An adviser body has called for “fundamental change” in how the FSCS is paid for.

The Association of Professional Financial Advisers insisted there must be “a fairer and more sustainable levy system whilst also protecting consumer interests”.

With the current system under review, APFA wants the regulatory framework for unregulated products to be tightened.

The organisation said it believes that reducing the size of the compensation bill by preventing the losses should be the priority and that.

A survey of advisers conducted by NMG on behalf of APFA showed that nearly 8 out of 10 (77%) advisers believed product providers should contribute towards the cost of the intermediary funding class. On average, the advisers said that the provider contribution should be about a third.

In respect of the possibility of risk-based levies, the majority of advisers (69%) expressed as their preferred option for the metric to be based on the volume of risky products sold by a firm, whilst 59% thought it should be based on the number of successful FOS complaints made against it.

Chris Hannant, APFA’s director general, said: “It has long been clear that reform is needed for fair and sustainable funding of the FSCS. Our survey shows the strength of feeling that product providers should share the responsibility when their products end up causing consumer losses.

“The coming rules on product governance place a clear responsibility on such firms which should be reflected in a contribution to the FSCS fund.

‘The FSCS levy system needs fundamental change. Compensating people who have received a bad service, been mis-sold a product or conned should be the last resort.

“Prevention is better than cure and so it is important that the FCA focus on stopping the losses in the first place. More needs to be done to keep retail clients away from unregulated products and tightening the current regulatory framework will reduce the likelihood of scams and sale of inappropriate investments.”