Consultation on the proposed changes to the FCA approved MaPS Standards

The closing date for responses to this consultation is 13th June 2025.

The Financial Guidance and Claims Act 2018 requires MaPS to set standards in relation to persons providing information, advice or guidance. These standards set out, at a high-level, the quality and performance requirement for services MaPS delivers directly or commissions through partners. The aim of the standards is to deliver services that improve consumers’ financial knowledge and in so doing to enable them to make informed decisions.

We launched the current MaPS StandardsOpens in a new window in July 2021 following approval by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).  

Monitoring and enforcement of the standards are a requirement under the Financial Guidance and Claims Act; this consultation follows our recent review of the MaPS standards. It sets out proposed changes. It also follows the FCA’s recent statutory review of the standards.

Since the launch of the standards, over 12,000 case files have been reviewed, this includes cases from across our services and from across a selection of channels, which in total represents over 315,000 individual standards being assessed.

This data, combined with regular engagement sessions with our delivery partners and internal service delivery functions have allowed MaPS to identify areas of improvement in the existing standards, which are set out in this consultation. 

We are interested in receiving feedback and views on:

• The updated MaPS Standards
• The updated definitions that support the MaPS Standards
• The summary of the changes and any changes that may also need to be considered

This consultation will not be reviewing the following:

• How MaPS currently monitor the standards i.e. our quality assurance methodologies
• How MaPS currently enforce the standards i.e. our current performance management framework
• What services we currently commission
• How we commission our services 

The consultation is for organisations and individuals involved in designing and delivering debt advice, pension guidance, pension wise and money guidance. This includes organisations that are currently funded by MaPS or have worked with the MaPS Standards before, as well as organisations who may be interested our future commissioning activity or applying for our funding and delivering our services in the future.

You do not need to answer every question for your response to be considered by MaPS. You can also offer a summary of your views on the proposed changes.

The closing date for responses to this consultation is 13th of June 2025.

Online: Responses should be submitted using the response form: MaPS Standards Consultation response for external consultationOpens in a new window

By email: Where use of the online form would otherwise prevent a response from being submitted, please complete your response in the body of an email or letter, responding to all mandatory questions and making clear which question you are answering for all parts of your response.

Email: [email protected]

Please use the subject header: MaPS Standards consultation 2024 response for email returns.

By post: Please post to the following address: Customer Experience and Quality Team, The Money and Pensions Service, Borough Hall, 138 Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AP.

Please DO NOT share any files which may contain personally identifiable information (PII).

As well as being able to respond with written feedback there will be events taking place during the consultation window to explore ideas in more depth and share feedback through these events. Details of these drop in events can be found below.

Alternatively if you would prefer a one to one session to provide verbal feedback, please email this request through to [email protected] and the team will endeavour to support you.

The MaPS Standads consultation drop in sessions will be held on Microsoft Teams and provide you with:

• A short overview of the consultation
• A summary of the key changes
• The opportunity to provide verbal feedback or ask questions for clarification.