Character Financial Services Limited

Reference number: 1025010

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Appointed representative

This firm does not hold FCA authorisation of its own, and acts under a principal firm, which is legally responsible for its regulated business.

Responsible principal firm

Best Practice IFA Group Limited Reference number: 223112 Authorised View firm →
What does this mean?
  • An appointed representative (AR) can carry out regulated financial services, but is not directly authorised by the FCA. A principal firm holds the authorisation and is legally responsible for the AR's conduct.
  • Character Financial Services Limited (FRN 1025010) is an AR of Best Practice IFA Group Limited (FRN 223112). When you use Character Financial Services's services, the FCA authorisation sits with the principal firm.
  • Example: if you take financial advice from Character Financial Services, complaints and compensation usually follow the same rules as dealing with the principal, but this depends on the product and your circumstances.
  • Before you proceed, confirm contact details match the official FCA register for both firms. Scammers sometimes clone legitimate AR names and FRNs but use fake phone numbers and websites.

Website, phone number and address

Compare these against whatever you were given. Scammers clone real firm names and reference numbers but use their own phone number and website, so a detail that does not match the register is the clearest warning sign there is.

In the full report: 3 background checks

  • When characterfs.com first appeared online, and whether it can receive email
  • What kind of line 01959 581740 is
  • Who else gives the postcode TN16 1AT
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FCA permissions and consumer protection

  • Protection through the principal firm
    Protection works through Best Practice IFA Group Limited, the principal firm responsible for this firm's regulated activity. FSCS cover and the Financial Ombudsman Service apply as they would to the principal.
  • Complaints Ombudsman, free
    You can refer a complaint about this firm to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free, whichever activity it relates to.

FCA disciplinary action and complaints

No FCA disciplinary action.

The Financial Ombudsman Service only publishes complaint figures for firms with 30 or more new complaints in six months, so there are none here for this firm.

Companies House record

The company behind the firm: its status, age, registered office and directors.

Company number
02316414
Company status
Active
Company type
Private limited company
Incorporated
11 November 1988 (37 years old)
Registered office
Winterton House, High Street, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1AT, England
Nature of business
  • Activities of insurance agents and brokers (SIC 66220)

Directors and company secretaries

Name Role Born Appointed Other companies
Paul Blakeney Director Sep 1982 1 Aug 2024 1 other company

Other companies run by its director

A firm is run by people, and their other companies are their track record: what they built, what closed, and anything that failed. It is the check most people never think to make.

other company
1
closed down
1

In the full report: all 1 company, named

  • What each company does, and whether it is still trading
  • Which of its director sits on each board, and since when
  • Any that went into liquidation or administration
  • All 16 people who have ever been directors, with their dates
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Key dates in its history

Character Financial Services’s history from the FCA register and Companies House, newest first.

Key events (3) All events (28)

2025

6 January 2025

  • Became an appointed representative

FCA register

2016

2 September 2016

  • Character Investments Ltd took control (75–100% of shares)

Companies House

1988

11 November 1988

  • Incorporated at Companies House

Companies House

In the full report: all 28 events

  • All 28 events in its history (3 shown here)
  • Every director appointment and resignation: 25
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Firms like Character Financial Services

Other firms of the same type (insurance broker), nearest first.

In Westerham

GS London Markets LtdWesterhamAppointed representativeAcer Services LimitedWesterhamAuthorisedAro Underwriting Group LtdWesterhamAuthorisedPWS Gulf LtdWesterhamAuthorised

Firms are listed by type and location, best known first. Being listed is not a recommendation: check any firm before you deal with it.

Get the full report on Character Financial Services

Everything on this page, plus everything locked above, in one dated PDF you can keep, file or send on.

  • 1 other company its directors have run, named
  • 3 background checks on its contact details
  • All 28 events in its history

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Frequently asked questions about this firm

Is Character Financial Services Limited FCA authorised?
Character Financial Services Limited (FRN 1025010) is not directly authorised. It is an appointed representative acting under the responsibility of a directly authorised principal firm.
What does appointed representative mean for Character Financial Services?
An appointed representative (AR) can carry out regulated financial services, but is not directly authorised by the FCA. A principal firm holds the authorisation and is legally responsible for the AR's conduct. Character Financial Services Limited (FRN 1025010) is an AR of Best Practice IFA Group Limited (FRN 223112). When you use Character Financial Services's services, the FCA authorisation sits with the principal firm. Example: if you take financial advice from Character Financial Services, complaints and compensation usually follow the same rules as dealing with the principal, but this depends on the product and your circumstances. Before you proceed, confirm contact details match the official FCA register for both firms. Scammers sometimes clone legitimate AR names and FRNs but use fake phone numbers and websites.
What is Character Financial Services’ phone number and website?
The FCA register lists the phone number 01959 581740 and the website characterfs.com for Character Financial Services. If you were given different contact details, use these to check with the firm before going any further.
Is Character Financial Services a scam or clone?
Character Financial Services is a genuine FCA-listed firm, and the FCA has published no warnings about fake versions of it. Scammers do copy real firms, though, so check that any contact details you were given match the ones on the register.
Is my money safe with Character Financial Services?
Protection works through Best Practice IFA Group Limited, the principal firm responsible for Character Financial Services's regulated activity. FSCS cover and the Financial Ombudsman Service apply as they would to the principal.
Who owns Character Financial Services?
Character Financial Services is owned by Character Investments Ltd, which holds 75–100% of shares, since 2 September 2016.
Who runs Character Financial Services?
Companies House lists one director of Character Financial Services: Paul Blakeney.
How long has Character Financial Services been in business?
The company was formed on 11 November 1988.

Sources and links

The full report on Character Financial Services Limited

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