Santander Cards Ltd

Reference number: 467596

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On the register, but not FCA authorised

This firm is registered with the FCA for anti-money-laundering checks only, which is why it appears on the register. That is not authorisation: the FCA does not oversee how it treats customers, and FSCS protection does not apply.

What does this mean?
  • Some businesses are required by law to have an anti-money-laundering supervisor. For this kind of business that supervisor is the FCA, and the registration is the only reason the firm appears on the FCA register.
  • What the FCA checks is narrow: that the firm identifies its customers, keeps records, and reports suspicious activity. It is the anti-crime paperwork behind a bank asking you for ID.
  • It does not check anything about you as a customer. Not whether the firm treats you fairly, not whether it is financially sound, not whether what it sells is any good. The FCA describes firms registered this way as “not authorised or subject to wider FCA regulation”.
  • So if the firm fails or treats you badly, there is no FSCS compensation, and the Financial Ombudsman Service usually cannot look at a complaint about unregulated business.

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 santander.com first appeared online, and whether it can receive email
  • What kind of line 0870 607 6000 is
  • Who else gives the postcode NW1 3AN
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Past FCA permissions and consumer protection

  • Money-laundering registration only
    This firm is registered for anti-money-laundering supervision only. It is not FCA-authorised. Money you hand over is not protected by the FSCS, and the Financial Ombudsman Service may not be able to consider a complaint about unregulated business.

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
SANTANDER CARDS LIMITED
Company status
Active
Company type
Private limited company
Incorporated
24 February 2000 (26 years old)
Registered office
2 Triton Square, Regent's Place, London, NW1 3AN
Nature of business
  • Dormant Company (SIC 99999)

Directors and company secretaries

Name Role Born Appointed Other companies
Lee Thomas Grant Director May 1985 8 Aug 2023 24 other companies
Gerald John Davies Director Feb 1986 16 Dec 2024 5 other companies
SANTANDER SECRETARIAT SERVICES LIMITED Corporate secretary Not published 28 Aug 2012 –

Other companies run by these 2 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
26
closed down
2
went insolvent
2

In the full report: all 26 companies, named

  • What each company does, and whether it is still trading
  • Which of these 2 directors sit on each board, and since when
  • The 2 that went into liquidation or administration
  • The 3 companies these 2 directors run together
  • All 35 people who have ever been directors, with their dates
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Key dates in its history

Santander Cards’s history from the FCA register and Companies House, newest first.

2018

13 July 2018

  • No longer regulated by the FCA

FCA register

2016

6 April 2016

  • Santander Cards UK Limited took control (75–100% of shares)

Companies House

2013

1 April 2013

  • Regulated by the FCA from this date

FCA register

2010

29 June 2010

  • Registered with the FCA

FCA register

28 June 2010

  • Regulated by the Financial Services Authority from this date

FCA register

2006

1 August 2006

  • Board replaced: all 3 directors left and 3 new directors took over

Companies House

2000

24 February 2000

  • Incorporated at Companies House

Companies House

In the full report: all 74 events

  • All 74 events in its history (7 shown here)
  • Every director appointment and resignation: 66
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Get the full report on Santander Cards

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

  • 26 other companies its directors have run, named
  • 3 background checks on its contact details
  • All 74 events in its history

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Frequently asked questions about this firm

Is Santander Cards Ltd FCA authorised?
Santander Cards Ltd (FRN 467596) is registered with the FCA under the Money Laundering Regulations only. That is anti-money-laundering supervision, not FCA authorisation, and the FCA does not supervise the firm's conduct.
What is Santander Cards’ phone number and website?
The FCA register lists the phone number 0870 607 6000 and the website santander.com for Santander Cards. If you were given different contact details, use these to check with the firm before going any further.
Is Santander Cards a scam or clone?
Santander Cards is genuinely on the FCA's money-laundering register, so it is not an outright fake, but registration is not authorisation, and scammers impersonate registered firms too. Verify contact details against the register before sending money.
Is my money safe with Santander Cards?
Money you hand to Santander Cards is not protected by the FSCS. Money-laundering registration carries no compensation scheme, and the Financial Ombudsman Service may not be able to consider a complaint about unregulated business.
Who owns Santander Cards?
Santander Cards is owned by Santander Cards UK Limited, which holds 75–100% of shares, 75–100% of votes and can appoint and remove the board, since 6 April 2016.
Who runs Santander Cards?
Companies House lists 2 directors of Santander Cards: Lee Thomas Grant and Gerald John Davies.
How long has Santander Cards been in business?
The company was formed on 24 February 2000.

Sources and links

The full report on Santander Cards Ltd

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