Hargreaves tumbles after FCA crackdown on ‘double dipping’ charges

Shares in funding platforms slumped after monetary watchdogs warned them in opposition to ripping off clients by ‘double dipping’.

Hargreaves Lansdown, AJ Bell and Abrdn noticed a collective £458million wiped off their worth after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched a crackdown on unfair fees.

In a letter to 42 corporations, the regulator laid out its considerations over the way in which they take care of curiosity earned on money balances in buyer accounts.

The FCA mentioned a lot of the corporations are preserving among the curiosity for themselves whereas additionally charging clients a payment to carry the money, in a apply often known as ‘double dipping’.

A spokesman for the watchdog mentioned it was ‘concerned these practices may not be providing fair value to customers and may not be understood by consumers or properly disclosed’. 

Hargreaves Lansdown, AJ Bell and Abrdn noticed a collective £458m wiped off their worth after the Financial Conduct Authority launched a crackdown on unfair fees

The spokesman added that corporations ‘have been told to cease double dipping’.

Platforms have loved a windfall on the again of upper rates of interest, permitting them to carry clients’ money at an improved charge with banks, and preserve a piece for themselves, incomes margins of round 2 per cent usually. 

Firms who retain curiosity collectively made an estimated £74.3million in income from this apply in June alone, in keeping with the FCA.

The corporations have till the top of February to make any adjustments or the FCA will step in.

The warning despatched shares in Hargreaves Lansdown down 6.7 per cent, AJ Bell misplaced 3.4 per cent and Abrdn slid 5.1 per cent decrease.

Following the warning, AJ Bell introduced a ‘significant package of pricing changes’ which can affect buying and selling charges and rates of interest.

Chief government Michael Summersgill mentioned: ‘We have been planning these latest pricing changes for some time. 

‘Now we have clarity from the regulator, we are pleased to confirm another significant package of pricing changes which will benefit our customers to the tune of £14million a year.’

Meanwhile, Hargreaves Lansdown mentioned it ‘notes the letter’ from the FCA and is ‘aligned with the focus to ensure good value and outcomes for clients’.

‘Hargreaves Lansdown does not undertake the practice of double-dipping which is a focus of the FCA statement,’ mentioned a spokesman for the agency.