How much does CIFAS marker removal cost?

Is it free to remove a CIFAS marker?

Cifas says a DSAR, which is how you get a copy of the information it holds about you, is free of charge. It also says it will never charge you to make a complaint. Cifas is required to respond to a DSAR within one calendar month of receiving a fully completed form and supporting documentation.

The marker itself is dealt with by the organisation that filed it. Cifas says that if that organisation upholds your complaint, it can remove your details from the Cifas system. For the steps in order, see how to get a CIFAS marker removed.

What do Cifas and the Financial Ombudsman Service charge?

The first step of a complaint is to the organisation that filed the marker. None of the sources we cite says what, if anything, that costs.

The Financial Ombudsman Service says its service is “free and easy to use”. It cannot look at complaints against fraud prevention agencies such as Cifas. It can look at complaints about financial businesses that recorded a marker or passed information to one.

You can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) about data protection concerns. The ICO generally recommends raising the concern with the organisation first and giving it a chance to put things right.

Do you need a solicitor to remove a CIFAS marker?

The Financial Ombudsman Service says you do not need to pay anyone to represent you, “for example, a lawyer or claims management company”. It adds that if you want to, you can ask a family member, friend or someone else to help you with your complaint.

How do solicitors give cost information?

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) says a solicitor should give you as much information as possible about the cost or how it will be calculated, and that cost information will be given to you in writing. The SRA says it may be given as a fixed fee, as an estimate of the amount expected, or as an hourly rate with an indication of how many hours are likely to be needed.

We do not quote prices, because none of the official sources we cite gives a figure for this kind of work.

How do I check a solicitor is genuine?

The SRA’s Solicitors Register lets you check whether someone is a solicitor and whether the SRA regulates a law firm. The SRA says that “no results means that we have no record of a firm or person matching your query, so it is not safe to assume the firm or person you are looking for is regulated by us.”

Our directory lists firms after an SRA check. FraudMarkers is independent and has no affiliation with any firm listed.

How can I spot a fake or misleading removal service?

Points to be wary of:

• A guarantee of removal. This is the kind of claim Cifas warns against.
• A charge for something that is free. Cifas says it never charges for a DSAR or a complaint, and the Financial Ombudsman Service says its service is free.
• Anyone claiming to be Cifas. Cifas reported in January 2021 that it had received reports of scammers emailing victims pretending to be from a Cifas department and signing emails “CIFAS”. That warning said Cifas will never contact consumers out of the blue to ask for personal or banking details, and that its communications are sent from Cifas email accounts.
• A business you cannot check. If it says it is a law firm, look it up on the SRA register.

If you have already paid a service and think you were misled, the directory can help you find a solicitor.

Where can I read more?

The first step is checking whether you have a CIFAS marker, and the removal route sets out what comes next. To find a solicitor, use the directory.

This guide is general information, not legal advice.