First Rate Exchange Services Ltd: FCA regulated?

Authorised by the FCA

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

Authorised for 8 years
Your funds are safeguarded
No FCA actions
Active company since 2001

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.

No website on the FCA register
Phone number

020 7937 0280
Address

Botanica Ditton Park, Riding Ct Rd, Datchet, SL3 9LL, United Kingdom

In the full report: 2 background checks

What kind of line 020 7937 0280 is
Who else gives the postcode SL3 9LL

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 (8 permissions)

a) Services enabling cash placement on a payment account
b) Services enabling cash withdrawals from a payment account
c) Execution of payment transactions (not covered by a credit line)
d) Execution of payment transactions (covered by a credit line)
e) Issuing payment instruments or acquiring payment transactions
f) Money remittance
g) Execution of payment transactions via telecoms, IT system or network operator
h) Issuing Electronic Money

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 name: FIRST RATE EXCHANGE SERVICES LIMITED
Company number: 04287490 (opens Companies House in a new tab)
Company status: Active
Company type: Private limited company
Incorporated: 14 September 2001 (25 years old)
Registered office: Botanica, Ditton Park, Riding Court Road, Datchet, SL3 9LL, United Kingdom
Nature of business: Banks (SIC 64191)
Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified (SIC 64999)
Other business support service activities not elsewhere classified (SIC 82990)

Directors and company secretaries

Name	Role	Born	Appointed	Other companies
Andrew James Macgregor Hardie	Director	Apr 1967	20 May 2011	1 other company
Sharon Anne Cross	Director	Apr 1972	19 Jun 2019	1 other company
Daniel Aryeh Ehreich	Director	Aug 1980	27 Sep 2021	2 other companies
Matt Garrood	Director	Apr 1978	21 Nov 2023	1 other company
George Higginson	Director	Oct 1963	13 May 2024	1 other company
Gail Louise Goldie	Director	May 1979	20 May 2024	2 other companies
Ross Borkett	Director	Feb 1986	7 Oct 2024	1 other company
Thomas David Wright	Director	Mar 1975	10 Jun 2025	None
Dominic Peter Grounsell	Director	Dec 1978	18 Sep 2025	1 other company
Edward Michael Dutton	Director	Oct 1969	18 Sep 2025	10 other companies
Neil James Brocklehurst	Director	Jul 1976	18 Sep 2025	3 other companies
John Edward Michael Dillon	Secretary	Not published	16 May 2025	–

Other companies run by these 11 directors

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 companies: 14
closed down: 2
are FCA-registered: 9

In the full report: all 14 companies, named

What each company does, and whether it is still trading
Which of these 11 directors sit on each board, and since when
Any that went into liquidation or administration
The 9 on the FCA register
The 1 company these 11 directors run together
All 63 people who have ever been directors, with their dates

Key dates in its history

First Rate Exchange Services’s history from the FCA register and Companies House, newest first.

Key events (6) All events (121)

2018

4 April 2018

Regulated by the FCA from this date
No longer regulated by the FCA
Became an authorised e-money institution

FCA register

2016

6 April 2016

First Rate Exchange Services Holdings Limited took control (75–100% of shares)

Companies House

2015

14 September 2015

Regulated by the FCA from this date

FCA register

2001

14 September 2001

Incorporated at Companies House

Companies House

In the full report: all 121 events

All 121 events in its history (6 shown here)
Every director appointment and resignation: 115

Firms connected to First Rate Exchange Services

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

connected firms: 9
no longer authorised: 1
share a director: 6

In the full report: all 9 connected firms, named

How each is linked: shared directors (6), the same postcode (3)
Who links each one: the named directors, with dates
3 past links through former directors

Firms like First Rate Exchange Services

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

In the Slough (SL) postcode area

Express Links International LimitedSunninghillRegistered Forex Money Transfer LimitedSloughRegistered Marshal Remit LtdSloughRegistered Nexpay LimitedGerrards CrossAuthorised

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 Rate Exchange Services

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

14 other companies its directors have run, named
2 background checks on its contact details
All 121 events in its history
9 connected firms, named, and who links them

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Frequently asked questions about this firm

Is First Rate Exchange Services Ltd FCA authorised?

Yes, First Rate Exchange Services Ltd (FRN 900412) is authorised by the FCA to carry out regulated activities. It has held its current authorisation since April 2018 and works as a payment or money transfer firm. The FCA has placed no limits on its permissions.

What is First Rate Exchange Services’ phone number?

The FCA register lists the phone number 020 7937 0280 for First Rate Exchange Services. If you were given different contact details, use these to check with the firm before going any further.

Is First Rate Exchange Services a scam or clone?

First Rate Exchange 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 First Rate Exchange Services?

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 Rate Exchange Services to the Financial Ombudsman Service, free of charge.

Who owns First Rate Exchange Services?

First Rate Exchange Services is owned by First Rate Exchange Services Holdings Limited, which holds 75–100% of shares, 75–100% of votes and can appoint and remove the board, since 6 April 2016.

Who runs First Rate Exchange Services?

Companies House lists 11 directors of First Rate Exchange Services: Andrew James Macgregor Hardie, Sharon Anne Cross, Daniel Aryeh Ehreich, Matt Garrood, George Higginson, Gail Louise Goldie and 5 more.

How long has First Rate Exchange Services been in business?

The company was formed on 14 September 2001, and has held its current FCA authorisation since April 2018.