The terms ‘TFS’ or ‘us’ or ‘we’ refer to The Funding Store Ltd whose registered office is Milton Keynes Business Centre, Foxhunter Drive, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, MK14 6GD. Our company registration number is 11576714. The term ‘you’, ‘client’ or ‘customer’ refers to you, the credit applicant.

The Funding Store Ltd is an independent asset finance brokerage and not a lender, as such we can introduce you to a wide range of finance providers depending on your requirements and circumstances. We are not independent finance advisors and so are unable to provide you with independent finance advice. The Funding Store Ltd may receive payment(s) or other benefit from the finance provider if you decide to enter into an agreement with them. The Funding Store Ltd aims to provide our customers with the highest standards of service. If our service fails to meet your requirements, we will endeavour to find a resolution.

The Funding Store Ltd is an Appointed Representative of AFS Compliance Ltd, which is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm number 625035. The Funding Store Ltd is a Franchisee of Asset Finance Solutions (UK) Ltd.

As part of our business, we carry out activities including:

• Introducing businesses seeking to obtain credit to funders;
• Assisting businesses by undertaking preparatory work in relation to such agreements; and
• Referring customers to funders
  
  

This document outlines the way in which TFS shall carry out these activities: By agreeing to these terms, you agree that you:

1. Approve our Terms of Business contained herein;
2. Acknowledge that TFS, shall act as a credit broker in making any referral or introduction of you to any member of the funding panel;
3. Acknowledge that in making any such referrals or introductions or in providing such credit, no advice or recommendation has been provided by TFS;
4. Accept that these terms of business shall apply to all activities, referrals and introductions arranged by TFS following the date of your enquiry; and
5. You are a UK resident and hold a UK bank account.
   
   

Finally, we confirm that your signature of this document does not commit you to paying any fees or charges in connection with our brokerage activities. Furthermore, you are not obliged to enter into any finance agreement that we may source for you.

For the avoidance of doubt, you have the option to opt out of future marketing.

To enable us to provide you with a swift application process, we would ask that you provide us with an e-mail address which you hereby authorise us to send private and confidential information to you (including, but not limited to, credit decisions and financial documents. If this email addresses changes you must notify us of this, so we can update our records.

If you wish to authorise another party to act on your behalf in relation to all dealings with TFS (this will include but is not limited to; full disclosure of previous transactional history, disclosure of credit decisions, ability to apply for Credit in the business name) please provide the name and the position of this individual (If these details changes you must notify us of this so we can update our records).

Complaints Policy

If you’re not completely happy with our service at The Funding Store Ltd, we’d like to hear about it — that way, we can do something to put it right and ensure we improve our services moving forward.

​At The Funding Store Ltd we do everything we can to make sure our customers get the best possible service. However, sometimes things can go wrong. When that happens, we always encourage our customers and partners to tell us about your complaint, so that we can put matters right.

To help us deal with your complaint quickly and efficiently, please contact us with:

• Your name and address.
• Your account number.
• Details of your complaint, including relevant references and dates.
  
  

For all complaints, please contact: FAO: Managing Director, The Funding Store Ltd, Milton Keynes Business Centre, Foxhunter Drive, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, MK14 6GD.

What you can expect from us

Our aim is to ensure you feel we have handled your complaint fairly and that you are fully satisfied with the outcome. If we cannot resolve your complaint immediately, we will send you a prompt acknowledgement confirming receipt of your complaint, we will undertake a full investigation addressing all the points you raise and will do our best to reply to you with our written response by post within 30 business days.

If we need more time to look into your complaint, we will: – tell you who is personally dealing with it – keep you updated on our progress – provide you with a written explanation of the reasons for the delay and tell you when we will respond in full.

If you’re not happy with the decision we’ve taken on your complaint and wish to take it further, you can ask the Financial Ombudsman Service to look into your complaint for you.

This is a free, independent service for resolving disputes between customers and financial services institutions. You’ll need to contact them within 6 months of the date of our final response letter, and they’ll ask to see the letter as summary of our investigation of your complaint.

Phone: 08000 234 567 (free for people phoning from a landline at home) Or: 0300 123 9 123 (free for mobile-phone users who pay a monthly charge for calls to numbers starting 01 or 02) Email: complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk Online: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk Post: The Financial Ombudsman Service, Exchange Tower, London, E14 9SR

The Funding Store Ltd (Company registration 11576714), Milton Keynes Business Centre, Foxhunter Drive, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, MK14 6GD.

The Funding Store Ltd is a credit broker not a lender. The Funding Store Ltd is an Appointed Representative of AFS Compliance Ltd, which is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm number 625035. The Funding Store Ltd is a Franchisee of Asset Finance Solutions (UK) Ltd.

If we are unable to assist with your complaint you can contact AFS directly at:​ https://afsuk.com/afs-compliance/contact/complaints-procedure/ Proposal Process

As a credit intermediary, TFS has due regard for the FCA’s Principles of Business, its regulations and guidance and strives to satisfy these through its operational practices. TFS is focused on ensuring customers are provided with clear and transparent communication throughout the proposal process.

Where possible, TFS try to avoid multiple contact and correspondence with the customers which may cause unnecessary confusion.

Acting as a Credit Broker

TFS’s aim is to provide competitive finance option(s) for their clients coupled with high customer service and a relevant product range. TFS will introduce your proposal to a panel of funders. This means sourcing the most suitable funding option available, taking into account the specific circumstances of the transaction, including but not limited to:

• Rate;
• Speed of decision;
• Product range available;
• Credit considerations;
• Amount of required advance;
• Asset or loan type; and
• Security provided;
  
  

TFS shall, at all times, act entirely independently in sourcing credit from our panel of funders. TFS is committed to ensuring that all these applications for credit are placed with the most appropriate funder for a transaction, taking into account the factors listed above. Where TFS acts as credit broker, we may receive a commission payment for effecting this introduction. If the deal has been introduced to TFS by way of a referral TFS may choose to pay some of its commission to this referring party.

Your proposal

It is important that you provide accurate information on your application and disclose all relevant information that would reasonably be considered to have bearing on any credit decision, including but not limited to:

1. Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step by any person in relation to the insolvency of the Customer, or the occurrence of any insolvency event (howsoever described) in respect of the Customer or any of its assets (including without limitation any arrangement with its creditors or any steps to appoint an administrator);
2. The Customer to be in breach of any applicable law or regulation binding upon the Customer or its directors, or to be in breach of any authorisation, consent, permission, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing or registration binding upon the Customer or its directors with any governmental, regulatory or other authority (financial or otherwise), or any governmental, regulatory or other authority (financial or otherwise) to intervene in the business or affairs of the Customer or impose any fine on, or take disciplinary action against, the Customer for any reason, or cause the Customer at any time to lose any licence(s) required to be held by it to conduct its business; or
3. Any bank or financial institution to accelerate, cancel, suspend or terminate any agreement relating to any indebtedness of the Customer with that bank or financial institution as a result of an event of default (howsoever described) or otherwise.
   
   

When sourcing available credit, TFS does not make multiple proposals (“multi-prop”) transactions to multiple funders; only one funder will be approached at any one time and only when this funder has declined the prospective transaction will TFS approach an alternative funder, who they consider to be the most appropriate. The reason that TFS operate in this way is to ensure that the number of credit searches carried out against prospective customers is minimised.

Whilst TFS does not “multi-prop”, if it is necessary to split a large transaction into smaller amounts to obtain funding, TFS will only propose the smaller transaction amounts to one set of funders at any one time.

Credit decisions

If a finance application is accepted, TFS will notify you of the acceptance and any accompanying terms and conditions. Acceptances are valid for a limited period. A further application will need to be submitted for consideration if this period lapses. TFS and its funding panel reserve the right to withdraw an acceptance at any time if they become aware of any information that adversely affects your financial status. TFS may execute documents via manual or electronic signature.

Declines

TFS will endeavour to keep you updated with regards to the progress of your application for finance. Of course, you are entitled to request an update at any time during a process. Where we decline a proposal or receive notice of a decline from a funder, we shall contact you in accordance with the procedures set out below.

Three declines received

In the event that we receive three declines from financers for the same credit application, your TFS representative will contact you to:

4. Discuss your options;
5. Obtain your consent to continue to approach further funders; and
6. To complete further searches.
   
   

In doing so, TFS ensures that the number of searches made against our customers, following a credit decline, is limited.

Where a transaction has been declined, we will contact you by e-mail setting out the details of the decline.

Product Suitability

It is important that the finance product that we provide for you is suitable for your requirements. We will only consider finance for equipment being acquired for the benefit of the business and therefore will not facilitate any personal lending or hiring. Whilst we will endeavour to understand your needs and assist you in looking for an appropriate product, we would encourage you to use the information below to ensure that the facility that TFS arranges for you is suitable. If you require further information you should seek advice from your accountants or other professional advisors (TFS do not provide advice on these matters).

Leasing

There are two main types of lease, an Operating Lease and a Finance Lease. Both leases involve the hire of equipment. These leases can be known by other names such as Lease Rental, a Rental Agreement or a Minimum or Fixed Term Hire Agreement.

The Process

• The lessee (customer or borrower) will select an asset (equipment, vehicle, software).
• The lessor (the finance company) will purchase that asset.
• The lessor retains ownership of the asset, but the lessee gets exclusive use of the asset (providing it observes the terms of the lease) giving the customer the benefits and risks of (economic) ownership.
• The lessee will make rental payments, during the initial, or primary period of the lease.
• The lessee is committed to paying these rentals over the term of the lease and technically, a finance lease is defined as non-cancellable although it may be possible to terminate early by paying the future rentals less a discount.
  
  

At the end of the lease

What happens at the end of the primary lease period will vary and depends on the actual agreement, but the following options are possible:

• Continue to rent the equipment.
• Return the equipment to the lessor.
• Or terminate the lease.
  
  

If upon terminating the lease you would like to acquire ownership of the equipment this can usually be arranged by TFS following the payment of an appropriate fee. Your lessor will write to you nearer to inform you of the impending end of your primary period and advise you as to the appropriate next steps. It is important that you take action following receipt of the letter as otherwise a secondary period of rentals will automatically begin.

The Benefits

• Funding secured against the equipment.
• Available on nearly all equipment purchases.
• Spreads the cost of the purchase.
• VAT is paid on each rental, so you do not need to pay it upfront.
• Potential tax advantages.

Hire Purchase

Hire Purchase is also known as a Lease Purchase or HP. Hire Purchase is a loan or contract that is linked to a specific equipment purchase and is a way of obtaining the use of an asset before payment is completed.

The payments of the HP are in regular (typically monthly) instalments which includes a capital repayment plus interest followed by an option to purchase fee at the end of the term of the agreement. Ultimately by making these payments the customer will obtain ownership of the asset. The payment of the VAT is required upfront, at the beginning of the agreement.

The Process

• The customer selects an asset (equipment, vehicle, software).
• The finance company purchases the asset whilst agreeing to sell the asset on credit to the customer by way of the hire purchase agreement.
• The customer must make the agreed regular payments for the term of the agreement that cover the original cost of the asset.
• The customer is able to buy the asset at any time by giving notice to the owner (the finance company) and paying the balance of the HP price less a rebate.

The Benefits

• Funding secured against the equipment.
• Spreads the cost of the purchase of the equipment.
• Potential tax advantages.

At the end of the lease

Ownership will pass to you once an option to purchase fee is paid. The fee varies dependant on the funder. The fee is disclosed on HP agreement which you should check before signing and is available on request once the finance has been accepted.

Unsecured Loan

An unsecured loan is money lent from one party to another without any asset to secure its repayment.

The Process

• The customer requests funding for a specific purpose.
• The finance company advances funds to the customer.
• The customer must make the agreed regular payments for the term of the agreement that cover the cost of the funds advanced plus interest.
• The customer can terminate the agreement at any time by giving notice to the finance company and paying the balance of the agreement less a rebate.
  
  

The Benefits

• Funding can be used to fund a wide variety of purposes.
• Spreads the cost of expenses.
  
  

Please note: It may be that the actual products available to you are restricted due to the finance purpose, business structure or credit appetite of certain funders. All finance products will typically include a Documentation Fee which is determined by the funder and usually collected with the first payment. Identification and Verification

TFS is committed to providing the highest standard of compliance, including the need to properly:

• Identify and Verify; all of its customers, whether they be existing or prospective. As well as our regulatory responsibilities, TFS take the view that it is important to ensure that both the customers and their data, are consistently treated in a proper and professional manner. In order to achieve this, TFS strive to develop a strong relationship with each of their customers from the outset.
  
  

At the point of receiving either:

• An application for credit or personal data; the applicant is deemed to be a customer of TFS and they shall commence the verification process. TFS representatives may discuss generic matters with existing or prospective customers at any time. However, TFS representatives recognise the need to verify the identity of the caller before engaging in any customer-specific discussions (whether the TFS representative does so from memory or by accessing TFS’s customer records).
  
  

Customer Identification Incoming telephone calls

Customers will be asked to identify themselves at the beginning of the call by confirming their name and business name. Existing customers may be identified by our system through a match on the telephone number and in these cases, will be asked to just confirm their name.

Outgoing telephone calls

When an TFS representative makes an outbound telephone call to an individual’s mobile, direct dial or switchboard telephone number, confirmation of the individual’s name is acceptable for identification purposes.

Standard Verification

Before entering into any discussion with an individual which relates to information which is specific to a customer and/or individual person, including but not limited to:

• A customers account;
• Proposal status;
• Financial circumstances; or
• Existing/previous transactions
  
  

The TFS representative must ensure that the individual:

1. That the customer has been identified;
2. Their identity is verified by means of one item from the following Verification List;
   • DOB held on file.
   • Deal reference number.
   • Mobile number.
   • Banking details.
   • Last funder.
   • Rental, repayment amount or total credit.
   • Equipment type.
   • Loan type/purpose.
     
     

Once an individual has been identified and verified, the TFS representative must also ensure that this individual is authorised to discuss this matter on behalf of the customer.

Reduced Verification

Due to the very nature of our business, TFS sales staff often build strong relationships with customers and the individuals representing those customers, particularly where customers have repeatedly entered into finance agreements arranged by TFS over a considerable passage of time. Where the particular TFS representative who is dealing with an individual, can in that particular instance confirm 3 of the following criteria, at least one of which must be one of the individual criteria set out at 1-3 below, then the TFS representative can follow our reduced verification process.

The criteria are as follows:

1. The TFS representative has known the individual for more than 6 months;
2. The TFS representative has met the individual;
3. The TFS representative has spoken to the individual within the last 48 hours;
4. TFS has arranged finance on behalf of the customer over a period of more than 12 months;
5. TFS has arranged finance for the customer in the last 12 months;
6. All identification information requested from the customer has been provided and is on file;
7. TFS’s customer is an individual (as opposed to a partner or a director of a corporate entity);
8. The customer resides in the UK;
9. The customer has a UK bank account;
10. Written authority on file to deal with this individual.
    
    

In the event that the TFS representative is able to record on the system the relevant criteria, then they may follow a reduced due diligence procedure in respect of that telephone call, which only requires the individual and name of business to be identified, without the additional verification required by our standard process set out above.