Information on credit reference agency (CRA) authorisation and restrictions - July 2026

Please provide: 

I would like to request data covering the period 27 April 2021 to 27 April 2026:

The total number of applications received from entities seeking authorisation or registration as a Credit Reference Agency in each calendar year (or financial year, if that is how the FCA records this data).

1. The total number of those applications that were granted (i.e. resulted in full authorisation or registration as a CRA), broken down by year.
2. The total number of applications that were refused, withdrawn, or otherwise did not result in authorisation, broken down by year.
3. The number of CRAs against which the FCA has imposed requirements, limitations, or restrictions on their authorisation or registration (e.g. Voluntary Requirements (VREQs), Skilled Person Reviews under s.166 FSMA, or Variations of Permission (VoPs)), broken down by year.
4. The types or categories of restrictions most commonly imposed on CRAs (e.g. restrictions on data processing activities, limits on permissible regulated activities, requirements to implement compliance improvements).

CLARIFIED REQUEST:

To confirm my request under questions four and five relates solely to requirements, limitations or restrictions on firms in respect of their Credit Reference Agency activities specifically.

I am not seeking information relating to any other regulated activities those firms may undertake.

The requested information, which can be found in the tables below. Please note that the information below reflects the most up-to-date data as of 17/06/2026.