Part II

Regulated And Prohibited Activities

Offences

Contravention of the general prohibition or section 20(1) or (1A).
23
1
A person who contravenes the general prohibition is guilty of an offence and liable—
a
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both;
b
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine, or both.
1A
An authorised person (“A”) is guilty of an offence if A carries on a credit-related regulated activity in the United Kingdom, or purports to do so, otherwise than in accordance with permission—
a
given to that person under Part 4A, or
b
resulting from any other provision of this Act.
1B
In this Act “
credit-related regulated activity
” means a regulated activity of a kind designated by the Treasury by order.
1C
The Treasury may designate a regulated activity under subsection (1B) only if the activity involves a person—
a
entering into or administering an agreement under which the person provides another person with credit,
b
exercising or being able to exercise the rights of the lender under an agreement under which another person provides a third party with credit, or
c
taking steps to procure payment of debts due under an agreement under which another person is provided with credit.
1D
But a regulated activity may not be designated under subsection (1B) if the agreement in question is one under which the obligation of the borrower is secured on land.
1E
“
Credit
” includes any cash loan or other financial accommodation.
1F
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1A) is liable—
a
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the applicable maximum term or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both;
b
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both.
1G
The “applicable maximum term” is—
a
in England and Wales,
the general limit in a magistrates’ court
(or 6 months, if the offence was committed before the commencement of
2 May 2022
);
b
in Scotland, 12 months;
c
in Northern Ireland, 6 months.
2
In this Act “an authorisation offence” means an offence under this section.
3
In proceedings for an authorisation offence it is a defence for the accused to show that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence.
4
Subsection (1A) is subject to section 39(1D).
5
No proceedings may be brought against a person in respect of an offence under subsection (1A) in a case where either regulator has taken action under section 205, 206 or 206A in relation to the alleged contravention within section 20(1) or (1A).

Parliamentary control in relation to certain orders under section 23
23A
1
This section applies to the first order made under section 23(1B).
2
This section also applies to any subsequent order made under section 23(1B) which contains a statement by the Treasury that, in their opinion, the effect (or one of the effects) of the proposed order would be that an activity would become a credit-related regulated activity.
3
An order to which this section applies may not be made unless a draft of the order has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House.

False claims to be authorised or exempt.
24
1
A person who is neither an authorised person nor, in relation to the regulated activity in question, an exempt person is guilty of an offence if he—
a
describes himself (in whatever terms) as an authorised person;
b
describes himself (in whatever terms) as an exempt person in relation to the regulated activity; or
c
behaves, or otherwise holds himself out, in a manner which indicates (or which is reasonably likely to be understood as indicating) that he is—
i
an authorised person; or
ii
an exempt person in relation to the regulated activity.
2
In proceedings for an offence under this section it is a defence for the accused to show that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence.
3
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both.
4
But where the conduct constituting the offence involved or included the public display of any material, the maximum fine for the offence is level 5 on the standard scale multiplied by the number of days for which the display continued.

Contravention of section 21.
25
1
A person who contravenes section 21(1) is guilty of an offence and liable—
a
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both;
b
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine, or both.
2
In proceedings for an offence under this section it is a defence for the accused to show—
a
that he believed on reasonable grounds that the content of the communication was prepared, or approved for the purposes of section 21 in accordance with subsection (2A) of that section, by an authorised person; or
b
that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence.
S. 25(2)(a) modified (31.10.2001) by S.I. 2001/3374, art. 1, Sch. para. 6
S. 25(2)(a) modified (31.10.2004) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Transitional Provisions) (Mortgages) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/2615), arts. 1(2)(b), 5, Sch. para. 6
S. 25(2)(a) modified (14.1.2005) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Transitional Provisions) (General Insurance Intermediaries) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3351), arts. 1(2)(b), 5, Sch. para. 6
S. 23(4)(5) inserted (1.4.2013) by Financial Services Act 2012 (c. 21), s. 122(3), Sch. 9 para. 3(3) (with Sch. 20); S.I. 2013/423, art. 3, Sch.
S. 23(1A)-(1G) inserted (1.4.2013) by Financial Services Act 2012 (c. 21), s. 122(3), Sch. 9 para. 3(2) (with Sch. 20); S.I. 2013/423, art. 3, Sch.
S. 23A inserted (1.4.2013) by Financial Services Act 2012 (c. 21), s. 122(3), Sch. 9 para. 4 (with Sch. 20); S.I. 2013/423, art. 3, Sch.
Words in s. 23(1G)(a) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table
S. 25 applied (22.7.2013) by The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1773), regs. 1, 52(2)(3)
S. 24(4) omitted (E.W.) (12.3.2015) by virtue of The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Fines on Summary Conviction) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/664), reg. 1(1), Sch. 5 para. 7 (with reg. 5(1))
Words in s. 25(2)(a) inserted (6.9.2023 for specified purposes, 6.11.2023 for specified purposes, 7.2.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (c. 29), s. 86(3), Sch. 5 para. 3 (with s. 20(5)); S.I. 2023/936, reg. 2(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(ii)(3)(4) (with reg. 3)
Words in s. 23(1G)(a) substituted (28.4.2022) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 33) and Sentencing Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/500), regs. 1(2), 5(1), Sch. Pt. 1
Words in s. 23 heading inserted (1.4.2013) by Financial Services Act 2012 (c. 21), s. 122(3), Sch. 9 para. 3(4) (with Sch. 20); S.I. 2013/423, art. 3, Sch.