NFIAS sets professional standards for members working in solvent acquisition, insolvency acquisition, restructuring, personal guarantee negotiation, distressed-debt resolution and business recovery.
Our standards are designed to protect clients, support responsible professionals and improve trust in a difficult and sensitive sector.
Financial distress creates pressure.
A company may be close to collapse. A director may be personally liable under a guarantee. A homeowner may be at risk. A creditor may be threatening enforcement. A family may be dealing with fear, shame and uncertainty.
In this environment, unclear advice or aggressive conduct can cause serious harm.
NFIAS standards exist to create clarity, fairness and accountability.
Members must act honestly.
They must not mislead clients, creditors, sellers, buyers, directors, guarantors or financially vulnerable people.
Members must not guarantee outcomes they cannot control. This includes claims that a debt can definitely be removed, a personal guarantee can definitely be defeated, a CCJ can definitely be set aside, or repossession can definitely be prevented.
Members may explain possible options, but they must not overpromise.
Members must explain their role clearly.
A client should understand whether the member is acting as an adviser, introducer, negotiator, acquisition specialist, restructuring consultant, broker or other type of professional.
Any fees, commissions, referral arrangements, limitations or conflicts should be explained before important decisions are made.
Members should only accept work they are competent to handle.
Where specialist legal, insolvency, tax, accounting or regulated financial advice is required, this should be made clear.
Personal guarantee claims, repossession proceedings, CCJs, charging orders and enforcement action may involve legal rights and strict deadlines. Members must understand when a client should be referred to a suitably qualified legal or insolvency professional.
Members must treat people in financial difficulty with care and respect.
A person facing substantial debt, personal liability, business failure or the possible loss of a home may be under extreme emotional pressure.
Members must avoid intimidation, pressure-selling, exploitation or unfair influence.
Clients should be given space to understand their options before making major decisions.
Personal guarantee work requires especially careful conduct.
Members dealing with personal guarantee claims must:
Where a client faces enforcement action, repossession risk, a CCJ, a charging order or other legal pressure, members must act carefully.
Members should not encourage clients to ignore court papers, creditor correspondence, statutory demands or enforcement notices.
Members should help clients understand that deadlines matter and that urgent professional advice may be required.
Where appropriate, members may assist with negotiation, document preparation, case organisation and referral to legal support.
Members may handle sensitive personal, financial, legal and business information.
This information must be protected.
It should only be used for proper purposes and shared where there is a lawful and legitimate reason to do so.
Members must communicate clearly.
Clients should not be confused by unnecessary jargon. Where technical terms are used, they should be explained in plain language.
This is especially important when dealing with personal guarantees, insolvency, CCJs, enforcement, charging orders, repossession and business debt.
A client should understand what is happening, what may happen next, and what decisions may need to be made.
Members must comply with all applicable laws, regulations and professional rules.
NFIAS membership does not replace legal authorisation, insolvency licensing, financial services authorisation, debt advice authorisation or any other required permission.
Members remain responsible for ensuring that their work is lawful.
NFIAS expects members to take complaints and concerns seriously.
Members should maintain appropriate records, respond to reasonable enquiries, and cooperate with NFIAS where a standards concern is raised.
Accountability protects clients and strengthens the profession.
Standards help the public understand what responsible conduct should look like.
People facing debt, insolvency, enforcement or personal guarantee claims need clear
information, respectful treatment and honest communication.
NFIAS exists to promote that standard.
If you are concerned about the conduct of an NFIAS member, you can contact us
confidentially.
NFIAS will review concerns in line with its standards process.
NFIAS cannot replace the courts, regulators, solicitors, insolvency practitioners or law
enforcement agencies. However, we take standards concerns seriously and will review matters within our remit
NFIAS Standards exist to promote integrity, accountability, and excellence across every area of debt resolution, restructuring, and business recovery. By setting clear expectations for professional conduct, client care, and ethical practice, we help ensure that members operate responsibly while protecting individuals and businesses facing financial pressure.
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