FSA defends helpdesk against broker criticism

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has defended its helpdesk service against allegations of delays and poorly trained staff.

A broker in Glasgow told Insurance Age that the FSA had failed to respond to his query more than a month since lodging it. The broker, whose query concerned introducers and when they have to be registered, phoned the FSA's call centre in Durham and was told to email the question through.

He said: "The call centre operator was polite enough but all she could do was