The Lloyds Banking Group which includes lenders such as Halifax and BM Solutions have recently introduced changes to their process of registering appointed representatives from the Connect Mortgages network to their broker panel. These changes will affect advisers looking to register for:
(i) the first time, as well as
(ii) advisers already registered
The new process requires two dedicated Connected Administrators (one primary and one deputy) to be registered as the administrator for the appointed representative firm via their lender-issued Panel Number. Therefore, if you feel that you will need to use a lender from the Lloyds Banking Group in the near future, then please contact the Connect Mortgages Registrations Team or Members Support at the earliest opportunity. For further information on what you need to do, please read on.
Introduction
The Lloyds Banking Group which includes lenders such as Halifax, BM Solutions/Birmingham Midshires, Lloyds Bank, Scottish Widows and Bank of Scotland have recently introduced changes to their process of registering advisers to their lender panel. These changes will affect advisers and broker firms looking to register for the first time as well as those already registered. These changes may result in delays in the processing of registrations. Therefore, if you feel that you will need to use a lender from the Lloyds Banking Group in the near future then please contact the Connect Mortgages Registrations Team or Members Support at the earliest opportunity, so that we can monitor the registration or re-registration process.
The following instructions apply to Halifax and BM Solution registrations. Further information will be provided in due course concerning the other lenders in the Lloyds Banking Group.
New registrations
Step by step instructions:
Step 1: The appointed representative firm should e-mail the Registrations Department at Connect Mortgages and notify them that they wish to register with either Halifax or BM Solutions.
Step 2: The Customer Service Adviser at Connect Mortgages will send the appointed representative the following:
- A link to the lender’s User Registration web page.
https://www.halifax-intermediaries.co.uk/placing_business/register/default.aspx , or
https://www.bmsolutions.co.uk/amend-company-details/
- Details of the Connect Administrator who will be the dedicated primary contact for the appointed representative firm.
- Details of the Connect Administrator who will be the dedicated deputy contact for the appointed representative firm.
Please note that the Connect Administrators will be registered in addition to any administrator that the appointed representative firm wish to appoint themselves, subject to satisfying the lenders due diligence.
Step 3: The Appointed Representative completes the lender’s User Registration web page.
From the landing page, select Option 1 – Register to join our Panel.
Follow the instructions given, using the type of request New contact (new to Halifax).
This request will then be dealt with by the lender’s panel team who will carry out the necessary due diligence. Provided this is satisfactory, a panel registration number for the appointed representative firm linked to the firm’s registered address will be issued. This may take up to 5 working days.
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The appointed representative must have already set up the panel number before any administrators can register. |
Step 4: The appointed representative will then receive an e-mail confirming that a panel number has been set up and inviting them to register themselves against this panel number by using the link provided by Connect Mortgages, and selecting Option 2 – Register online to place business. This will take you to the log in page where you should:
Step 5: Select Step 1 Register now – found on the right hand-side of the screen
This will take you to the Important Information Before You Register, which you should read and then
Step 6: click Next at the bottom of the screen and then
Step 7: select Accept on the screen that follows.
Step 8: On the next screen, there will be more information for you to provide.
Note, if you are the first adviser from your firm to register against this panel, you will need to select the Supervising Consultant option when you arrive at the question concerned with Role.
If there is already an adviser set up for the appointed representative firm and a new adviser wishes to register for the same firm, then they simply go to Option 2 – Register online to place business.
If you have more than one adviser registering against the appointed representative panel and they do not share the same address, the correspondence address does not need to match the address on the panel registration. However, the company details on the right-hand side, must match exactly the panel set up including the postcode.
Step 9: The two Connect Administrators will then need to register against the panel as the dedicated Connect Administrator with Full Access rights for the appointed representative firm.
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An administrator need only register once against each firm’s panel address. It is the brokers responsibility to allocate the administrator to their account. |
Step 10: In order to register as an administrator please click on the following link:
https://www.halifax-intermediariesonline.co.uk/intermediariesOnline/Login/Public/Login.aspx and then click register entering the role as administrator at the office address.
Step 11: This will then generate a new User ID for the administrator which can be authorised by your BDM.
Step 12: Once the administrator has been authorised and has set up their security, individual advisers can give them full access by following the steps below:
- Log on to Halifax Intermediaries
- Select administration Tools
- Select Maintain Administrators
- Complete details as appropriate and add the administrator.
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Selecting Full Access will allow the administrator to submit and amend applications and upload documents on the consultant’s behalf. Connect Administrators will require this option. |
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Selecting read only access will allow the administrator to view application details and upload documents only. |
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Any appointed representatives who does not have an administrator registered under their FCA firm reference number and linked to their panel number will not be able to have cases keyed on their behalf. |
Existing registrations
All appointed representatives who are already registered with Halifax or BM Solutions should follow the step-by-step instructions described below:
Step 1: The appointed representative should e-mail the Registrations Team at Connect Mortgages to inform them that they wish to update their Halifax or BM Solutions registration. The appointed representative must include their Halifax or BM Solutions panel number in the e-mail.
Step 2: The Connect Mortgages Registration Team will acknowledge receipt of the appointed representatives request and will e-mail them the names of the primary dedicated Connect Administrator as well as the deputy dedicated Connect Administrator who will be assigned to the appointed representative.
Step 3: The appointed representative must re-set their password on the Halifax or BM Solutions Intermediaries page by logging in to the system and under the Administration Tools tab select the Change Password option.
Step 4: The appointed representative then assigns the two Connect Administrators to their panel and allows them Full Access rights.
Step 5: Once Step 4 has been completed, the appointed representative informs the Registrations Team at Connect Mortgages via e-mail that he/she has completed their task.
Step 6: The Connect Administrators will then be able to register as dedicated Administrators for the Appointed Representative under their panel number.
Additional information
Decisions in Principle applications can only be submitted by advisers to lenders directly where the adviser has obtained and currently has the do your own DiP (DYD) permission.
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Full mortgage applications can only be submitted by advisers to lenders directly where the adviser has obtained and currently has the do your own application (DYA) permission.
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Always include the appointed representatives Connect e-mail address in the “additional e-mail field” when keying in an application in order for Connect Mortgages to receive updates on cases. Your Connect e-mail address should be in the format firstname.lastname@connectmc.co.uk. |
Help & Assistance
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For all enquiries concerning registrations please contact Ricky on 01708 973 222, or by e-mail at agencies@connectmortgages.co.uk. |
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Alternatively, please contact the Member Support Team on 01708 988 008, or by e-mail at memberssupport@connectmortgages.co.uk. |
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Halifax online User Guide – https://www.halifax-intermediaries.co.uk/pdf/online-user-guide.pdf |
Reshad Rajabally
Quality Assurance & Risk Manager
Compliance Department