each of B and C (whether in accordance with general instructions provided to A by B or C or otherwise).

[F4 (2A) The condition in this paragraph is that A, or another person (“X”) acting under an arrangement with A or at A’s direction, undertakes to—

(a) receive payments in respect of interest and capital due under the article 36H agreement from C, and

(b) make payments in respect of interest and capital due under the article 36H agreement to B.

(2B) For the purposes of paragraph (2A)—

(a) an agreement by A to appoint X to perform the activities in that paragraph is to be treated as an undertaking by A within the meaning of that paragraph;

(b) it is immaterial that—

(i) payments may be subject to conditions;

(ii) A, or X, may be entitled to retain a portion or the entirety of any payment received from C.

(2C) The condition in this paragraph is that A, or another person (“X”) acting under an arrangement with A or at A’s direction, undertakes to perform, or A undertakes to appoint or direct another person to perform either or both of the following activities—

(a) taking steps to procure the payment of a debt under the article 36H agreement;

(b) exercising or enforcing rights under the article 36H agreement on behalf of B.]

(3) The following are specified kinds of activities if carried on by A in the course of, or in connection with, the carrying on by A of the activity specified by paragraph (1)—

(a) presenting or offering article 36H agreements to B and C with a view to B becoming the lender under the article 36H agreement and C becoming the borrower under the article 36H agreement,

(b) furnishing information relevant to the financial standing of a person (“Y”) with a view to assisting in the determination as to whether another person should—

(i) enter into, as the lender, an article 36H agreement with Y, or

(ii) assume the rights of the lender under an article 36H agreement under which Y is the borrower,

(c) taking steps to procure the payment of a debt due under an article 36H agreement,

(d) performing duties, or exercising or enforcing rights under an article 36H agreement on behalf of the lender,

(e) ascertaining whether a credit information agency (within the meaning given by article 89A(6)) holds information relevant to the financial standing of an individual or relevant person,

(f) ascertaining the contents of such information,

(g) securing the correction of, the omission of anything from, or the making of any other kind of modification of, such information, or

(h) securing that a credit information agency which holds such information—

(i) stops holding the information, or

(ii) does not provide it to any other person.

(4) An “article 36H agreement” is an agreement between one person (“the borrower”) and another person (“the lender”) by which the lender provides the borrower with credit (within the meaning given by article 60L) and in relation to which the condition in either paragraph (5) or (6) is satisfied.

(5) The condition in this paragraph is that the lender is an individual or relevant person.

(6) The condition in this paragraph is that the borrower is an individual or relevant person and—

(a) the lender provides the borrower with credit less than or equal to £25,000, or

(b) the agreement is not entered into by the borrower wholly or predominantly for the purposes of a business carried on, or intended to be carried on, by the borrower.

(7) Paragraphs (5) and (6) of article 60C (exempt agreements: exemptions relating to the nature of the agreement) apply for the purposes of paragraph (6)(b).

(8) It is immaterial for the purposes of this article whether the lender is carrying on a regulated activity.

(9) In this article, “relevant person” means—

(a) a partnership consisting of two or three persons not all of whom are bodies corporate, or

(b) an unincorporated body of persons which does not consist entirely of bodies corporate and is not a partnership.

[F5 (10) For the purposes of the application of section 22(1) of the Act (regulated activities) to an activity of a kind specified by this article, article 88D (credit agreement), and article 73 (investments: general) in so far as it relates to that article, has effect as if the reference to a credit agreement in article 88D includes a reference to an article 36H agreement.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. II Ch. 6A, 6B inserted (26.7.2013 for specified purposes, 1.4.2014 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No.2) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1881), art. 1(2)(6), 4

F2 Words in art. 36H(1) substituted (14.2.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2014 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/366), art. 1(3)(4), 2(9)(a)

F3 Words in art. 36H(2) inserted (14.2.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2014 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/366), art. 1(3)(4), 2(9)(b)

F4 Arts. 36H(2A)-(2C) inserted (14.2.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2014 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/366), art. 1(3)(4), 2(9)(c)

F5 Art. 36H(10) inserted (14.2.2014 for specified purposes, 1.4.2014 in so far as not already in force) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/366), art. 1(3)(4), 2(9)(d)