Brokers are still struggling to file their retail mediation activities returns (RMAR) because the FSA's online system rejects complex financial information, Insurance Times has learned.

The continuing problems come a year after the FSA was forced to put back the deadline for the RMAR returns because of "teething problems" with the online system.

Particular problems arise in broking chains, where brokers are required to inform the FSA of how much commission is earned by each broker. Brokers and compliance experts said the online reporting system was not able to accommodate this.

"Because of this you find that everyone in the broking chain is putting down the top figure, just so they can file their returns," said one broker.

"It doesn't actually give an accurate refelection of who is doing what, and how much money they earn from it."

Gary Dixon, managing director of compliance.co.uk said: "There are a number of circumstances where brokers will not have the information required of them and so willl just put in the whole number instead.

"We constantly find there are people who don't know what they are doing. It is so difficult to work out, I don't think it has improved in the last year."

An FSA spokeswoman said: "Brokers have been given several warnings to say the RMAR must be completed one to three weeks ahead of the deadline.

"We have not been informed of any problems regarding this specific area."

Topics