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How to check an adviser is FCA authorised, in two minutes

Almost nobody checks, and it takes two minutes. Here is exactly what to search, what the entry means, and the one detail that catches clone scams.

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The short answer

Search the firm name or reference number on register.fca.org.uk, confirm the status says Authorised, and read the permissions to see what the firm may actually advise on. Then ring the phone number shown on the Register rather than the one you were given, because clone firms copy real names and reference numbers.

2 minutesHow long the check takes
1055079Our firm reference number
BXT01420Ben's individual reference
£85,000FSCS cover for investments
What is on this page
  1. Why this two-minute check matters
  2. How to check, step by step
  3. How to read what you find
  4. Clone firms, and how they work
  5. What being authorised actually gets you
  6. Checking us

Why this two-minute check matters

The FCA Register is the public record of every authorised firm and individual in the UK. It is free, it is searchable, and almost nobody uses it.

It tells you three things. Whether the firm is authorised at all, exactly what it is authorised to do, and the contact details the FCA holds for it.

That last point is the one that catches clone scams. A cloned firm uses a real firm's name and reference number with different phone numbers and a different website.

How to check, step by step

1

Go to the FCA Register

Open register.fca.org.uk directly. Do not use a link the firm sent you.

2

Search the firm name or reference number

The firm reference number is a six or seven digit number. Ours is 1055079.

3

Check the status says Authorised

Look for Authorised, not Registered, not Appointed Representative of something you cannot verify, and not No longer authorised.

4

Read the permissions

This is the part people skip. It lists what the firm may actually advise on and arrange.

5

Compare the contact details

Phone the number on the Register, not the one you were given. If they differ, stop and report it.

6

Check the individual too

Advisers have their own reference number. Ben's is BXT01420. You can search individuals as well as firms.

How to read what you find

What you see What it means
Authorised The firm is regulated by the FCA for the listed activities
Appointed Representative It operates under another authorised firm's permissions. Check the principal too.
Registered Often means a narrower regime, such as payment services. Not the same as authorised for advice.
No longer authorised Do not deal with them. Ask why, and when it changed.
EEA firm or passporting Historic arrangements. Check what protection applies now.

If the entry does not clearly cover the thing you are being advised on, that is your answer.

Checked someone and not sure what you are looking at?

Send us what the Register shows. We will read it with you, and we will say plainly if something looks wrong.

Ask us a question

Prefer WhatsApp? Message us there. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 8pm.

This goes to a separately authorised firm we have vetted. The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by that firm.

Household bills and paperwork spread across a kitchen table

Clone firms, and how they work

A clone uses the real details of an authorised firm, with one or two changes. The name and reference number are genuine. The phone number, email domain or bank details are not.

  • Always ring the number on the FCA Register rather than the one in the email
  • Check the website domain character by character, because a single letter changes
  • Be suspicious of any payment to an account name that does not match the firm
  • Treat a request to pay a personal account as an immediate stop
  • Check the FCA warning list before you send money

What being authorised actually gets you

A complaint routeYou can take an unresolved complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which is free to use and can order redress.
FSCS coverIf an authorised firm fails, the FSCS may compensate you, up to £85,000 for investments, and for pension advice or a SIPP operator.
Rules on how you are treatedAuthorised firms are bound by the Consumer Duty, which requires them to act to deliver good outcomes for you.
A named accountable personSenior individuals are personally registered and accountable for the areas they run.

None of that applies if the firm is not authorised. That is the whole reason for the two-minute check.

Checking us

Our firm reference number is 1055079. Search it on the FCA Register and you will see the permissions we hold, which are for insurance and protection advice.

You will not see mortgage, pension, equity release or investment permissions, because we do not hold them. For those we introduce you to a separately authorised firm and tell you who they are first.

That is worth checking rather than taking our word for. Our Consumer Duty page sets out the standards we work to, and our complaints procedure explains what to do if we get something wrong.

Post lying on a doormat inside a front door

Who this suits, and who it does not

Always check before
  • Sending money to any firm for the first time
  • Acting on advice about a pension or investment
  • Responding to anyone who contacted you first
  • Signing a client agreement
Treat as a red flag
  • Contact details that differ from the Register
  • A firm that discourages you from checking
  • Payment requested to a personal or differently named account
  • Permissions that do not cover what you are being advised on

Check broadband before you make an offer

Broadband speeds can vary street by street, so check the exact address before you commit. Ofcom's free checker shows which broadband speeds and mobile coverage are available at any UK property.

Check broadband at an address (Ofcom)

Want all your bills in one?

We can introduce you to a specialist who can combine your mobile, broadband and utilities into one bill. There's no fee for the introduction.

We don't provide these services ourselves. Switching household bills is not a regulated financial service, so FCA protections and the Financial Ombudsman do not apply. We'll only pass your details to the specialist if you ask us to. See our privacy notice.

Questions people actually ask

How do I check if a financial adviser is FCA authorised?
Search the firm name or reference number on register.fca.org.uk, confirm the status says Authorised, read the permissions, and ring the phone number shown on the Register rather than the one you were given.
What is a firm reference number?
A six or seven digit number the FCA gives every authorised firm. It appears on the Register and should appear on the firm's website and paperwork. Ours is 1055079.
What does Appointed Representative mean?
The firm operates under another authorised firm's permissions. That is legitimate, but you should also check the principal firm, because it carries the responsibility.
What is a clone firm?
A scam that copies an authorised firm's name and reference number while using different contact details and bank accounts. Checking the Register's own phone number is the reliable defence.
Can I check an individual adviser?
Yes. Individuals have their own reference number on the Register. Ben's is BXT01420. Searching the individual as well as the firm is worth the extra minute.
What if the firm is not on the Register?
Do not deal with them for regulated business. Report them to the FCA. You would have no access to the Financial Ombudsman Service or the FSCS.
Does authorisation mean the advice will be good?
No. It means the firm is regulated, accountable and covered by the complaint and compensation system. Quality still varies, which is why the other checks matter.
Where do I complain about an authorised firm?
To the firm first, in writing. If you are not satisfied after eight weeks, or you get a final response you disagree with, take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service free of charge.
How do I check broadband speed at a property?
Use Ofcom's free broadband and mobile checker at checker.ofcom.org.uk. Enter the property's postcode and choose the address to see which broadband speeds and mobile coverage are available before you make an offer.

Where to go next

Financial advice explainedAdvice, guidance and permissions.Spotting scamsThe patterns behind them.Questions to askBefore you commit to anything.Is my money safe?What the FSCS covers.Our complaints procedureWhat to do if we get it wrong.About Ben TomlinQualifications and reference numbers.
Where these figures come from

Figures checked on 1 September 2026 and correct for the 2026/27 tax year. Rates change, so check the source before you act on a number.

Investment and pension advice goes to a separately authorised firm we have vetted. The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by that firm.

Last reviewed September 2026.

Check us before you talk to us

Firm reference 1055079 on the FCA Register. Read the permissions, then decide whether to get in touch.

Start a conversation

Prefer WhatsApp? Message us there. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 8pm.

This goes to a separately authorised firm we have vetted. The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by that firm.