Tag: Barclays

FCA IRHP Review - KPMG whistleblower: RBS fought to reduce size of interest rate swap redress

FCA IRHP Review – KPMG whistleblower: RBS fought to reduce size of interest rate swap redress

A KPMG whistleblower revealed that RBS pressured the FCA Interest Rate Hedging Product (IRHP) redress scheme to reduce compensation payouts, often challenging claims over £750,000. RBS preferred offering alternative products rather than cash refunds and frequently argued sales were compliant to avoid redress. The FCA’s review was criticised for lacking independence, allowing banks to self-assess wrongdoing, causing unfair delays and rejections of consequential loss claims. Many SMEs have been short-changed due to these flaws, highlighting the need for urgent legal advice and challenge of unfair redress offers.

HMRC Tax Disputes Litigation Solicitors Office Barrister London

HMRC Advice for the tax treatment of Interest Rate Hedging Products (IRHP Review) redress payments

HMRC has issued tax advice leaflets for banks to hand to customers receiving redress from mis-sold Interest Rate Hedging Products (IRHP), urging correct tax return reporting. Affected banks must review sales since 2001 under FCA supervision, leading to customer compensation. Redress payments, consisting of basic redress, 8% compensatory interest, and consequential losses, are generally taxable income or subject to capital gains tax. Individuals should account for tax deducted from interest. HMRC recommends consulting an accountant for complex scenarios.

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Barclays’ attempt to strike-out swaps mis-selling claim (on limitation defence) dismissed by High Court

The High Court dismissed Barclays’ attempt to strike out a swaps mis-selling claim as time-barred under the six-year limitation period. The claimant relied on section 14A of the Limitation Act 1980, which extends the limitation period by three years from when the claimant knew or ought to have known the relevant facts. The court held there was a real prospect that the claimant did not know enough to investigate the claim until later, rejecting Barclays’ argument that earlier interest payments triggered the limitation clock. This ruling supports claimants in overcoming time-bar defences in swaps cases.

Barclays’ appeal in ‘LIBOR test case’ dismissed by Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal dismissed Barclays’ appeal in the ‘LIBOR test case’ (Graiseley v Barclays), allowing claims that banks made fraudulent implied representations regarding LIBOR’s honesty to proceed to trial. The judgment rejects Barclays’ argument that there is no cause of action for failing to disclose dishonesty. The court held that banks proposing LIBOR-based transactions arguably represented the rate’s integrity. This ruling opens the door for LIBOR manipulation claims to be tried in court.

Britain’s New Banking Scandal

BBC Panorama exposes costly bank ‘swap’ scandal

BBC Panorama featured LEXLAW as we helped expose a major bank swap scandal, with widespread mis-selling of complex derivatives to SMEs. Despite a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) redress scheme reviewing nearly 30,000 cases, only 32 businesses had received payouts at the time of the report.

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Interest Rate Swaps Mis-selling: FCA Publishes IRHP Review Statistics

The FCA’s update on the IRHP mis-selling review reveals severe delays, with only 10 final redress offers accepted out of over 30,000 cases after 14 months. RBS, with the largest review population, lags behind, still classifying many customers. Only 2% of sales have completed compliance assessment, with 93% found non-compliant.

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‘FCA Review’ of Interest Rate Hedging (IRHP) Sales: Written Statement or ‘Fact Find’ Interview?

The FCA/FSA Hedging Review is conducted by the banks, not the regulator, and involves recorded interviews or fact-find meetings with customers. These interviews can be one-sided, with the bank’s lawyers asking questions designed to limit compensation. Customers often have limited rights to access bank records or challenge questions. A written statement, prepared with legal guidance, can be a safer way to present the sales experience without the risks of interviews.

Barclays announce 2012 results – Provision for swaps mis-selling £850 million

Barclays Bank announced an £850 million provision for interest rate hedging product (swaps) mis-selling in 2012, with around 4,000 affected customers, approximately 3,000 deemed non-sophisticated. This suggests an average provision of £280,000 per customer. Lexlaw estimates that total liabilities for major banks, including Barclays and RBS, could reach several £billion pounds.