News from the FSA

SPRiNG eNews text:

Latest Gabriel News

• Strange characters in counterparty names or other text boxes can result in Gabriel rejecting your submission with random error messages. SPRiNG caters for the more common ones such as ampersands, brackets and quotes; however others such as foreign characters including umlauts will cause problems for Gabriel.
• Nil Returns: Due to the way that the validation rules are implemented in Gabriel, it may not be possible to send in a Nil Return in the same way as you can for the BoE. It may be that certain data such as Y/N answers are always required, so you will need to enter the appropriate data and validate the form, even if most of it is empty, rather than simply setting the form to a Nil Return status.
• System IDs and Schedules: It is best to email fcc@fsa.gov.uk with your problem so that there is a written record, then phone them on 0845 606 9966 to progress things more quickly.
• RMA is causing the FSA quite a few problems. It would be helpful to know which SPRiNG users submit this form, which sections you complete and when your first reporting period is, so that we can notify you promptly if any more issues arise.
• Non-MER Items: These items appearing on FSA Schedules have caused some confusion. They are basically information that the FSA requires from your firm, which is to be submitted by means other than Gabriel (ie non-Mandatory Electronic Reporting). This may include Product Sales Data, your Annual Accounts and so on. Gabriel was supposed to suppress these items on your schedules, but it currently only does this for your online schedule, not your direct comms schedule. This will be corrected in due course by the FSA.
• Reporting currency / units: Gabriel does not currently detect if you submit the wrong reporting currency / units, this will be corrected in due course by the FSA. Please make sure that you check your front page details before submitting a Data Item to make sure they agree with what is on your FSA schedule – for example, RMAR is generally expected to be reported in single units, not thousands.
• FSA027: The FSA has decided not to implement this form in Gabriel at present, so although it appears in SPRiNG, it will need to be submitted as a paper return.

Please note: the above was issued in a SPRiNG eNews which is published by Spring Programs Ltd. It is intended as an aid to relevant recipients, but must not be considered as definitive in any way.