Functions and duty of a money adviser
12.—(1) It is a function of a money adviser to—
(a)provide money advice to a debtor;
(b)liaise with creditors on behalf of a debtor;
(c)assist a debtor with, and advise on an application for approval, variation or revocation of a debt payment programme;
(d)prepare and submit on behalf of a debtor an application under these Regulations;
(e)provide, as required by the DAS Administrator, evidence of or information about the participation of a debtor in a debt payment programme (including the debtor’s consent to any application for approval, variation or revocation in relation to which the adviser provided money advice); and
(f)act as a lay representative in a court, where the adviser has accepted instructions by a debtor to act.
(2) A money adviser must not charge a fee to a debtor for the adviser’s services, unless the adviser has informed the debtor—
(a)that money advice is available without any fee or payment being due by the debtor (“free money advice”);
(b)of the name of—
(i)any adviser (or all, if more than one) providing free money advice within a 10 kilometre radius of the debtor’s usual place of residence; or
(ii)the nearest adviser providing free money advice to the debtor’s place of residence, where there is no adviser within a 10 kilometre radius of the debtor’s usual place of residence,
and the debtor has agreed in writing to pay a fee.
(3) Where a money adviser charges any fee to a debtor (“a continuing money adviser”) it is also a function of that adviser following the submission of an application under these Regulations—
(a)to review a debt payment programme in every twelfth month of operation; and
(b)as soon as reasonably practicable to provide written notice to the DAS Administrator of—
(i)any appointment or resignation of the adviser;
(ii)on any resignation, why the money adviser ceased to act; and
(iii)any change of the debtor’s address.
(4) Where there is no continuing money adviser for a debt payment programme under paragraph (3), the DAS Administrator—
(a)must in every twelfth month of the operation of the programme, invite the debtor to provide a statement of the debtor’s current financial circumstances; and
(b)may, on receipt, notify the debtor that the debtor may wish to take the advice of a money adviser on a review of the programme.
(5) A money adviser must have regard to guidance issued by the DAS Administrator when carrying out a function of an adviser.