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FAQs

Is Hallbrook regulated?

Hallbrook is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN837713).

 

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Can I make a complaint myself?

Yes you can make a complaint directly yourself completely free.  You do not need to use the services of a third party representative. You can make a complaint directly to the firm and they will need to acknowledge your complaint and respond within the the regulatory time frames. If you are not satisfied with their final decision you can then refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free. If the firm is no longer trading you may be able to seek compensation directly from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.  

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Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) - https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/ 

Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) - https://www.fscs.org.uk/ 

 

How long has Hallbrook been trading?

Hallbrook is a trading name of Hallbrook Partners Limited and we have been trading since 2008. Our company registration number is 06726713.

 

What paperwork do I need for a claim?

You may need to provide copies of contract notes, share certificates and any other paperwork related to your dealings with the firm. However, in most cases we can help you obtain records from third parties. Contact us for more information.

 

Who pays the compensation?

If it’s a claim to the FSCS, then the compensation is paid by charges levied on the financial services industry. Don’t worry, it doesn’t come from the taxpayer. If it’s a complaint to the firm or the Financial Ombudsman Service then the firm will pay you directly.

 

What are your fees?

We do not charge any upfront fees. We only charge a success fee of between 18% and 36% including VAT if you receive compensation.  Our fees reduce with the size of compensation awarded. Awards between £0 - £1,499 are charged at 36% inc vat (capped at a maximum of £504 inc VAT), where as awards of £50,000 and above are charged at 18% Inc VAT (capped at a maximum of £12,000 inc VAT). Please refer to our Terms of Engagement for full details.

 

If you cancel your agreement within 14 days there will be no charge. If you wish to cancel the agreement after the 14-day cooling-off period but before we have reached a conclusion to your claim and where we have worked on your case, we may charge by the hour for any work that we have undertaken. Our current hourly rate is £100 plus VAT.

 

How do I know you are a reputable firm?

Since 2010, Hallbrook has recovered more than £60million in compensation for over 8,000 clients. You can read what some clients had to say on our testimonials page by clicking here. 

You can also see what satisfied clients have had to say on Google reviews by clicking here

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How long does it take?

A claim to the FSCS generally takes around six months to settle but can take longer. A claim to the firm and subsequently the FOS can take much longer than this. Rest assured, we will keep you fully informed at key stages along the way.

 

What’s your success record?

Since 2010, we have recovered over £60 million for our clients, even after the deduction of our fees.

 

What's the maximum compensation?

The FSCS limits compensation to £85,000 per eligible person per firm for firms which failed on or after 1st April 2019. Prior to this date the figure drops to £50,000 per eligible person per firm for firms which failed between 1st January 2010 to 31 March 2019. And finally for firms which failed before this date the maximum amount of compensation is £48,000.

 

The Financial Ombudsman Service can rule up to £355,000 for complaints referred to the FOS on or after 1 April 2020 about acts or omissions by firms which occurred on or after 1st April 2019. For complaints about acts or omissions by firms before 1 April 2019 and which are referred to the FOS after that date the limit is £160,000.

 

If you accept an award made in an ombudsman's final decision, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to take the firm to court for more compensation later. We can’t give you legal advice about this. Therefore, you’ll need to seek independent legal advice if that’s something you’re considering, before you accept any award.

 

There are time limits on taking a case to court, and these continue to run while the Financial Ombudsman Service handles a case. Again, you should get independent legal advice if this is relevant to you.

 

Who receives the compensation?

If a claim is successful, then Hallbrook usually receive payment within 5 days of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme decision letter. After receiving the compensation, our fee will be deducted as agreed, and the balance will be paid to you by cheque or BACS within two working days.

 

What happens to my shares?

Quite simply, you still own the shares. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme will value your shares at the date the stockbroker was declared in default. If the shares held a value at that date, it will be deducted from the price you paid for them.

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