CIFA EDUCATION

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENROLMENT, DIGITAL EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CERTIFICATION AND PAYMENT

Website: https://cifa.ac
Effective Date: 9/11/2026
Document Version: 2026.7
Governing Law: England and Wales

Publication verification: Confirm the contracting legal entity, corporate details, course accreditation descriptions, checkout consent process and consumer credit position before publishing.

1. INTRODUCTION, DEFINITIONS, APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE

1.1  These Terms and Conditions (the “Terms”) govern the purchase, enrolment, delivery, access and use of educational products, professional development programmes, digital learning resources, examinations, assessments, certificates and associated services supplied through CIFA Education. They form part of the Contract together with the applicable order confirmation, pre-contract course description and any additional conditions expressly incorporated before purchase.

1.2  “CIFA”, “we” and “us” mean the legal entity identified as supplier on the relevant order confirmation or invoice. “Student” means the individual or organisation contracting for the educational product or service. “Digital Content” includes electronic books, digital course manuals, recorded webinars, videos, presentations, online modules, downloadable study materials and practice assessments. “Platform” means the CIFA website and associated learning systems.

1.3  Before submitting an online order, the Student must actively select the designated checkbox accepting these Terms. That affirmative action, followed by submission of the order, constitutes electronic contractual acceptance where the requirements for formation and incorporation of the Contract are satisfied. A handwritten signature is not ordinarily necessary for an online educational contract.

1.4  CIFA may retain the accepted Terms version, date, time, transaction reference and associated account information as evidence of acceptance. Acceptance of these Terms does not itself satisfy any separate statutory requirement for consent to immediate digital supply or acknowledgment of loss of cancellation rights.

1.5  No provision of these Terms excludes mandatory consumer rights, validates an unfair term or prevents reliance on a remedy that cannot lawfully be restricted. In the event of inconsistency, applicable mandatory law prevails.

2. CORPORATE INFORMATION, CONTRACTING ENTITY AND COMMUNICATIONS

2.1  CIFA Education operates through relevant corporate arrangements. The corporate information supplied for inclusion in these Terms is CIFA Education Management Limited (company number 12852521) and CIFA Education Ltd (company number 14271739), with correspondence address 94–96 Seymour Place, London W1H 1NB, United Kingdom, and VAT registration number 416052430. These particulars must be checked before publication.

2.2  The contracting supplier for each transaction is the company identified on the relevant invoice or order confirmation. Mention of another company in these Terms does not of itself make that company a party to the Student’s Contract or establish joint liability.

2.3  General correspondence, course enquiries, complaints, payment-plan requests and refund communications may be addressed to info@cifa.ac. Routine contractual notices may be sent to the email address registered to the Student’s account where electronic communication is legally permitted.

2.4  The Student shall provide accurate contact information and notify CIFA of material changes. CIFA may maintain appropriate communication records for educational administration, contractual verification, accounting and dispute resolution, subject to data protection requirements.

3. ENROLMENT, ELIGIBILITY AND FORMATION OF CONTRACT

3.1  Submission of an order constitutes an offer to purchase the identified educational product or service. A Contract is ordinarily formed when CIFA accepts that offer and provides an order confirmation, unless a different acceptance point has been clearly and lawfully disclosed before purchase.

3.2  CIFA may decline an order for legitimate reasons, including inaccurate enrolment information, failure to satisfy disclosed eligibility criteria, suspected fraud, technical error or genuine unavailability. Where payment has been collected and no Contract is formed, CIFA shall reimburse the relevant amount without undue delay.

3.3  The Student warrants that enrolment information is accurate, that the chosen payment method is authorised and, where acting for an organisation, that the individual placing the order has authority to do so. Reasonable identity documentation may be requested for assessment security, certification integrity or lawful fraud prevention.

3.4  Course prerequisites, technical requirements, access periods and material assessment conditions shall be disclosed through the applicable course information. Enrolment does not guarantee employment, promotion, professional authorisation or acceptance by an external organisation.

4. NATURE AND SCOPE OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

4.1  CIFA supplies the courses, course bundles, CPD programmes, examinations and educational services described in the relevant pre-contract course specification. The scope of supply, including included modules, CPD hours, learning objectives and assessments, is determined by the information forming part of the Contract.

4.2  Unless expressly stated otherwise, programmes are delivered digitally and designed for independent, self-paced learning. Students remain responsible for study participation, completing assessments and complying with academic instructions. CIFA shall exercise reasonable care and skill when supplying educational services.

4.3  CIFA may appoint instructors, assessors, technical providers and administrative contractors where appropriate. Such arrangements do not remove responsibilities that CIFA owes as contracting supplier under applicable law.

4.4  CIFA may make reasonable educational improvements and corrections to reflect changes in professional practice, legislation or assessment standards. Material changes to the fundamental nature of a purchased programme shall be handled in accordance with the Contract and applicable statutory rights.

4.5  Course resources are provided for education and professional development and do not constitute personalised legal, tax, financial or regulated investment advice unless expressly and accurately represented as such.

5. DIGITAL DELIVERY, COURSE ACCESS AND PLATFORM AVAILABILITY

5.1  Following accepted enrolment and satisfaction of applicable payment conditions, digital access will ordinarily be provided within 24 to 48 hours unless a different delivery timetable has been disclosed. Access may be enabled through the Student account, activation link or another authorised delivery method.

5.2  The Student receives a limited, personal, non-exclusive and non-transferable licence to access purchased educational materials for the period disclosed in the course specification or order confirmation. The Student must protect account credentials and shall not permit unauthorised third-party use.

5.3  CIFA may undertake planned maintenance, technical updates and security work. Where practicable, reasonable notice of significant planned interruptions shall be provided. CIFA shall take reasonable steps to restore access after disruption within its control.

5.4  The Student is responsible for suitable equipment and connectivity where technical requirements have been disclosed. This does not remove remedies available where CIFA fails to provide conforming digital content or contracted services.

5.5  CIFA may maintain activation, access and learning activity records to establish the delivery and use of resources, subject to the limitations and safeguards set out in Sections 9, 16 and 26.

6. CPD ACCREDITATION, LEVEL 4 PROGRAMMES AND PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

6.1  Where a course is described as CPD accredited, the description relates to the relevant accreditation arrangement and standards applicable to that programme. Accreditation must not be represented as approval by the Financial Conduct Authority, Ofqual regulation, a university degree or a statutory professional licence unless that separate status is established.

6.2  Any reference to Level 4 must accurately describe the course’s stated educational level or designation and shall not imply that the course is a regulated qualification unless such status has been independently verified and disclosed.

6.3  External employers, professional bodies and regulators may apply their own criteria concerning qualifications, CPD hours, assessment and professional registration. CIFA cannot guarantee that an external organisation will accept a particular course or certificate for its purposes.

6.4  CPD hours, assessment requirements and certificate eligibility shall be administered in accordance with the relevant programme specification. Students should verify external recognition requirements before enrolment where recognition by a named organisation is essential to their purpose.

6.5  CIFA remains responsible for the accuracy of its own material statements concerning accreditation, CPD hours, course designation and certification.

7. STUDENT OBLIGATIONS, PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

7.1  Students shall act honestly and professionally in their use of the Platform, dealings with staff and participation in examinations or other assessed activities. Assessment work must be completed independently unless collaboration or assistance is expressly permitted.

7.2  Prohibited conduct includes impersonation, plagiarism, falsification of records, cheating, unauthorised sharing of assessment materials, disclosure of login credentials and deliberate circumvention of security or proctoring arrangements.

7.3  CIFA may investigate suspected academic misconduct on reasonable grounds and may request explanations or supporting evidence. Investigations shall be fair and proportionate, taking account of the seriousness of the allegation and the available evidence.

7.4  Where misconduct is substantiated, proportionate measures may include reassessment, withholding results, suspension or withdrawal of a certificate. Students shall ordinarily have an opportunity to respond before a final material disciplinary decision.

7.5  Academic sanctions do not of themselves remove statutory consumer rights or authorise penalties that are otherwise unlawful.

8. EXAMINATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, PROCTORING AND CERTIFICATION

8.1  Certain programmes require successful completion of examinations, assignments, practical tasks or other academic requirements. The applicable fees, pass marks, duration, permitted attempts and technical conditions shall be disclosed in the relevant course or assessment information.

8.2  CIFA may use lawful identity verification and remote proctoring arrangements to protect examination integrity. Students shall be provided with appropriate privacy information where assessment monitoring or recording involves processing personal data.

8.3  Students must comply with examination instructions and must not use unauthorised assistance, communicate with third parties during restricted assessments or misrepresent their identity. CIFA may investigate suspected irregularities and temporarily withhold results where reasonably justified.

8.4  Certificates shall be issued following satisfaction of the applicable academic and legitimate administrative requirements. CIFA may retain verification records and may correct or withdraw certificates obtained through substantiated fraud following an appropriate review.

8.5  Certification does not guarantee professional registration, regulatory permission, employment or success in a subsequent recruitment process.

9. CONSUMER CANCELLATION RIGHTS, DIGITAL CONTENT AND REFUND ELIGIBILITY

9.1  Where applicable, distance contracts with consumers are governed by the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. Subject to statutory exceptions, an eligible consumer ordinarily has 14 days from conclusion of a service or digital-content contract in which to cancel.

9.2  Digital Content includes e-books, digital manuals, recorded webinars, online modules, presentations, downloads and practice assessments. Digital supply may commence when the purchased resources are made available through the learning platform.

9.3  In accordance with Regulation 37 of the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, the statutory cancellation right for digital content not supplied on a tangible medium may be lost once supply begins, where all applicable statutory requirements have been satisfied.

9.4  Where the statutory requirements for immediate digital supply have been satisfied, the Student’s 14-day cancellation right in respect of digital content is lost once supply begins. CIFA maintains electronic records of course access, study time, learning activity and navigation, which may be used to establish when digital educational materials were made available, accessed and used.

9.5  Where the statutory cancellation right has been validly lost, no change-of-mind refund shall be due merely because the Student subsequently decides to withdraw. This does not affect statutory remedies concerning faulty, misdescribed or non-conforming content.

9.6  Where a purchased programme includes services distinct from digital content, the cancellation rules applicable to those services shall be observed. A proportionate charge for services commenced during the cancellation period may arise only where the statutory conditions are met. Statutory refunds shall be processed within the applicable legal deadline without unlawful deductions.

10. REFUNDS, WITHDRAWAL REQUESTS AND CONTRACTUAL TERMINATION

10.1  Refund and withdrawal requests should be directed to info@cifa.ac with sufficient details to identify the purchase. This administrative route does not restrict a consumer from exercising a statutory cancellation right by another legally valid clear statement.

10.2  CIFA may request reasonable information necessary to investigate the request and may consider the applicable order documents, accepted Terms, course access records, communications and statutory requirements.

10.3  CIFA aims to provide an initial substantive response within ten working days where sufficient information is available. This service target shall not extend any mandatory statutory reimbursement deadline.

10.4  A change of personal preference, career intention or employment expectation does not automatically create a refund entitlement where no contractual or statutory right exists. CIFA may nevertheless consider a discretionary arrangement without establishing a general entitlement.

10.5  Where CIFA has materially failed to supply the contracted content or services, the Student retains the remedies provided by law. Withdrawal does not automatically extinguish an otherwise lawful and enforceable payment obligation.

11. COURSE PRICES, FEES, PAYMENT AUTHORISATION AND FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS

11.1  The course price is the amount properly disclosed before purchase and confirmed in the order documentation. Mandatory charges, including applicable VAT, shall be identified before the Student becomes contractually bound.

11.2  Unless an approved alternative arrangement applies, payment is due in full. By providing payment details the Student confirms authority to use the chosen payment method and agrees to reasonable transaction verification.

11.3  Payments may be processed by authorised third-party providers. CIFA may maintain transaction, invoicing and payment records for accounting, tax, contractual and lawful dispute-resolution purposes.

11.4  Additional examination, resit or optional service fees shall be disclosed where applicable. CIFA shall not impose undisclosed mandatory charges contrary to law or unilaterally increase an agreed price without lawful contractual authority.

11.5  Any reimbursement, correction of payment or outstanding balance shall be determined in accordance with the Contract and applicable statutory requirements.

12. PAYMENT PLANS, INSTALMENT AGREEMENTS AND INTEREST

12.1  Payment by instalments is available only where CIFA elects to offer it and the Payments Department approves an application in writing. Applications should be submitted to info@cifa.ac. Submission of a request does not guarantee approval or create a financing agreement.

12.2  An approved arrangement must be documented separately, stating the original course price, any lawful additional charges, total amount payable, instalment amounts, due dates and material repayment conditions. It becomes binding only after valid acceptance of that agreement.

12.3  Where legally permissible, a proposed arrangement may include a fixed interest charge equal to 20% of the original course fee, calculated once and not automatically compounded. No such charge shall be offered, imposed or enforced unless CIFA has confirmed the necessary FCA authorisation, permission or applicable exemption and complied with relevant consumer credit law.

12.4  Where an arrangement is regulated consumer credit, applicable rules concerning pre-contract disclosure, documentation, affordability, cancellation, early repayment, arrears, default notices and enforcement shall apply. These Terms do not themselves authorise regulated credit activity.

12.5  Students shall make payments according to a valid schedule and should contact CIFA promptly if difficulties arise. CIFA may send reasonable reminders and take proportionate action for material non-payment where lawful.

12.6  Acceleration of future instalments, debt recovery, court proceedings, interest and costs may occur only where legally and contractually authorised. A County Court Judgment may be issued only by a court. No unlawful penalty or duplicate recovery shall be sought.

13. CHARGEBACKS, PAYMENT DISPUTES AND TRANSACTION INVESTIGATIONS

13.1  Students retain their lawful rights to dispute transactions with a bank, card issuer or payment service provider. Nothing in these Terms prohibits legitimate chargebacks, reimbursement claims or statutory complaints.

13.2  Students are encouraged to contact CIFA first where practical so that concerns may be investigated, but prior contact is not a condition of exercising any independent statutory or payment-scheme right.

13.3  In responding to a dispute, CIFA may submit relevant and lawfully held order confirmations, transaction records, Terms acceptance records, course activation data, study logs, assessment activity and communications to the payment provider.

13.4  The existence of access records may support evidence of delivery or use but is not conclusive proof of compliance with every statutory requirement. A chargeback request is not, of itself, evidence of fraud or dishonesty.

13.5  Where substantiated payment fraud is suspected, CIFA may investigate and refer relevant matters to competent authorities where lawful. Any suspension or debt recovery must be proportionate and must not produce duplicate payment.

14. RECRUITMENT, EMPLOYMENT AND INDEPENDENT THIRD-PARTY REPRESENTATIONS

14.1  CIFA provides education and professional development. Purchase of a course does not, without a separately agreed service, constitute purchase of recruitment or employment placement services and does not guarantee an interview, offer, promotion or salary.

14.2  Employers and independent recruitment agencies may recommend professional development programmes. Such a recommendation does not by itself establish an agency, partnership, joint venture or affiliation with CIFA.

14.3  No independent recruiter is authorised to bind CIFA, guarantee employment in exchange for course purchase or make contractual representations on CIFA’s behalf without express written authority.

14.4  Students should verify recruitment requirements directly with the relevant employer. CIFA may investigate and request correction of misleading third-party claims concerning its courses.

14.5  CIFA is not responsible for genuinely independent, unauthorised third-party statements where it has no legal responsibility for them; nothing excludes responsibility for its own statements or persons for whose conduct it is legally responsible.

15. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, COPYRIGHT AND EDUCATIONAL LICENSING

15.1  All intellectual property rights in original CIFA course content, assessment materials, publications, graphics, branding and associated resources remain with CIFA or the relevant rights holder. Purchase grants no transfer of ownership.

15.2  The Student receives a limited, personal, non-exclusive and non-transferable licence to use purchased materials for authorised educational purposes during the disclosed access period.

15.3  Unauthorised reproduction, publication, redistribution, resale, commercial exploitation, account sharing or upload of restricted materials to third-party repositories is prohibited to the extent protected by law and these Terms.

15.4  CIFA may investigate suspected infringement and pursue appropriate remedies, including requests to cease infringement or legal proceedings where justified. Any claimed damages must have a lawful basis.

15.5  Nothing in these Terms removes statutory copyright exceptions, lawful quotation rights or other legally protected uses.

16. DATA PROTECTION, LEARNING ANALYTICS AND STUDENT RECORDS

16.1  CIFA shall process personal data in accordance with applicable UK data protection law, including the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. Relevant purposes may include enrolment, course delivery, payments, assessment, certification, support and lawful fraud prevention.

16.2  The Platform may record course activation, module access, study duration, e-book interactions, assessment participation and contractual acceptance. Such records may be processed for appropriate educational, administrative, compliance and dispute-resolution purposes on a lawful basis.

16.3  CIFA may share relevant information with properly appointed service providers, payment processors, assessors, professional advisers or authorities where permitted by law and subject to applicable safeguards.

16.4  Personal data shall be retained only for justified periods and protected by appropriate technical and organisational measures. Students may exercise applicable access, correction, erasure, objection and other rights.

16.5  Any examination recording, proctoring or learning analytics shall be accompanied by appropriate privacy information. Student records shall not be disclosed to unrelated employers or recruiters without a lawful basis.

17. LIABILITY, WARRANTIES AND LIMITATIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY

17.1  CIFA shall exercise reasonable care and skill in supplying educational services and comply with applicable statutory obligations concerning digital content, including quality, fitness for purpose and conformity with description.

17.2  Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation or any liability which cannot lawfully be excluded.

17.3  CIFA does not guarantee employment, examination success, professional licensing, commercial results or acceptance of certificates by external bodies. Such disclaimers do not excuse inaccurate contractual representations or failures to supply the agreed service.

17.4  Any contractual limitation of liability shall be interpreted subject to the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and other applicable fairness and reasonableness requirements. Consumers shall retain all mandatory statutory remedies.

18. ACCEPTABLE USE, CYBERSECURITY AND PLATFORM PROTECTION

18.1  The Student shall use the website and learning systems lawfully and only for authorised purposes. Unauthorised access, credential sharing, malicious software, security interference and deliberate circumvention of examination controls are prohibited.

18.2  Automated extraction or redistribution of restricted course materials without authorisation is prohibited where unlawful or contractually restricted. Students must not use the Platform to impersonate others or engage in unlawful harassment.

18.3  CIFA may monitor relevant technical events and investigate suspected security breaches in accordance with data protection law. Where a genuine threat exists, proportionate temporary protective restrictions may be imposed.

18.4  Serious or repeated breaches may justify lawful suspension, termination or legal action. These provisions do not restrict honest reviews, legitimate complaints or lawful regulatory reporting.

19. COMPLAINTS, INTERNAL REVIEW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

19.1  Complaints concerning course content, educational delivery, assessments, payments or contractual performance should be submitted to info@cifa.ac with sufficient details to identify the relevant transaction and concern.

19.2  CIFA shall consider complaints fairly and may request reasonable supporting information. Investigations may take account of communications, course records, relevant policies, the Contract and applicable law.

19.3  CIFA shall endeavour to provide a substantive response within a reasonable period. Where an internal review procedure is available, a dissatisfied Student may request further consideration.

19.4  The parties may consider negotiation, mediation or another lawful dispute-resolution process where appropriate. Nothing prevents access to courts, competent regulators, statutory complaint schemes or applicable ombudsman rights.

20. SUSPENSION, TERMINATION AND CONTINUING CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

20.1  CIFA may suspend or terminate access for legitimate reasons including serious misconduct, substantiated fraud, significant security risk or material non-payment, provided the action is lawful and proportionate.

20.2  Where appropriate, CIFA shall give reasonable notice and an opportunity to remedy a breach. Immediate protective action may be justified where necessary to prevent significant security or assessment-integrity harm.

20.3  Termination does not automatically extinguish legally accrued obligations, but CIFA shall not retain payment or demand future sums without a lawful basis. Consumer cancellation and statutory remedies continue to apply.

20.4  Provisions concerning lawful outstanding payments, intellectual property, evidence and dispute resolution may survive termination to the extent enforceable.

21. AMENDMENTS TO TERMS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES

21.1  CIFA may review these Terms to reflect legitimate changes in law, regulation, security, technology or operations. Updated Terms shall ordinarily apply to contracts entered into after their stated effective date.

21.2  Existing Contracts may be varied only where a valid contractual or legal basis exists. A variation mechanism shall not be used to impose unfair retrospective changes or remove accrued consumer rights.

21.3  CIFA may update course content to maintain accuracy and educational relevance, including corrections prompted by legislative or professional developments. Material changes affecting purchased programmes shall be handled fairly and in accordance with applicable rights.

21.4  Where required, Students shall be given appropriate notice of material changes. Archived Terms versions may be retained to verify the provisions applicable to an individual transaction.

22. THIRD-PARTY MARKETPLACES, VOUCHERS AND EXTERNAL PURCHASES

22.1  Courses may be sold through authorised marketplaces, promotional partners or voucher arrangements. Such purchases may also be subject to the relevant marketplace conditions disclosed before purchase.

22.2  The Student should identify the contracting supplier, payment arrangements, access conditions and applicable refund procedure for the transaction. Where CIFA is the supplier, it remains responsible for its applicable obligations.

22.3  Voucher redemption or activation of digital resources does not automatically extinguish statutory cancellation rights. Any applicable loss of cancellation rights must satisfy the relevant statutory requirements.

22.4  CIFA may verify voucher authenticity and investigate suspected fraudulent redemption. Where a third-party payment provider administers a refund, the Student may be directed to the appropriate procedure without losing rights enforceable against CIFA.

23. GENERAL LEGAL PROVISIONS

23.1  These Terms, the relevant order confirmation, course specification and expressly incorporated conditions comprise the Contract, subject to applicable law. No entire-agreement provision excludes liability for fraud, misrepresentation or legally binding pre-contract information.

23.2  If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder shall continue insofar as it can lawfully operate independently. Delay in exercising a right does not automatically waive that right.

23.3  CIFA may assign rights or obligations only where permitted by law and without unlawfully diminishing consumer protections. Unless expressly stated, these Terms do not confer third-party enforcement rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

23.4  The Contract is governed by the laws of England and Wales, subject to mandatory consumer protections and jurisdiction rules applicable to Students in other locations. Headings are included for convenience and do not override substantive terms.

24. ELECTRONIC ACCEPTANCE, CONTRACTUAL CONSENT AND DIGITAL SIGNATURE EQUIVALENCE

24.1  Before completing an online purchase, the Student must actively select the designated Terms acceptance checkbox. Selection and order submission provide affirmative evidence of agreement to the applicable contractual terms where formation requirements are met.

24.2  Electronic checkbox acceptance may have the same legally binding effect as signing a written agreement. CIFA may retain the date, time, account, transaction reference and accepted Terms version as evidence of that agreement.

24.3  The acceptance relates to lawful provisions governing enrolment, payment, learning access, assessments, intellectual property and complaints. It does not by itself waive statutory consumer rights or satisfy separate consent and acknowledgement requirements for immediate digital-content supply.

24.4  Acceptance of the general Terms does not independently create an approved instalment or consumer credit agreement where a separate agreement is required. Records may be presented in disputes subject to applicable evidential rules and legal scrutiny.

25. CONTACT DETAILS, CONTRACTUAL NOTICES AND FORMAL CORRESPONDENCE

25.1  General correspondence, complaints, payment-plan applications and refund enquiries may be sent to CIFA Education, 94–96 Seymour Place, London W1H 1NB, United Kingdom, or info@cifa.ac. Website: https://cifa.ac.

25.2  Communications should identify the Student, course and transaction where reasonably necessary. CIFA may use the Student’s registered email address for routine notices where legally permissible.

25.3  Formal legal notices must identify the relevant contracting entity and comply with any applicable service rules. Nothing in this section restricts the use of another legally valid method of exercising statutory rights.

25.4  CIFA may retain relevant correspondence for legitimate contractual, accounting, compliance and dispute-resolution purposes subject to applicable privacy requirements.

26. CONTRACTUAL EVIDENCE, STUDY-TIME LOGS AND DIGITAL TRANSACTION RECORDS

26.1  CIFA operates electronic systems capable of recording enrolment, contractual acceptance, payment, course activation, digital-content access, module navigation, e-book activity, study duration, webinar participation, assessment outcomes and certification.

26.2  Such records may be used where lawful to administer education, verify transactions, investigate complaints, respond to payment disputes and demonstrate the extent of educational access or engagement.

26.3  CIFA may preserve and disclose relevant records to authorised payment providers, professional advisers, courts or competent authorities where a lawful basis exists and appropriate safeguards apply.

26.4  Electronic records may support evidence of supply and use, but they do not automatically prove that statutory cancellation rights have been lost, that the digital content conforms to the Contract or that all legal requirements have been met.

26.5  CIFA shall take reasonable measures to maintain the integrity and security of relevant records and retain them for justified periods in accordance with data protection requirements.

27. UNAUTHORISED RECRUITMENT REPRESENTATIONS AND THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS

27.1  Independent employers and recruiters may recommend CPD training, but a recommendation alone does not establish affiliation, agency, partnership or authority to represent CIFA.

27.2  No independent third party may guarantee employment, certification recognition or a recruitment outcome on behalf of CIFA without express written authority. Students should verify material employment requirements directly with the relevant employer.

27.3  CIFA may investigate reported misrepresentations concerning its courses and request corrections where appropriate. CIFA is not responsible for genuinely independent unauthorised statements for which it has no legal responsibility.

27.4  Nothing excludes liability for CIFA’s own representations or the conduct of persons for whose acts it is legally responsible, nor does it diminish consumer remedies concerning misleading practices.

28. OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS, DEFAULT PROCEDURES AND LAWFUL DEBT RECOVERY

28.1  Where a valid payment arrangement exists, the Student shall pay sums lawfully due according to the agreed schedule. CIFA may send reasonable reminders and discuss repayment difficulties.

28.2  Genuine disputes about the existence, calculation or enforceability of a debt shall be investigated fairly. CIFA shall comply with applicable consumer credit law, debt collection requirements and relevant pre-action procedures.

28.3  An enforceable debt may be referred to an appropriately authorised recovery provider or legal representative. Communications shall not contain unlawful threats, harassment or misleading statements.

28.4  CIFA may initiate County Court proceedings where appropriate. A County Court Judgment can be made only by a court, and costs, interest or enforcement charges may be claimed only where recoverable by law.

28.5  No unlawful penalty, accelerated balance without legal authority or duplicate recovery shall be imposed. Students retain rights to dispute the claim and obtain independent advice.

29. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ENFORCEMENT AND UNAUTHORISED COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION

29.1  CIFA reserves its lawful intellectual property rights in original educational content, assessments, publications and branding. Students must use protected materials only within the licence granted.

29.2  Unauthorised commercial copying, redistribution, resale or sharing of restricted materials may constitute contractual breach or infringement. CIFA may investigate and request cessation of substantiated unlawful activity.

29.3  Where justified, CIFA may pursue injunctions, damages or other legal relief, subject to proof of the relevant requirements and without imposing unsupported penalties.

29.4  Nothing prevents lawful quotation, fair dealing, legitimate criticism or another use permitted by statutory intellectual property exceptions.

30. REPUTATIONAL PROTECTION, FALSE ALLEGATIONS AND LAWFUL COMPLAINTS

30.1  CIFA recognises the right of Students and members of the public to submit genuine complaints, express honest opinions, publish lawful reviews and report concerns to competent authorities.

30.2  Unlawful threats, harassment, impersonation, fraudulent misrepresentation and other actionable conduct are prohibited. CIFA may investigate and preserve relevant evidence where legally permissible.

30.3  Where the legal requirements are satisfied, CIFA may seek remedies for defamation, malicious falsehood or another actionable wrong. Any claim is subject to proof of its legal elements and available defences.

30.4  An unfavourable review, complaint or chargeback is not automatically defamatory, dishonest or malicious. These Terms shall not be interpreted as preventing lawful criticism, protected disclosures or statutory consumer remedies.

31. EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS AND RELIANCE

31.1  CIFA supplies professional education designed to support learning and skills development. Successful outcomes depend in part upon the Student’s engagement, preparation and independent performance.

31.2  Completion of a programme does not guarantee employment, promotion, salary, regulatory authorisation, professional registration or acceptance by an external organisation. Such bodies may impose additional requirements.

31.3  Educational resources are not automatically personalised financial, tax, legal or regulated investment advice. Students undertaking professional or commercial activities should verify current requirements and obtain suitable advice where needed.

31.4  CIFA remains responsible for accurate material course descriptions and for supplying content and services in accordance with applicable statutory standards. No disclaimer removes remedies for misdescription or non-conforming supply.

32. CONTRACTUAL ENFORCEMENT, REMEDIES AND PRESERVATION OF RIGHTS

32.1  CIFA may enforce lawful contractual rights following a material breach. Action shall be proportionate, supported by an appropriate legal basis and consistent with consumer protection requirements.

32.2  Available remedies may include a request to remedy breach, proportionate suspension, lawful termination, recovery of enforceable sums or court proceedings where justified. CIFA may seek damages or injunctive relief only where legal requirements are met.

32.3  CIFA may rely on lawful contractual and educational records as evidence, subject to applicable evidential rules. Multiple compatible remedies may be pursued without double recovery.

32.4  Any enforcement action shall comply with relevant consumer credit, debt recovery and court procedures. Students retain rights to contest allegations, raise defences and seek statutory remedies.

32.5  No provision of these Terms excludes or restricts mandatory statutory consumer rights.

33. LEGISLATIVE, REGULATORY AND EDUCATIONAL CONTENT UPDATES

33.1  CIFA supplies educational programmes, e-books, digital manuals, webinars and other resources covering subjects affected by changing legislation, taxation, governmental policy, regulatory rules, professional standards and industry practice. Areas including financial regulation, taxation, accountancy, investment, anti-money laundering and compliance may change after a resource is prepared or published.

33.2  CIFA maintains a policy of undertaking a formal review of its educational course materials at least once during each 12-month period. Such review is intended to assess continued relevance, accuracy and educational suitability in light of significant legislative, regulatory and professional developments. Where revisions are identified as necessary, CIFA shall endeavour to implement appropriate changes within a reasonable period.

33.3  Notwithstanding the annual review process, CIFA recognises that significant changes may occur between scheduled reviews. Where CIFA becomes aware of a material development affecting the accuracy, interpretation or educational relevance of content, it shall use reasonable endeavours to assess whether an interim correction, clarification, supplementary notice or revised resource is appropriate.

33.4  CIFA may prioritise interim amendments by reference to their significance, effect on learning objectives, possible consequences for Students and the practical work needed to verify and prepare reliable updates. A regulatory announcement may require analysis before its effect on the relevant course can properly be determined.

33.5  Whilst CIFA endeavours to maintain accurate and professionally appropriate educational materials, it does not undertake to incorporate every change in legislation, tax rates, regulatory guidance or professional standards immediately upon announcement or commencement. Reasonable time may be required to identify, assess, verify, prepare and publish an amendment. This provision does not exclude statutory responsibilities concerning the quality, description and fitness of supplied digital content.

33.6  Educational resources may refer to laws, rates, thresholds, regulatory requirements or professional guidance applicable when the material was prepared or last reviewed. Unless expressly stated otherwise, their inclusion does not represent that each reference will remain unchanged throughout the Student’s enrolment. CIFA may identify publication, edition, revision or relevant legislative dates to provide context.

33.7  Students proposing to rely upon course information for professional practice, regulatory compliance, taxation calculations, legal obligations, financial transactions or commercial decisions should verify the current requirements against authoritative sources, including legislation.gov.uk, HM Revenue & Customs, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority, HM Treasury and relevant professional bodies.

33.8  Where a Student reasonably believes that material is inaccurate, outdated, incomplete or inconsistent with current law, the Student is encouraged to notify info@cifa.ac, identifying the course, chapter, page or module and the nature of the concern. CIFA may investigate the issue and consult relevant authoritative sources.

33.9  Where a material inaccuracy is substantiated, CIFA shall take reasonable and proportionate steps to address it in light of the circumstances and applicable legal obligations. Corrections may be delivered through revised e-books, amended chapters, supplementary learning notices, updated modules or other appropriate means.

33.10  Where a change materially affects the learning or assessment requirements of an active Student, CIFA shall take reasonable steps to communicate the relevant information where appropriate. CIFA may also retain historical material for comparative or explanatory purposes where its historical nature and educational relevance are reasonably clear.

33.11  Course resources are intended to support professional education and are not a continuously updated substitute for official legislation, current regulatory handbooks or tailored professional advice. Students undertaking regulated or commercial activities remain responsible for obtaining current authoritative information suitable for their circumstances.

33.12  Nothing in this Section excludes, restricts or diminishes CIFA’s obligations under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 or other applicable consumer protection legislation. An annual review policy does not automatically excuse a material inaccuracy, misleading representation or failure to provide conforming digital content. This Section shall be read together with Sections 4, 6, 9, 17, 21 and 31; mandatory statutory requirements prevail in the event of inconsistency.