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“Our experience of working with Thistle Initiatives to add our CASS permissions has been great. Thistle helped to create the application to vary our FCA permissions and helped to respond to the FCA’s detailed questions following submission. Thistle assisted quickly and clearly at all times, including during the more complex aspects of the process.”
Antonio De Negri / Cirdan Capital
“We contracted Thistle’s Payment Services team to assist us with our FCA application to become a Small Payment Institution (SPI) and received a great level of service from beginning to end. They assisted us in completing our FCA application and HMRC application and answering all questions. In particular, Melissa Cummings was very responsive, providing guidance and regular updates along the way. Melissa was precise with details, right up to the point and would always maintain professionalism and politeness – she is reliable and pleasant to work with. Thistle`s support resulted in us receiving approval from both the FCA and HMRC. We would recommend using Thistle’s services to any company seeking FCA authorisation and if they have experienced resistance from the FCA or HMRC.”
Puria Moradi / Bazar Money Transfer
“We worked with Thistle’s payment services team on our application to become a Registered Account Information Service Provider (RAISP). From the very start of the project, the team was extremely professional and fast-moving, answering all our queries in detail and drafting comprehensive documents for our application. This helped us get approved much faster than we had accounted for. We would recommend Thistle’s team to any early-stage company that’s looking for support on their FCA applications.”
Samuel Lathey / Bippit
“We have used Thistle’s compliance services since 2016 and will continue to do so to help reach our business objectives. Heather worked with us on our FCA Crypto Application with very short notice and delivered an application ready to submit to the FCA at a very high standard. I can only attribute this excellent turnaround to Heather’s relentless work ethic and her deep understanding of the regulatory landscape. I believe this will be the first of many more projects with Heather.”
Anish Patel / Bitstocks
“From the beginning, the Thistle team were very knowledgeable about the payment services application process. The team took time to understand our needs, were easy to work with and it felt like they put a lot of effort into the application. Our authorised payment institution application was successful and was approved by the FCA with very minimal feedback, meaning we could start rolling out our services as soon as possible.”
James Blackham / By Miles
“The Financial Crime team at Thistle Initiatives provided us with clear, up to date guidance, helping us to ensure our AML framework was robust but logical. They were all very knowledgeable and supportive throughout the project and the service they have provided has been invaluable to our business. I would highly recommend Thistle to other firms.”
Jonathan Littlewood / Crowdstacker
“We have worked with UKGI/Thistle since 2007 as our chosen compliance support provider. Their Compliance Manual is a key resource and their technical Helpline is a source of assistance and comfort to us, allowing us to work with them to resolve any issues that may arise. Their attention to detail and the service they have provided have been invaluable. I’d recommend them to other insurance brokers.”
Simon Piggott / Direct Insurance Group Plc
“Thistle’s payment service team assisted us in gaining a payment initiation service provider (PISP) licence from the FCA. The team created a highly detailed plan for the application process and were helpful in identifying what additional documents were needed to complete the application. I would highly recommend their services to other companies looking to become authorised PISPs. They are very professional and knowledgeable and were always willing to help out when we needed.”
William Burton / Ecospend
“From start to finish, Thistle provided an excellent service for our money remittance application to the FCA. Their team put a lot of effort and hard work into developing our policy framework, including providing insightful advice on the firm’s AML controls. Not only that, but Thistle was also extremely helpful in preparing our safeguarding account applications to banks. Our special gratitude goes to Jack, who was immensely helpful, courteous, professional and always available. I speak on behalf of the whole Elephant Money team when I say we look forward to working closely with Thistle in the future.”
Parthipan Ragunathan / Elephant Money
“Our main business is supplying quality coffee machines, which is where our expertise lies. Being able to rely on Thistle Initiatives for support in submitting our annual FCA returns has proved invaluable, as was their guidance in relation to applying for FCA authorisation.
We continue to use Thistle Initiatives because of their professional and transparent approach, and because they deliver what they said they will.”
Garry Saunders / GMS Servicing Ltd
“I would like to thank Thistle for all their help with our RAISP application and in particular Jack Williams. They worked with us to create a very detailed application document, guided us through the whole process and were always very responsive to any queries we had. I would highly recommend their services.”
Jeremy Godwin / Haibooks
“The Payments Services team at Thistle were extremely helpful in getting Hat Data Exchange approved as a Registered Account Information Services Provider (RAISP). Their team was very perceptive in understanding our complex business model and drafted some superbly detailed regulatory business plan and information security documents to submit with our application. Having Thistle’s support certainly made the process much easier and we would certainly recommend their services to any company thinking of becoming an RAISP.”
Irene Ng / HATDeX
“Already established as a matched principal broker, we needed a compliance consultancy who could help us vary our permissions to offer an advisory and discretionary managed service to our clients. Thistle Initiatives were experienced in these types of applications, but more importantly understood the business and the required regulation. They were able to complete the FCA application with minimal input from us and provide a high level of support when corresponding with the FCA. The application went through seamlessly and was approved very quickly.”
Carlos Ramirez / Investam Capital Ltd
“KoinKoin owes her registration with the FCA to the team over at Thistle Initiatives who were able to bring the best and brightest in regulatory risk and assist us with building our regulatory profile. We would work with Thistle again in the future and we will be seeking their counsel for the MLR registration in 2021.”
Ola Atose / KoinKoin
“Our firm needed a compliance consultancy to assist us through the process of becoming authorised by the FCA. Thistle provided support for completing the application and helped to respond to questions from, and assist with face-to-face meetings with, the FCA, including navigating hurdles and unforeseen complexities encountered following submission of the application.”
Johan Rode / Little Square Capital
“Thistle Initiatives provide us with invaluable expertise with their ongoing compliance support and delivered end-to-end assistance with our FCA application to add Alternative Investment Fund Management to our permissions. The service from the team is always on-point and efficient; we highly recommend them.”
Henry Blyth / London & Oxford Group
“Already acting as an Appointed Representative, our firm needed a compliance consultancy who would be able to help us navigate the process to becoming fully authorised by the FCA. Thistle diligently assisted us to complete the application, including effective responses to the various questions from the FCA. Thistle’s advice throughout the process was excellent.”
Abdulaziz A. Alnaim / Mayar Capital
Thistle were extremely helpful in helping us prepare our Authorised Payment Institution (API) application. They provided an organised service and diligently ensured that our submission pack included all necessary documents with sufficient information. Thistle also provided detailed guidance on how to respond to follow-up questions from the FCA.
Thistle were always approachable, and their response times were excellent.
Will certainly use their services in the future!
Ian Elder / Numex FX
“Thistle helped us to become registered as an Account Information Service Provider (AISP) with the FCA. They were highly proactive and provided detailed guidance and feedback on what was a complex application process. Our caseworker Shazana was experienced and always available to answer any questions we had. We would not hesitate in using Thistle again for any of our compliance needs.”
Glenn Drake / QuickFile
“The intention of RAS Capital was to create an FCA authorised boutique Real Estate Debt Asset Management firm; Thistle Initiatives provided us with a full support service to complete the FCA application with minimal input. Additionally, they provided us with a high level of support when corresponding with the FCA and we continue to use Thistle Initiatives for compliance support.”
Assad Amin / Ras Capital
“Thistle Initiatives’ support during our recent application to become FCA authorised has proved invaluable. From the outset, the team at Thistle were very knowledgeable, with an in-depth understanding of our business, the type of regulation required and the application process itself. I would highly recommend Thistle to other firms.”
Alex Joyner / Regency Capital
“As Property Managers, part of our service is arranging buildings insurance for our property portfolio of some 20,000 property owners, so we wanted independent advice to ensure we were complying fully with FCA requirements.
We chose Thistle Initiatives based on their professional, honest and transparent approach. Thistle delivered precisely what they said they would and their attention to detail, pragmatism and delivery has been beyond even our own high expectations. There was an extremely tight implementation of the changeover from our previous broker and Insurer but Thistle provided exactly the support we required exactly when we needed it.
Ross and Liddell have worked collaboratively with Thistle, and we would fully endorse and recommend Thistle to any other party as they simply deliver on all promises made.”
Alec Cassidy & Rita Glendenning / Ross & Liddell
“We used Thistle Initiatives to handle our Payment Services compliance obligations namely re-authorisation of SPI licence. Very professional service. Kept us informed step by step and assisted with all documentation. Many thanks to Nadia Lemard and her team. I would definitely put Thistle on your ‘short list’ of potential compliance consultants.”
Geoff Tully / Senit Remittance Ltd
“The Thistle Initiatives team, and Shazana in particular, were instrumental in our successful application to become an EMI. We very much appreciated Shaz’s patient and thorough explanation of the process and the application forms. All in all, we would highly recommend Thistle Initiatives to other companies.”
Andres Korin / StorkCard
“Thistle provided us with invaluable, technical advice during our FCA application process. The team took time to understand the particulars of our business and then apply their knowledge, skill and expertise to ensure that commercial goals were being met, whilst also ensuring regulatory requirements and objectives were a central focus to business operation.”
Andrew Tapsell / Managing Director
“Thistle has been incredibly supportive throughout our FCA application process. They worked closely with us to compile all the required documentation, as well as providing valuable consultancy advice along the way, looking at aspects from both a regulatory and commercial standpoint something which really made a difficult process easier.”
James Rose / Loans 4 Ops
“Thistle’s guidance during our FCA application was very helpful. As a new company to the market, they helped us to successfully get our FCA approval and meanwhile advising us on where they could. The team at Thistle were engaged, knowledgeable and supporting, exercising their experience in the best way to approach regulation, compliance and the FCA in order to help us create more liveable cities with our full-service monthly bike-membership. I would be very happy to recommend Thistle to other firms.”
Onno Huyghe / Swapfiets
“Thistle’s help throughout the application for FCA authorisation was excellent, they were able to assist us to complete all the documents required by the FCA to a high standard specific to our business model. Thistle (in particular Alex and Lee) were able to help with some challenging questions from the FCA and provided a friendly and professional service throughout.”
Cynthia Cho / Terramont Capital
“I have found the Thistle workshops a good place to learn about and debate upcoming regulatory changes. Whilst I am generally aware of what is planned by the FCA ahead of the workshops, I find it useful being able to obtain the views of the knowledgeable Thistle staff and discuss with peers within the industry who are facing the same challenges. It is nice to know you are not alone!
I always find the helpline is answered promptly and it is good to be able to speak with a friendly voice at the other end to provide a view on regulatory topics.”
Peter Goodman Dip CII / T H March
Thistle were instrumental in helping Trutify become registered as an account information service provider (AISP). The payment services team provided a suite of helpful templates and were always very forthcoming with constructive feedback to strengthen our application documents. I would recommend Thistle to any other start-up looking for support with their FCA application.
Paolo Vicari / Trutify
“Thistle has supported us with our ongoing compliance requirements ever since they assisted us to become an authorised EMI. The team are highly knowledgeable in both the EMI and AML regulatory space. They are thorough and constructive with any feedback or advice and are able to assist with complex compliance matters in a digestible way, with a commercial mindset. I have found their audit process to be well constructed, detailed, and a vital asset in ensuring we are following our regulatory requirements. We look forward to working on the next project with the Thistle team.”
Ola Oyetayo / VertoFX
“Thistle assist Vinco in all areas of regulatory business. This support includes our application for authorisation, our variation of permissions and daily ad-hoc compliance queries, regardless of how complex they are. Thistle provide an uncomplicated, commercial answer.”
Mark Vincent / Vinco Wealth Management Ltd
“Thistle Initiatives’ experience in FCA applications was certainly an advantage as the guidance and advice provided during the process was paramount to our success. Thistle was always on hand and extremely professional in every manner. I would highly recommend using them.”
Trevor Davies / Wahed Invest
“Thistle assisted Will G Limited with becoming registered as a Small Payments Institution. They assisted us from the beginning of the application process, until the end. Many thanks to Melissa and Jack, from the Payment Services team, who were very supportive and professional – readily available to assist and answer my questions.”
William Kahuko / Will G Remit
“Our experience of working with Thistle Initiatives has been exceptionally good. After due consideration and comparison of various service providers, WMG Advisors engaged Thistle to perform an external review of our systems and controls, our policies and procedures and to provide ongoing training to meet our compliance needs. Thistle deployed serious resources to the project, and provided comprehensive analysis and recommendations. Thistle has responded quickly and clearly to all of our requests to date. We continue to be impressed with both the methodology and the people that we deal with throughout their organisation.”
Pieter Van Leuven / WMG Funds LLP
