The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI) has expressed its frustration with the FCA over the regulator’s consultation on fees.

The trade body said that the five weeks allotted represented the shortest consolation on fees “in memory”, and that, for the first time, there was not a published business plan to underpin the budget.

AMI also slammed the introduction of a new levy on networks which was not consulted on in the November policy proposals, and criticised the regulator over significant increases to the minimum fee on consumer credit where its members have no income, “despite prior assurances”.

Finally, AMI noted that the FCA as significantly increasing their budgets by restating the categories of charge – increasing application fees with no commensurate reduction in on-going costs.

Robert Sinclair, chief executive of AMI, said: “It is disappointing that having acknowledged the huge spike in FSCS costs, the FCA is also intent on increasing the cost burden on firms at a time of falling revenues.  In apologising for having failed a number of consumers, it is again the good firms who remain who are picking up the bill.

“I am particularly concerned that having found issues in controls over Appointed Representatives (ARs) in the Investments and General Insurance space, a broad brush approach has been applied without consultation.

“To add a cost of £250 for each AR to a mortgage network without evidence of harm seems unfair. AMI will be challenging this rushed change to the rules and the cost to firms robustly.

“For what is another significant addition of new fee classes and costs, a five week response time leaves us very limited time to consult with our membership.”