Fees, refunds and payments for credit licences

Fees are payable when you apply, renew or change some of your details on a licence. The total amount payable is usually made up of a Consumer Credit Licensing Fee and a Consumer Credit Jurisdiction (CCJ) Levy.

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What do I have to pay?

The Consumer Credit Licensing Fee covers the cost of considering and processing your application. The CCJ levy is an industry levy to fund the Financial Ombudsman Service. For more detailed information on the CCJ levy see General Notice 85 - Funding of the Consumer Credit Jurisdiction including contributions imposed on applicants for a standard consumer credit licence or renewal of such a licence (pdf 88kb).

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How much does it cost to get a new licence or to renew one?

If you are a sole trader the total cost is £585, made up of:

• £435- Consumer Credit Licensing Fee
• £150 - CCJ Levy.

If you are a partnership, company or other organisations the total cost is £1225, made up of: 

• £1075 - Consumer Credit Licensing Fee
• £150 - CCJ Levy.

There are different fees for:

• applying for group licences
• validating your agreements

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Do I have to pay?

You are unlikely to have to pay if the application relates solely to debt adjusting and/or debt counselling and/or the provision of credit information services where neither the applicant or any associate of the business charges a fee in the course of any credit business or ancillary credit business - or if you are a friendly society or credit union registered in the appropriate manner.

Additionally, you do not have to pay the CCJ levy if your business is subject to the Compulsory Jurisdiction of the Ombudsman Scheme, for example, because it is directly authorised by the Financial Services Authority.

For more information on fees see General Notice 88 - consumer credit fees (pdf 54kb).

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How much does it cost to change the details on a licence?

There is a fee to vary your licence, but no fee to notify us. Find out which details need to be varied and which can be notified.

The fees to varying a licence are:

• £80 - for the first change
• £60 - for each subsequent change
• £80 - to add or delete licence Categories

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How much is the licence maintenance fee?

The majority of licences granted after 6 April 2008 are indefinite. If you hold an indefinite licence you will be expected to pay a maintenance fee. As with all fees for credit licensing, the amount and frequency of maintenance payments will need to be approved by Ministers from BIS and Treasury, before being duly notified to the licensed population

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Can I get a refund?

A full refund of the Consumer Credit Licensing fee will be given:

• if an application is made because the OFT gave incorrect information
• if an application is withdrawn within two working days of being received by the OFT.

A full refund of the CCJ levy will be given:

• if an application is made because the OFT gave incorrect information
• if an application is withdrawn or refused for any reason
• where no levy is payable but payment has mistakenly been made
• if before, or on the day the licence is issued, the applicant becomes subject to the compulsory jurisdiction of the Ombudsman Scheme.

You will also be refunded if you make an overpayment.

A 50 per cent refund of the Consumer Credit Licensing fee will be given if an application is withdrawn between three and 15 working days of being received by the OFT.

No refund will be given on the Consumer Credit Licensing fee if a licence is refused or is withdrawn after 15 working days of receipt.

For more information on refunds see General Notice 48 - Refunds of fees in respect of consumer credit licence applications (pdf 124kb).

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How do I make a payment?

You can pay by credit or debit card when you apply online. We accept payments by Visa, Visa Delta, Mastercard, Solo and Maestro/Switch.

Payments do not have to be made with cards in the name of the applicant; they can be made on your behalf by a third party.

If you can not make a payment in this way please call the Enquiries team on 08457 22 44 99 or email enquiries@oft.gsi.gov.uk. The office is open from 9am to 5pm.

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