Applying online - please read before accessing online application forms

With effect from 6 April 2008 the Office of Fair Trading will have a duty to implement the requirements of the new Consumer Credit Act. As a result we will be looking closely at all applicants who apply for or who currently hold certain categories of licence indicating activities that we consider high risk to consumers. Through the licensing process the OFT will seek to identify businesses that reflect a higher risk and will apply a higher degree of scrutiny to the application and subsequent monitoring and supervision of such businesses.

Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to apply for a licence that only covers those activities they propose to carry out. Including a high risk activity in your licence when you do not need to do so will mean that your application could be subject to more detailed examination in due course and you will have to provide additional information that otherwise may not be required. We may also need to visit you onsite. This will add to the time we need to consider your application.

Please see the general guidance for licensees and applicants on fitness and requirements (pdf 147 kb) for more information.

Online applications are not suitable for organisations or individuals who are not required to make a payment

Organisations and individuals who are not required to make a payment:  

• a debt counsellor or debt adjuster - provided you do not charge a fee or commission for any services, whether or not those services relate to consumer credit activities, or
• a registered loan society or credit union.

Take a note of your unique reference number

We strongly advise you to make an accurate note of your unique form reference number, which is a 12 digit alpha numeric number (for example OYW3JB202FZ7). This reference is provided to you on the fourth page after you have selected your type of organisation. You can save your application and retrieve it later, but only if you have this number. We will be unable to retrieve your form for you prior to submission if you lose this number.

You must fill in all the information before you can submit the form

If you don't complete a question you will receive a message at the end, prompting you to go back and supply the information required. You may wish to save the application at that point (making sure you have noted down your unique form number, see above) and return to your application when you have the missing information.

Your application form must be completed within 45 days of starting it

Forms are saved for up to 45 days after the last time it is updated. There is no time limit on how long it takes to complete a form once it has been created, provided each update is made within 45 days of the last update. After this, your form will be automatically deleted from the system.

Note that payment is by credit or debit card only

We accept payment using the following cards:

• Visa
• Visa Delta
• Mastercard
• Solo
• Maestro/Switch

Your browser must support Javascript. The online forms have been tested using Internet Explorer 6.0 and above, and Mozilla Firefox 1 and 2.

No other forms of payment will be accepted online at present. If you need to pay by other means you will need to send in a paper application form.

Fees

Details of fees are available here.

Note that most applicants (including appointed representatives of firms directly authorised by the FSA) are required to pay the consumer credit jurisdiction industry levy in addition to the licence fee at the same time as you apply to be licensed or you make an application to renew your licence.

You will need to print the final page of your application

At the end of the process, after card payment, you will be required to print and sign a declaration (only original signatures will be accepted) and post it to us.

If you have a problem using the form

Check the troubleshooting guide (pdf 430 kb), which deals with common questions and problems.

If this doesn't help, contact the Enquiries team on 08457 22 44 99.

They can help you with a variety of issues related to applying online.

Please note, the Enquiries team cannot offer technical advice on PC or network issues.

The office is open from 9am-1pm and from 2pm-5pm. You can also email enquiries@oft.gsi.gov.uk.

Start the online application process. 

Back to: Consumer credit licences