The firms have gone out of business and are unable to meet any compensation claims themselves.

The bill for compensation, up to £85,000 per consumer claim, will now be picked up by the FSCS and ultimately the regulated financial sector.

The firms declared in default include several financial advice and Financial Planning firms, major SIPP provider Hartley Pensions, a Portuguese-based firm and Liverpool-based stockbroker and investment manager Blankstone Sington.

 Firms declared in default from 1 February 2024 to 31 March 2024 (12 firms): 

• Pension Advice Specialists Limited, trading as Ashworth Wealth (FRN 792927), Marshall House, 2 Park Avenue, Sale, M33 6HE
• Abbey Lane Financial Associates Limited (FRN 649170) 15 Chapel Street, Woodhouse, Sheffield, S13 7JL
• Aqua Financial Services Limited, formerly Aqua IFA Limited (FRN 228652), Kingsley Hall, 20 Bailey Lane, M90 4AN
• Strategic Investment Solutions Limited, formerly Cobco (291) Limited trading as Denton Mortgages & Loans (FRN 230902), 55-57 Wilmslow Road, Handforth, Cheshire, SK9 3EN
• Fresh Financial Solutions LLP (FRN 471129), Scottish Provident House, 7 Donegall Square West, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 6JH
• A.P. Financial Services UK Limited, trading as Pella Associates, GW Financial Planning Services (FRN 218973), Unit 2, Uffcott Farm, Wiltshire, SN4 9NB
• Hartley Pensions Limited (FRN 735936), 26 Grosvenor Street, London W1K 4QW
• Frodsham Financial Planning Limited, formerly Tom Carroll Associates Financial Planning Limited (FRN 214554), 818 Manchester Road, Castleton, Rochdale, OL11 3AW
• Sterling Green Limited, trading as Sterling Green Loans, beyondcomparison (FRN 469956), Grosvenor House, 3 Chapel Street, Congleton, CW12 4AB
• Abana Unipessoal Lda, formerly Abana Lda (FRN 597069), Avenida 25 de Abril 1011, N.º 50, Cascais, 2750515, Portugal
• Blankstone Sington Limited, trading as BS CFDs (FRN 143694), Walker House Exchange Flags Liverpool L2 3YL
• Dial4aloan Limited (FRN 305186), Mere Way, Ruddington Fields Business Park, Ruddington, Nottingham, NG11 6NZ

Emma Barrow, head of communications at the FSCS, said: “It’s hard to know where to turn for help when a financial company that owes you money goes out of business.

“If you’re a customer of a UK-regulated financial services firm that has stopped trading, FSCS may be able to step in to pay compensation. It’s completely free to claim directly through us and our expert claims handlers are on hand to help make the process as easy as possible.”