The FCA has announced that it is reviewing how vulnerability is being managed. What are the practical implications for consumer credit, particularly in the motor finance sector, where credit is so important? We look at: what does consumer vulnerability look like, and what is required under Consumer Duty in consumer credit? We talk about the elephant in the room – the sale – the conflict of assessing consumers and minimising friction in the sale. And we ask what are the costs, benefits and risks of assessing consumer vulnerability?

Our March 2024 webinar with Elephants Don’t Forget resulted in more questions than could be answered during the event. MorganAsh’s Peter Labrow asks Andrew Gething to respond to the audience’s questions in detail.

The FCA continues to ramp up pressure on firms, to ensure that vulnerable customers’ outcomes are as good as those for other consumers. As we approach the first Consumer Duty assessments, the regulator has raised concerns that some firms are not prioritising support for vulnerable customers, whilst others have recorded having no vulnerable customers in their customer base – an untenable statistic, given that 50% can be classified as vulnerable at any point, and that most of us will be vulnerable during our lives (few people don’t experience a bereavement, for example).

If vulnerable consumers must go through an assessment for every engagement with each services provider then it’s going to be pretty tiresome for them. It will make their lives worse, not better – in itself, a poor outcome. The recognised ideal is ‘tell us once’ – and this can only work where we can share vulnerability data.

It’s statistically certain that some of your customers will be affected by some form of addiction – one in ten people are, whether it’s the people themselves or someone close to them. Consumer vulnerability regulations say that you can’t ignore this – but, equally, what should you do? This webinar explores the options and obligations for those who discover that a customer is vulnerable – with an alcohol, drug or substance use addiction. What do industry regulations require you to do? What shouldn’t you do? Are there further steps you could take as a concerned supplier – and fellow human? What are the pros and cons of helping out or stepping back? And what do you do if this is a past addiction, which is now reportedly managed by the consumer?

The FCA: “Those who are repackaging existing data are failing.” Consumer Duty: at the end of the day, it’s all about the data. Without data, there’s no evidence; without data, you can’t attest; without data, you can’t measure or benchmark. This webinar looks at real-life examples of two organisations which are gathering consumer vulnerability and outcome data and turning that data into meaningful reports. We also cover using it to ‘do good business’ – because the more we understand our customers, the better our customer engagement, retention, intergenerational servicing – and our reputation.

How understandable are firms’ communications? How well do they work for those with learning disabilities, a lack of financial understanding, language disorders, poor English skills, hearing problems, or poor sight? Setting these aside, clarity of communications affects all consumers. This webinar examines the requirements of Consumer Duty – and how organisations can best implement communications strategies to address any shortcomings which may lead to potential harms. The webinar will be hosted by Peter Labrow, head of marketing at MorganAsh. He chatted with Andy Kirby, CEO and co-founder of Money Alive and co-founder of Adviser Home, and Robin Harries, lead consultant at communications business Quietroom.

The FCA requires that all firms must report on the impact on vulnerable customers for each and all of the four outcomes of Consumer Duty. But from where do we get the vulnerability data for these reports? This webinar examines the output: the vulnerability reports required for firms to ensure that they provide good outcomes – and the evidence that they are meeting Consumer Duty.

The FCA’s principle-based rules on Consumer Duty are one thing, but how are these likely to be applied in real life? Just how will these principles be followed in practice? This webinar tackles this head on. The panel takes specific Consumer Duty rules and explores how advisers and firms might apply these in real situations – providing a valuable insight into not only how these rules will be accommodated but also how the rest of Consumer Duty might be best applied.

This webinar explores signposting, and how it can be better used; how services are embedded in products and how we can better match these to consumers’ needs; how far do we need to go to reduce potential harms. The expert team consists of Johnny Timpson OBE, FRSA, Financial Services Consumer Panel member and Financial Inclusion Commissioner; Paul Roberts, owner and director of MyProtectionExpert and Andrew Gething, founder and managing director of MorganAsh.

Roundtable discussion on 'Evidencing Management Information for Consumer Duty' with our expert speakers, James Edmonds Customer Experience Director at Investor in Customers, Mike Perry Previous CEO of PG Mutual, Tony Crane Consumer Duty Expert & Keynote Speaker, Andrew Gething Founder and Managing Director at MorganAsh. This session will focus on vulnerability and consumer outcomes, understanding and support rather than price and value.

Roundtable discussion on 'Using Data for Monitoring to Meet Consumer Duty,' with our expert team of Simon Ripton, Director of Propositions at Moneyhub, Ben Allott, Commercial Director at Infinian, Tony Crane, Consumer Duty Expert, and Andrew Gething, MorganAsh's founder and Managing Director.

Vulnerability and now Consumer Duty regulations have increased the need for firms to understand and communicate customer characteristics. In this session, we look at the philosophy of the MorganAsh MARS tool, how individual data can be used only for managing vulnerability and monitoring consumers throughout the product lifecycle, and many Consumer Duty requirements.

A Consumer Duty webinar and round-table discussion, with Tony Crane, Jonathan Warren and Andrew Gething – looking at how the FCA’s guidance on customer vulnerability and Consumer Duty overlap and what this means for financial services firms.

A round-table discussion and Consumer Duty webinar, looking at how the FCA’s Consumer Duty regulations affect the later life lending market – with Linda Blackwell, Tony Crane and Andrew Gething.

A round-table discussion about the Consumer Duty and customer vulnerability challenges facing the retirement market, with Alan O’Neil, Tony Crane and Andrew Gething.

Chris Jones, Jonathan Warren and Andrew Gething how at ways to measure consumer vulnerability consistently, to meet the FCA’s Consumer Duty guidelines.

Looking at data privacy, GDPR and signposting/treatments when a customer vulnerability is identified, to meet the FCA’s Consumer Duty guidelines and provide the best possible customer experience. A round-table discussion and Consumer Duty webinar with Helen Lord, Chris Jones, Jonathan Warren and Andrew Gething.

A Consumer Duty webinar and round-table discussion looking at customer vulnerability and why this, and the FCA’s guidance on Consumer Duty, is important – with Keith Richards, Chris Jones, Jonathan Warren and Andrew Gething.