Start with the FCA's own Firm Checker or Financial Services Register. Check the correct legal firm, the relevant permissions and its contact details; a company number or copied FCA number is not enough.
Check the identity and the activity
Use the FCA's official website to find the checking tool. Read whether the business has permission for the service you need, and any restrictions. Companies House registration alone does not establish permission to provide regulated financial services.
If a business says it is an appointed representative, check its entry and the responsible principal. Contact the principal through independently verified details if you need to confirm what the representative may do.
Guard against a copied identity
Fraudsters can copy the name and registration number of a genuine business. Compare the website, email and telephone details with the official record. Use independently verified contact details if something differs.
- Exact legal/trading name
- Relevant permissions and restrictions
- Principal where applicable
- Website and telephone from the official record
- Date checked and any questions still unresolved
Keep useful records without exposing yourself
A private checklist can contain the public firm name, the official record link and the date you checked it. It does not need your bank details, passwords or a copy of your identity document.
An authorised status is not a guarantee that a product is suitable or that every loss is protected. Ask the firm to explain the product and applicable protections. This guide makes no claim that Umofi has FCA authorisation or an appointment.
Sources and scope
Prepared by Umofi. Sources checked on 17 September 2026. General information, not a personal recommendation. Check the current source and the firm’s written terms before acting.