How to complete the credit licensing forms

Before you apply for a new licence or to renew, vary, notify or surrender an existing credit licence, there are a few things you should know about the online forms.

Please note that you cannot use the online forms to pay your licence maintenance charge.  Maintenance charges can only be paid by cheque, postal order or bank draft, and should be sent - with the appropriate remittance slip - to the address specified on the invoice.

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Information you will need to fill in the form

Before you start a form, we suggest you have to hand:

• personal details of people involved in your business
• details of current or previous licences applied for, or held, by your business and any people involved in your business
• information on any convictions, County Court Judgements (CCJs) and court orders
• information on any director disqualifications
• bankruptcies and insolvency details
• company administration or liquidation details
• information on any other disciplinary proceedings.

You may need to attach to your application:

• written authority to act on behalf of the application
• approval for trading names and domain names
• a credit risk profile or a credit competence plan
• signed declaration form (see Printing the final page of your form, below).

If you don't answer a question or upload a required document, you will be prompted to go back to fill in the missing information. Before you go back, we suggest you make note of your unique reference number (see Making a note of your unique reference number below) and save your application.

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Making a note of your unique reference number

Once you have completed page 4 of the online form you will be given a unique reference number, make sure you write this number down.

If you want to save your form and fill it in later you will need this number. Also, you can use this number if you wish to contact us about your application.

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Printing the final page of your form

Once you have filled in all the details you will be prompted to print the final page. You must print this page and sign it. You can then either upload this page or post it to us at: Consumer Credit Licensing, PO Box 62691, London, EC4P 4UW.

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Saving your form to complete later

If you get part way through your application and don't have time to finish it, you can save it and fill it in later. To do this you must make a note of your unique reference number. Later, you can go back to the online form page and click to continue a form. Please note your form will only be saved for 45 days before being automatically deleted.

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Making a payment

On completion of some forms you will be required to make a fee payment. Make sure you know how much this will be and the cards we will accept.

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What to do if you have problems

If you have a problem, check the troubleshooting guide (pdf 430 kb).

If you are still having problems please contact the Enquiries team on 08457 22 44 99 or email enquiries@oft.gsi.gov.uk. The office is open from 9am-1pm and from 2pm-5pm.

Please note, the Enquiries team cannot offer technical advice on PC or network issues.

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How we use the information you give us

The OFT will use the information you supply for the purposes of considering your application for a consumer credit licence. It may also obtain information it considers relevant from other sources (for example, other regulatory, enforcement or public authorities, including the courts and the police).

While the Data Protection Act 1998 and section 237 of the Enterprise Act restrict disclosure of such information, they also allow disclosure for a number of purposes without your further consent. For example, the OFT may use the information in connection with enforcement or regulatory action it takes under its own powers or may refer the information to other government departments or regulatory, enforcement or public authorities in connection with the exercise of their functions.

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What to do if you can't complete an online form

If you are unable to fill in an online form please call the Enquiries team on 08457 22 44 99 or email enquiries@oft.gsi.gov.uk. The office is open from 9am-1pm and from 2pm-5pm.

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