How do I become a DAS approved money adviser?

If you were an approved DAS money adviser at 23:59 on 30 June 2011 you will continue to be a DAS approved money adviser unless the DAS Administrator revokes or suspends your status.

You are a DAS approved money adviser if you:

• are qualified to work as an insolvency practitioner in accordance with section 390 of the 1986 Act or
• work for such an insolvency practitioner and have been given authority to act on the insolvency practitioner’s behalf as a money adviser for DAS or
• work as a money adviser for an organisation which has been awarded accreditation at Type 2 level or above against the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Provision or
• work as a money adviser for a citizens advice bureau which is a full member of the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux - Citizens Advice Scotland or
• work as a money adviser for a local authority

However you may not be approved if you are—

• an associate of the debtor
• a sheriff officer or messenger-at-arms, or an employee of such a person
• a person or body providing financial services, or financial advice other than money advice, in the course of a business or otherwise for profit, or an employee of such a person, unless the person is a solicitor, chartered or certified accountant; a credit union registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 by virtue of section 1 (registration under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965) of the Credit Unions Act 1979
• a person providing debt collection services, or an employee of such a person
• a person convicted of an offence involving theft, fraud or other dishonesty
• person subject to a bankruptcy restrictions order (including an interim order) or bound by a bankruptcy restrictions undertaking, under Schedule 4A (bankruptcy restrictions order and undertaking) to the 1986 Act or under 56A or as the case may be 56F or 56G of the 1985 Act
• a person in respect of whom a court has made a disqualification order under section 1, or who has had a disqualification undertaking accepted under section 2, of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 or
• a person whose approval is revoked or suspended by the DAS Administrator.

If you want to become a DAS approved money adviser but don’t meet any of the aforementioned criteria you may apply to the DAS Administrator by:

• applying in writing either electronically incorporating an image of your relevant organisation or on headed note paper stating your name and business address
• include a statement  of your suitability to act as a money adviser for the purposes of DAS
• provide evidence of any relevant training you’ve undertaken and
• enclosing a valid criminal record certificate under Part 5 of the Police Act 1997 (a disclosure Scotland certificate) dated less than 12 months before the date of your application.

• Full information on how to register as a DAS approved money adviser

The DAS Administrator may approve your application if satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to be a DAS approved money adviser.  Information provided by you will be shared with an independent party who will assist the DAS Administrator in determining whether to approve the application or not