New Measures to Combat Loan Sharks

New measures to tackle criminals illegally lending money were announced today by Consumer Affairs Minister Gareth Thomas.

The national hotline - which is confidential - is now up and running and gives consumers one single point of contact.

A new website has also been launched providing information on managing finances and how to borrow money safely.

The Stop Loan Sharks teams have successfully prosecuted more than 60 people with a further 90 prosecutions underway. This amounts to nearly 40 years of custodial sentences for illegal lending and associated crimes.

The teams have supported more than 7,000 victims of illegal money lenders. The first two pilot schemes were launched in September 2004 and then rolled out to every region of England, Wales and Scotland in 2007.

Their work has meant around £14million has been saved for consumers who were locked in illegal deals with these money lenders.

Consumer Affairs Minister, Gareth Thomas, said: “Loan sharks fleece hard-earned cash from their victims causing great distress and anguish.

“Calling this hotline gives victims the chance to talk in confidence. They get advice and support and the information provided helps the team to take action to stop illegal money lending.

“The teams are having huge success in bringing these criminals to justice and are saving consumers significant amounts of money.”

The national hotline - which is confidential - is: 0300 555 2222. And the website is: http://www.direct.gov.uk/stoploansharks Consumers can also text ‘loan (space) shark (space) and your message’ to 60003.

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How customers of Icelandic banks can access their funds

Do you bank in Iceland?

Business Link, BERR, and HM Treasury have worked together to answer your questions

Important Definitions
The arrangements are different for depositors who are eligible for compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (”retail” depositors) and those who are not, so it is important that you understand which description applies to you.

The Financial Servcies Compensation Scheme (FSCS) covers most private individuals and small businesses and some charities according to rules set by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

The general criteria from the FSCS is that to be defined as a smaller company two of the following need to apply to you:

• your turnover should not exceed £6.5 million
• your balance sheet total should not be more than £3.26 million
• your total number of employees should be less than 50

The criteria for eligibility are set out in more detail in Chapter 4 of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) Compensation Sourcebook, which is part of the FSA Handbook. You can find the FSA Compensation Sourcebook on the FSA website. You can also find information regarding your criteria on the FSCS website or by phone   020 7892 7300  .

If you meet the FSA’s criteria you are eligible for compensation from the FSCS and are referred to as “retail” depositors below.

Questions and Answers

• Will I be able to access funds?
• I have deposits of over £50,000 with one of the banks, have we lost our money?
• How and when can I access my money?
• Exactly what transactions are allowed and what aren’t?
• One of my customers claims to be affected by the crises and is using this as an excuse not to pay me. How do I check? Can I still invoke my statutory late payment rights?
• Who do I speak to if I have questions not addressed by the answers above or I want more detail?

1. Will I be able to access funds?

The Chancellor has put in place arrangements to ensure that all retail depositors in the Icelandic banks of Landsbanki (including their “Icesave” products), Heritable, and Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander (including their “Edge products”) will receive their money in full.

The following information applies to retail depositors only.

Heritable

Deposits in Heritable have been transferred to ING Direct. These products include the two, three, four, and five year fixed-rate bonds, easy access, online saver, direct saver, 50 plus saver, and the 60, 90 and 120-day notice accounts. You can continue to access your account in the same way as you did previously.

The FSCS understands that a small number of eligible Heritable depositor accounts have not transferred to ING Direct. If this applies to you, you will receive your money in full by applying to the FSCS. The FSCS will be sending these account holders an application form to claim compensation shortly.

Find more details on the FSCS website or by phoning   0207 892 7300  .

Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander

All deposits in Kaupthing under the “Edge” brand have been transferred to ING Direct. You can continue to access your account in the same way as you did previously.

Find more details on the ING Direct website.

A small number of eligible Kauthping depositor accounts have not been transferred to ING Direct. If this applies to you, you will receive your money in full by applying to the FSCS.

Find more information on the FSCS website or by phoning   0207 892 7300  .

Icesave

All retail depositors in Icesave will receive their money in full. The Government is working with the Icelandic Authorities to clarify the position of Icesave and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme are putting in place practical arrangements to allow depositors to receive their money as quickly as possible.

Arrangements are being put in place to ensure that all ISA customers of Icesave will continue to benefit from the tax-free status of their accounts.

The following information applies to all other depositors.

Heritable

Heritable, the UK subsidiary of Landsbanki, is in administration in the UK. Any creditor should contact Heritable on   020 7493 6621  .

Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander

The UK subsidiary of Kaupthing also in administration in the UK and creditors should contact the call centre there on   08451 31 32 33   or   08451 31 32 34  .

Landsbanki and Glitner

Both Landsbanki and Glitner are in receivership in Iceland. The Government is working with the Icelandic authorities to establish what this means for UK creditors.

We will update this site as soon as further information is available.

2. I have deposits of over £50,000 with one of the banks, have we lost our money?

The following information applies to retail depositors only.

If you are an FSCS eligible depositor (as defined above) in the Icelandic banks of Landsbanki (including their “Icesave” products), Heritable, and Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander (including their “Edge products”) you will receive your money in full.

The following information applies to all other depositors.

Heritable

Heritable, the UK subsidiary of Landsbanki is in administration in the UK. Any creditor should contact Heritable on   020 7493 6621  .

Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander

The UK subsidiary of Kaupthing also in administration in the UK and creditors should contact the call centre there on   08451 31 32 33   or   08451 31 32 34  .

Landsbanki and Glitner

Both Landsbanki and Glitner are in receivership in Iceland. The Government is working with the Icelandic authorities to establish what this means for UK creditors.

We will update this site as soon as further information is available.

3. How and when can I access my money?

Heritable

If your funds have been transferred to ING Direct you can continue to access your account in the same way as you did previously.

If you are an FSCS eligible depositor but your account has not been transferred to ING Direct you will receive your money in full by applying to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). The FSCS will be sending these account holders an application form to claim compensation shortly.

Find further details on the FSCS website or by phoning   0207 892 7300  .

If you are not FSCS eligible, the UK subsidiary of Landsbanki is in administration in the UK. Any creditor should contact Heritable on   020 7493 6621  .

Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander

All deposits in Kaupthing under the “Edge” brand have been transferred to ING Direct. You can continue to access your account in the same way as you did previously.

Find further details on the ING Direct website.

A small number of eligible Kauthping depositor accounts have not been transferred to ING Direct. If this applies to you, you will receive your money in full by applying to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

Find further details on the FSCS website or by phoning   0207 892 7300  .

If you are not FSCS eligible, The UK subsidiary of Kaupthing is also in administration in the UK and creditors should contact the call centre there on   08451 31 32 33   or   08451 31 32 34  .

Icesave

All retail depositors in Icesave will receive their money in full. The Government is working with the Icelandic Authorities to clarify the position of Icesave and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme are putting in place practical arrangements to allow depositors to receive their money as quickly as possible.

Arrangements are being put in place to ensure that all ISA customers of Icesave will continue to benefit from the tax-free status of their accounts.

Landsbanki and Glitner

Both Landsbanki and Glitner are in receivership in Iceland. The Government is working with the Icelandic authorities to establish what this means for UK creditors.

We will update this site as soon as further information is available.

4. Exactly what transactions are allowed and what aren’t?

If your funds are with Landsbanki the following applies to you.

On 8 October 2008, the UK Government froze funds owned, held or controlled by the Icelandic bank Landsbanki, including those owned, held or controlled in relation to that bank by the relevant Icelandic Authorities or the Government of Iceland. This was to help ensure that UK wholesale depositors of Landsbanki are treated fairly.

The Treasury has issued a general licence providing for certain exemptions to the asset freeze in order to ensure that the asset freeze does not adversely impact on businesses and other customers of the bank.

Enquiries can also be directed to the Asset Freezing Unit at HM Treasury:
e-mail: assetfreezingunit@hm-treasury.gsi.gov.uk, fax: 020 7451 7677,
telephone:   020 7270 5664   or   020 7270 5454  .

The legal obligations arising from the freezing order are set out in the following documents:

(1) The Landsbank Freezing Order 2008. Find the Landsbank Freezing order on the Office of Public Sector Information website.

(2) Licences issued by HM Treasury to provide for authorised exemptions to the asset freeze. Download information on licences to provide for authorised exemptions to the asset freeze from the HM Treasury website.

5. One of my customers claims to be affected by the crises and is using this as an excuse not to pay me. How do I check? Can I still invoke my statutory late payment rights?

Ask your customer to give you some evidence that they are affected - they should be able to show you a statement from one of the banks listed above with their own company name on it. You will then be able to use the information above to work out how they are likely to be affected or whether it is just an excuse for delaying payment. This does not affect your statutory late payment rights.
6. Who do I speak to if I have questions not addressed by the answers above or I want more detail?

• ING Direct - find details of how transfers will be managed on the ING Direct website.
• Financial Services Compensations Scheme - find further detail on the FSCS website or by phoning   020 7892 7300  .
• If you are a creditor and have any queries with regards to your accounts with Hertiable you should contact Heritable on   020 7493 6621  .
• If you are a creditor and have any queries with regards to your accounts with Kaupthing you should contact the call centre there on   08451 31 32 33   or   08451 31 32 34  .
• Any businesses that have banking issues related to the assets freeze that are not addressed by the current general licence should contact the Asset Freezing Unit at HM Treasury using the following email address: assetfreezingunit@hm-treasury.gov.uk.

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