Verify the scope of a record as carefully as the existence of the record itself.
Navigate to the authority yourself
Start from an authority’s own website rather than a certificate image or a link sent in a chat. In the UK, the FCA Firm Checker helps consumers check whether a firm is authorized and has permission for the service they want. The more detailed Financial Services Register serves a broader research purpose.
Use more than one matching field
Search the published license or registration reference number. ASIC’s Professional Registers Search supports names and registration or license numbers, among other identifiers. Its records can show status, website addresses and conditions. Check which register you are viewing before interpreting a result.
Read the boundaries of the record
In your notes, capture the activity being researched, the status displayed and any relevant conditions. Avoid reducing a detailed record to a green badge. If an authorization category is unfamiliar, follow the authority’s explanation or ask the authority for clarification before drawing a conclusion.
An open question is a valid research result. “Record found; applicability not established” communicates more than an unsupported “verified” badge.
Check the contact path separately
The FCA explains that clone firms may borrow a genuine firm’s name or reference number while substituting contact details. Use the contact information obtained independently from the official source to resolve a discrepancy. Keep this identity check separate from your reading of the permission itself.
Research checklist
- Open the authority’s official website independently.
- Match the exact name and reference number.
- Read status, relevant permissions and conditions.
- Cross-check website and contact details.
- Save the source URL and the date of your check.
A research aid. Completing this list does not certify a provider or remove financial risk.
Sources & further reading
Refer to the official sources below and confirm their current contents before relying on a rule or record. The explanations and research workflows in this guide are original to FactFX.
Transparent by design. This guide provides general research education and does not determine legal rights or personal investment suitability.