First Merchant Processing (UK) Limited: FCA regulated?

Authorised by the FCA

This firm is on the FCA register and authorised to carry out regulated activities.

Authorised for 3 years
Your funds are safeguarded
No FCA actions
Active company since 2021

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.

Website

aibms.com (opens in a new tab)
Phone number

07704 672886
Address

Janus House, Endeavour Drive, Basildon, Essex, SS14 3WF, United Kingdom

In the full report: 3 background checks

When aibms.com first appeared online, and whether it can receive email
What kind of line 07704 672886 is
Who else gives the postcode SS14 3WF

Other names (1)

If you were contacted under any of these names, it is this firm.

AIB Merchant Services Trading name: A name it trades under now.

FCA permissions and consumer protection

Handle payments & transfers Funds safeguarded
Your money must be kept in a separate safeguarded account. If the firm fails, all safeguarded funds should be returned to you. With no upper limit, unlike the capped amounts under FSCS. Safeguarding works differently from FSCS, but protects your full balance when the rules are followed correctly.
Complaints Ombudsman, free
You can refer a complaint about this firm to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free, whichever activity it relates to.

Show FCA detail (2 permissions)

3. Executing payment transactions (no credit line)
5. Issuing and/or acquiring of payment instruments.

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: 13748155 (opens Companies House in a new tab)
Company status: Active
Company type: Private limited company
Incorporated: 17 November 2021 (4 years old)
Registered office: C/O Aib Merchant Services Janus House, Endeavour Drive, Basildon, Essex, SS14 3WF, United Kingdom
Nature of business: Management consultancy activities other than financial management (SIC 70229)

Directors and company secretaries

Name	Role	Born	Appointed	Other companies
Hamish Cameron Galbraith Marr	Director	Mar 1962	29 Mar 2023	None
Christopher Martin Foskett	Director	Sep 1957	29 Mar 2023	None
Rajan Verma	Director	Oct 1973	8 Aug 2024	None
Gary Von Lehmden	Director	Sep 1954	11 Dec 2024	None
Chelsea Hallman	Director	Apr 1987	27 Jun 2025	None
Lara Byrne	Director	Dec 1974	18 Aug 2025	None

In the full report: every company its directors have run

Confirmation that these 6 directors run no other company
All 17 people who have been directors, with their dates

Key dates in its history

First Merchant Processing (UK)’s history from the FCA register and Companies House, newest first.

Key events (4) All events (33)

2023

7 July 2023

Regulated by the FCA from this date
Became an authorised payment institution

FCA register

2021

17 November 2021

Incorporated at Companies House
Zolter Services Designated Activity Company took control (75–100% of shares)

Companies House

In the full report: all 33 events

All 33 events in its history (4 shown here)
Every director appointment and resignation: 28

Firms connected to First Merchant Processing (UK)

Other FCA-listed firms that share a director, phone number or address with First Merchant Processing (UK). A link shows who the firm is tied to, not whether either can be trusted.

connected firms: 3
share its postcode: 3

In the full report: all 3 connected firms, named

How each is linked: the same postcode (3)
Who links each one: the named directors, with dates

Firms like First Merchant Processing (UK)

Other firms of the same type (payment or money transfer firm), nearest first.

In Basildon

First Data Europe LimitedBasildonAuthorised

In the Southend-on-Sea (SS) postcode area

Sedel Capital LLPBenfleetRegistered

Elsewhere in the UK

Uber Payments UK LimitedLondonAuthorised eBay Commerce UK LtdAuthorised Wise Payments LimitedLondonAuthorised HiFX Europe LimitedBracknellAuthorised

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 First Merchant Processing (UK)

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

Every company its directors have run, named
3 background checks on its contact details
All 33 events in its history
3 connected firms, named, and who links them

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Frequently asked questions about this firm

Is First Merchant Processing (UK) Limited FCA authorised?

Yes, First Merchant Processing (UK) Limited (FRN 978310) is authorised by the FCA to carry out regulated activities. It has held its current authorisation since July 2023 and works as a payment or money transfer firm. The FCA has placed no limits on its permissions.

What is First Merchant Processing (UK)’s phone number and website?

The FCA register lists the phone number 07704 672886 and the website aibms.com for First Merchant Processing (UK). If you were given different contact details, use these to check with the firm before going any further.

Is First Merchant Processing (UK) a scam or clone?

First Merchant Processing (UK) 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 First Merchant Processing (UK)?

It depends on the product, but payment and e-money balances should be safeguarded in a separate account, with no upper limit on the protected amount. You can also refer complaints about First Merchant Processing (UK) to the Financial Ombudsman Service, free of charge.

Who owns First Merchant Processing (UK)?

First Merchant Processing (UK) is owned by Zolter Services Designated Activity Company, which holds 75–100% of shares and 75–100% of votes, since 17 November 2021.

Who runs First Merchant Processing (UK)?

Companies House lists 6 directors of First Merchant Processing (UK): Hamish Cameron Galbraith Marr, Christopher Martin Foskett, Rajan Verma, Gary Von Lehmden, Chelsea Hallman and Lara Byrne.

How long has First Merchant Processing (UK) been in business?

The company was formed on 17 November 2021, and has held its current FCA authorisation since July 2023.

Does First Merchant Processing (UK) use any other names?

It trades as AIB Merchant Services.