Financial Circle hit with $9 million fine

Financial Circle was found to have engaged in numerous contraventions of financial services, credit and consumer protection laws.

The company was restrained from carrying on as a financial service business in January this year after ASIC obtained an order pending investigation.

Financial Circle offered personal loans of up to $5,000 to consumers that could only be obtained if the consumer agreed to receive and implement financial advice.

The advice typically recommended purchasing personal insurance products and switching super providers.

When the advice was implemented significant fees were paid to Financial Circle directly from the consumer’s superannuation.

The business also received ongoing commission payments from the insurers.

The process resulted in substantial erosion, in many cases up to 30 per cent, of the clients' super balances.

The court found by conducting this business, Financial Circle had made false and misleading representations and engaged in misleading the deceptive conduct.

The court also found it had engaged in unconscionable conduct and had breached its AFSL obligations, including obligations requiring that it take reasonable steps to act in a client's best interest and provide efficient and honest financial services.

It was also found that Financial Circle had engaged in a credit activity without a licence.

In addition to the $8,980,000 fine, the company also must pay ASIC’s costs and has been permanently restrained from carrying on a financial services business and providing credit or entering into a credit contract as a credit provider.

Eliot Hastie

Eliot Hastie is a journalist at Momentum Media, writing primarily for its wealth and financial services platforms. 

Eliot joined the team in 2018 having previously written on Real Estate Business with Momentum Media as well.

Eliot graduated from the University of Westminster, UK with a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism).

You can email him on: [email protected]