ABCUL Yorkshire & NE Face 2 Face Forum Event - Affordability Complaints

The Yorkshire and Northeast Forum Executive are delighted to welcome Magda Niemczyk, Head of Compliance and Training at to deliver an affordability complaints seminar that will cover key aspects of handling and responding to affordability-related disputes.

We will begin by exploring the different types of affordability complaints, including those related to irresponsible lending and financial hardship. We will then examine the validity of a Letter of Authority, outlining the necessary elements that make it legally binding. A crucial part of the session will focus on the Sanderson Drake complaint in detail, analysing the response and best practices for addressing such cases. Additionally, we will review the Consumer Credit Act and CONC rules, with particular attention to how these regulations apply to credit unions. Finally, we will assess key rulings from the Financial Ombudsman, providing insight into how past decisions shape complaint resolutions. This seminar is designed to equip attendees with a comprehensive understanding of affordability complaints and the regulatory framework governing them.

Content Covered

• Letter of authority (LOA) – discuss validity of LOA, Data sharing agreements, word doc signatures, time stamps, wet and electronic signatures, restrictions on LOA, dates of LOA
• Types of affordability complaints
• Attorney reviews and Data Subject Access Request (DSAR) – how to respond to them
• Individual affordability complaints
• Sanderson Drake complaint – look at all acts and rules they are citing within their complaint
• Sanderson Drake approach – signing FOS application before submitting complaints
• FOS process
• Analysis of past FOS cases
• FOS changes and charge of £250 and how this will affect affordability complaints
• Affordability guide by Dr Andrea Fejos
• How to research, analyse and respond to third party affordability complaints

This event is open for credit unions in the Yorkshire and Northeast Forum area as well as those credit unions who contribute a portion of their membership dues to the Forum area.

This is likely to be a popular event so please only register your attendance if you can commit to attending as places are limited and the event is paid for from Forum funds. Failure to attend means that somebody else could have attended.

Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Host or Publisher Andy Naden