Terms and Conditions – Acorn Money

1. About Acorn Money

Acorn Money Limited referred to in these terms and conditions as “Acorn Money Ltd”, “Acorn Money, “we” or “us” or “our”, a company registered in England (Company Registration number 09272496). Registered address: 2 Union Square, Darlington DL1 1GL

Acorn Money Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The Financial Conduct Authority is the independent watchdog that regulates financial services. Our FCA Register number is 678606. You can check our status and permissions at www.fca.org.uk/register or by contacting the FCA on 0800 111 6768. Our permitted business is home finance advising and arranging, consumer credit broking and non-investment insurance mediation. We are not a lender. Acorn Money Limited is a data controller under the Data Protection Act 1998, and is listed on the data protection register, Registration number ZA085314.

2. Governing Law and Language

These Terms and Conditions are subject to English Law and the jurisdiction of the English Courts. We will use the English language for all communications, the contractual terms and conditions and any information we are required to supply to you.

Website Terms and Conditions

3. Introduction

These Terms and Conditions apply to your use of the website acornmoney.com, whether as a registered user or guest. Please read carefully before using the website. By using the website, you accept these terms and conditions and agree to obey them. If you do not accept them, please do not use the website. We will review these Terms regularly and any changes will be updated here. You are responsible for regularly checking these Terms and your continued use of the Site will mean that you accept any amendments to the Terms.

4. Website Use

Please read our Privacy and Cookies Policy which sets out how we collect and process your data. By using the Site you confirm you have read our Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy and that you consent to such processing. You must treat all identification codes, passwords and other security information as confidential. If we think you have failed to keep confidentiality or otherwise misused your access to the site, we are allowed to disable any security information (including your passwords and codes).

We take care to ensure that the information contained on our website is accurate, but cannot and do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of information, content or other postings on our website.

We provide this site in good faith and take efforts to ensure our website is not subject to malicious software, however we cannot guarantee that our site will be free of viruses or harmful software. Please ensure that you have appropriate protection against viruses and other security arrangements in place whilst using the Internet.

We do not accept any liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental or other type of loss or injury resulting from your use, or downloading of any content on our site. Any misuse of this website or related database e.g. disruption of service, misuse of data, attempts to gain unauthorised access to any part of the site or database, attempts to introduce viruses, worms, Trojans and other technologically harmful or damaging material will be treated as a criminal offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and will be reported to the authorities along with any identifying information.

5. Copyright

All material contained in our website is owned or licensed by Acorn Money Limited or third party lenders, insurers and related companies. You may download or print extracts for your personal use only but must not otherwise copy or distribute or make use any part of the website without our written permission and specifically must not use any part of our website for commercial gain. Logos and trademarks used on this website are either our or third party registered and unregistered Trademarks. All rights are reserved. You must not use any of our logos or trademarks without our express prior approval and you may not use any third party logos or trademarks.

6. Links to third parties

Our website may contain links to websites of interest. However once you have used these links to leave our site, you should know that we do not have any control over these other websites. We do not accept responsibility for the accuracy, content or services of third parties and their websites. Our privacy policy and terms and conditions relate to this website only, please check the relevant policies on any third party websites. You may hypertext link to the homepage of this website acornmoney.com provided it does not imply or claim an association with Acorn Money Limited or any approval or endorsement on our part where none exists. Such link must not be used in a misleading or defamatory context. You may also create links to other pages forming part of the website. We reserve the right to ask you to remove any links to our site and its pages or files at our own discretion.

Terms and Conditions for our Products and Services.

7. Acceptance

These Terms and Conditions set out the agreement between us by which we offer our products and services to you. This agreement should be read alongside our Initial Disclosure Document. Please read all of the information carefully. If you have any questions, please contact us.

8. Our Services and Regulatory Status Disclosure

Mortgages and Home Purchase Plans

We offer mortgages and home purchase plans from the whole market.

We will advise and make a recommendation for you after we have assessed your needs.

There is no charge for the initial appointment and factfind. We will charge a fixed fee of £349 for residential mortgages and home purchase plans; and £499 for Buy to Let applications if you decide to proceed to recommendation and application.

We will not charge your fee if a lender rejects your application. However if you decide not to proceed with a successful application your fee will not be refunded.

We may receive a commission from the lender or plan provider if your application is successful.

Insurance (except GAP insurance and motor insurance)
We offer mortgages and home purchase plans from the whole market.

We will advise and make a recommendation for you after we have assessed your needs.

We will not charge your fee if a lender rejects your application. However if you decide not to proceed with a successful application your fee will not be refunded.

We may receive a commission from the lender or plan provider if your application is successful.

Please note:

Nothing provided by us including, but not limited to, sales and marketing literature, quotes and other documents constitutes a contractual offer capable of acceptance. A legally binding contract will be created between you and the Lender or Insurer on your acceptance of their terms and conditions and their confirmation of the contract.

Any loan or other product or service which you obtain via Acorn Money Limited will be subject to the terms and conditions of the relevant product provider. Before proceeding with any loan or insurance or other product or service with the product provider, you should read its terms and conditions carefully and ensure you have correctly provided all the required information. If appropriate seek independent advice. You must also ensure that any changes in the details provided are promptly notified to Us if prior to completion of the contract and to the Lender or Insurer.

You must be at least 18 years of age and a UK resident to apply for the products and services we offer.

9. Use of your personal information

We will hold information you provide to us on our computers and exchange the information that you provide to us with credit reference agencies, third party lenders, finance brokers, insurance companies and other brokers or agents for the purpose of obtaining quotations and arranging cover and fraud prevention.
By making an application with us you are giving your consent to your details being used in this way.
If you are a joint applicant or if you have told Us of some other financial association with another person, you must be sure that you are entitled to: disclose information about your joint applicant and anyone referred to by you; and authorise Us to use their information as described above, and autohorise Us to search, link or record information at Credit Reference Agencies about you and anyone referred to by you.
Please see our full Privacy and Cookies Policy

10. Duty of Disclosure

You must take reasonable care to answer all questions honestly and to the best of your knowledge when applying for a loan or insurance product. If you fail to do so your policy may be cancelled, or treated as if it never existed, or your insurance claim may not be fully paid. You are responsible for checking the terms of any loan agreement or insurance policy to ensure it meets your needs.

11. Client Money

We may hold Client Money in relation to insurance premiums received before onward payment to the insurer. All client money is held in a statutory trust account separate from our own office accounts. This means that in the event of the firm’s failure, clients’ monies are protected against claims of general creditors whose entitlements will be subordinated to those of our clients’. All Client Money is held at an approved bank and in accordance with the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) Rules. By accepting these Terms and Conditions you consent to the firm holding your money in this way.

12. Complaints

Our aim is always to provide our customers with a first-class service; however we are aware that, occasionally, it is possible that we may fail to meet your expectations. If for any reason we have not met your expectations, please contact us. If you are dissatisfied with our response, you may have a right to refer your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service depending on the nature of your complaint.

Please see our Complaints Policy.

13. Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)

The FSCS is the UK’s statutory fund of last resort for customers of authorised financial services firms. Compensation is usually payable if an authorised firm is unable or unlikely to pay claims usually because it has ceased trading or become insolvent.

If we are unable to meet our obligations to you, you may be entitled to compensation from the FSCS.

If we have advised or arranged insurance for you this will be covered for 90% of a claim, without any upper limit. However compulsory classes of insurance (such as motor insurance) are covered for 100% of a claim.

Mortgage, Home Purchase Plan and Equity Release advising and arranging is covered up to a maximum limit of £50,000.

Further information is available from the FSCS helpline on 0207 892 7300 and www.fscs.org.uk.

14. Liability

We will use the information you supply to identify loans and insurance products that may meet your needs. Although we will make every effort to find suitable products for your needs, we accept no responsibility or liability whatsoever for loss or damage you may suffer in the event that the loans, insurance or other product or service you apply for does not meet your requirements or is not suitable for you. It is your responsibility to comply with the terms and conditions of any policy you purchase in full and we accept no liability should you fail or cease to comply with them. For this reason we would request that you read all documentation before you purchase. Having made no recommendation as to the suitability of a product we accept no liability for any losses or damages occurring as a result of your non-compliance. Nothing in these Terms shall exclude the liability of Acorn Money Limited for personal injury or death caused by its negligence, or its liability for fraudulent misrepresentation or fraud or for any other liability which cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

15. Events Outside of Our Control (Force Majeure)

We will not be liable for any failure or delay in performing Our obligations where that failure or delay results from any cause that is beyond Our reasonable control. Such causes include, but are not limited to: power failure, internet service provider failure, industrial action, civil unrest, fire, explosion, flood, storms, earthquakes, subsidence, acts of terrorism, acts of war, governmental action, epidemic or other natural disaster, or any other event that is beyond Our control. If any event described under this Clause 17 occurs that is likely to adversely affect Our performance of any of Our obligations under these Terms and Conditions, (a)We will inform you as soon as is reasonably possible;

(b) Our obligations under these Terms and Conditions will be suspended, and

We will inform you when the event outside of Our control is over and provide details of any new dates, times or availability of Services as necessary.

16. Cancellation Rights and Refunds

Please refer to your Lender or Insurer documentation in relation to your cancellation rights.

Mortgages

You have a 7 day reflection period following receipt of a mortgage acceptance. During this time you can choose to not proceed without cancellation charges.

Insurance

Non-life Insurance: You have 14 days from receipt of your policy documentation to cancel your policy and get a refund (this is your “cooling off” period). To cancel your policy please contact the policy provider within the 14 day cooling off period.
Life Insurance: You have 30 days from receipt of your policy documentation to cancel your policy and get a refund (this is your “cooling off” period To cancel your policy please contact the policy provider within the 30 day cooling off period.