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Submit your Letter of Authority via Unipass LoA

 

The benefits of using Unipass LoA

  • Free to use​ for Advisers
  • Reaches all providers​ in one place
  • On demand status updates
  • Faster response times

Submit a Letter of Authority

Submit your LoA today in minutes through Unipass LoA.

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At Scottish Widows we’re transforming how we service Letters of Authority with Unipass LoA, striving to reduce response times from 15 days to 15 minutes. From Friday 17th July 2026, Unipass LoA will become the only channel where we’ll accept and respond to LoAs, no more email. Later this year we will go live with our fully automated 15-minute LoA experience for certain product types, reducing adviser admin, accelerating the advice process and setting a new standard for LoAs.

Ed Parker Head of Adviser Lab, Scottish Widows

Letter of Authority FAQs

  • Who can use the ULoA Service?

    Anyone who is regulated by the UK FCA can use the service.  To find out more about the ULoA Service please visit Origo | Unipass Letter of Authority.

    What do I need to access ULoA?

    Applying for a Unipass Letter of Authority is free for advisers to use and easy to sign up for.  You must be a UK FCA regulated organisation you must have a valid Unipass Identity for your FCA regulated organisation:

    • If you don’t have a Unipass Identity yet, you can apply for one, for free . All you need is your FCA Firm Reference Number (FRN) & at least 2 valid Agency numbers with UK Providers.
    • If your firm is already registered for ULoA, you can start submitting LoAs straight away.
    • If you are new to ULoA and want to register your organisation for free. Once your firm has registered, you will be able to submit LoA requests immediately.

  • Can Directly Authorised (DA) Firms use ULoA?

    Yes.

    Can Appointed Representative (AR) Firms use ULoA?

    Yes. To apply for a Unipass Identity all you need is your FCA Firm Reference Number (FRN) & at least 2 valid Agency numbers with UK Providers and that’s it.  You can apply for a Unipass - Unipass | Secure login & email provider for the financial services marketplace.

    Can networks use ULoA?

    Yes; Networks can use the ULoA service on their own behalf in the same way as a Directly Authorised firm can, also, if as a Network you process LoAs on behalf of your Appointed Reps.  However, please note to do so you must include information as part of the request.

    Your Network must clearly state that the Network is not the Servicing Agent when prompted.

    In the ‘Provider Notes’ section the Network must:

    • Include the full details of the AR the Network is acting on behalf of, e.g. Firm Name, Adviser Name, & the URL from the FCA database which shows the AR’s details and subsequent Principal Firm relationships.
    • Select 'No' for 'I'm the Servicing Agent' and then in the 'Servicing Agent name' input box you will need to add the Principal Firm and Appointed Representative in the following format 'Principal [Firm A] on behalf of Appointed Rep [Firm B]'.
    • The physical Letter of Authority document signed by the customer and uploaded to the ULOA case should reference both the Principal Firm and the Appointed Representative firm that the customer is authorising to act on their behalf.

    For example:

    Please provide [Appointed Representative Firm Name], an Appointed Representative of [Principal Firm Name], with information only in respect of the policy referenced within this request, including any other policies I may hold with you.

    Can overseas advisers use Unipass Letter of Authority (ULoA)?

    No. ULoA is only available to organisations who are regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

    Can workplace advisers use ULoA?

    Yes; but only for individual member Letters of Authority. ULoA cannot be used for scheme-level information requests.

  • Can I still email a Letter of Authority?

    No. If you are a UK-based FCA-regulated adviser, ULoA is the sole channel for submitting Letters of Authority. Letters of Authority submitted by email will not be accepted.

    Who can submit a Letter of Authority through ULoA?

    Authorised users with a valid Unipass Identity, working for a firm registered for ULoA, can submit Letters of Authority on behalf of their firm.

  • Can I track the progress of my Letter of Authority through ULoA?

    Yes. You can track the status of your Letter of Authority submission through the ULoA service, providing visibility of progress from submission through to completion.

    Will I receive updates on my request?

    Yes. Status updates are available within ULoA, enabling you to monitor progress and identify when action has been taken by the provider.

    What should I do if the client details are incorrect?

    Please ensure all client details are accurate before submitting your request. Incorrect or incomplete information may result in delays or rejection of the Letter of Authority.

    What happens if my request gets rejected?

    We will provide a reason for the rejection. You can then correct any issues and submit a new request if required.

  • Does ULoA need to be used for servicing agent changes?

    No. Existing servicing agent change processes remain unchanged.

  • Where can I get help with ULoA?

    If you need support with ULoA including registration, access, permissions, submissions or technical issues, please visit the ULOA Support Centre.

    The Support Centre contains guidance articles, FAQs, and options for raising a support request with the ULOA support team.


 

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