# UK FCA Register Firm Status Monitor (FRN Watchlist) (`plym-actor-factory/uk-fca-frn-portfolio-status-monitor`) Actor

FCA Register monitoring for principal firms, partnership and third-party-risk teams: watch FRNs and get events when a firm is cancelled or suspended, permissions change, Appointed Representatives are added or removed, or a disciplinary record appears. Official FCA Register API (free key).

- **URL**: https://apify.com/plym-actor-factory/uk-fca-frn-portfolio-status-monitor.md
- **Developed by:** [Daniel Witney](https://apify.com/plym-actor-factory) (community)
- **Categories:** AI, Automation, Business
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $20.00 / 1,000 fca frn status event delivereds

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## UK FCA Register Firm Status Monitor (FRN Watchlist)

**Monitor the FCA Register for the firms you depend on.** Watch a list of **FRNs** (Firm Reference Numbers) and get a typed event when a firm is **cancelled or suspended**, its **permissions** change, an **Appointed Representative (AR)** is added or removed, or a new **disciplinary** record appears. Built for **principal firms supervising ARs**, bank and fintech **partnership / third-party-risk** teams, and broker or lead-generation networks. Uses the official **FCA Financial Services Register API** with your free portal key. **Not** a register directory scrape, **not** WatchDog / Distos seats, **not** Companies House status.

**Quick start:** replace the example FRNs with yours → set **Source mode = live** → add your FCA Register portal email + free API key → save as a Task and schedule it daily. The first live run records a baseline (no charge); later runs deliver an event only when a watched firm changes. Clicking *Start* with the defaults runs a free health check only.

### Who this is for

- **Principal firms** that must keep track of their **Appointed Representatives** and introducer firms.
- **Bank, fintech and insurer partnership / third-party-risk teams** checking that partners stay authorised with the right permissions.
- **Broker, lead-generation and affiliate networks** that must stop working with firms that are cancelled or suspended.

#### Typical workflow

1. Export the FRNs of your ARs, partners or panel firms.
2. Register (free) on the [FCA Register developer portal](https://register.fca.org.uk/Developer/s/) to get an API key for your email address.
3. Run once with `sourceMode: "live"`, `fcaEmail` and `fcaApiKey` — this **records a baseline** of each firm's status, permissions, ARs and disciplinary history (no charge, no events).
4. Save as a Task and **schedule daily**. Each later run **compares against the stored baseline** and delivers `FCA_FRN_CANCELLED`, `FCA_FRN_SUSPENDED`, `FCA_FRN_STATUS_CHANGED`, `FCA_AR_ADDED` / `FCA_AR_REMOVED`, `FCA_DISCIPLINARY_NEW` only for FRNs on your list. Route them to email / Slack / your GRC tool via Apify integrations.

#### First run vs later runs

**Run 1 (live) is a baseline:** it stores each watched firm's current Register state and emits no events. **Run 2 onwards** compares against that baseline, so keep the same Task (its key-value store holds the checkpoint).

#### Example output (SAMPLE)

> SAMPLE — illustrative values in the real output shape; FRN `000000` / `EXAMPLE ADVISERS LIMITED` are placeholders, not a real firm or a real Register change.

```json
{
  "frn": "000000",
  "organisation_name": "EXAMPLE ADVISERS LIMITED",
  "event_type": "FCA_FRN_SUSPENDED",
  "event_subtype": "Authorised->Suspended",
  "changed_fields": [
    "status"
  ],
  "previous_value": "Authorised",
  "new_value": "Suspended",
  "effective_date": "2026-09-10",
  "as_of": "2026-09-17",
  "evidence": {
    "previous_status": "Authorised",
    "new_status": "Suspended",
    "status_effective_date": "2026-09-10",
    "sub_status": null
  },
  "summary": "FRN 000000 (EXAMPLE ADVISERS LIMITED) FCA Register Status changed: Authorised → Suspended.",
  "source_url": "https://register.fca.org.uk/services/V0.1/Firm/000000",
  "event_uid": "<md5>",
  "billable": true,
  "business_type": "Regulated"
}
```

**What you get per $0.02 event:** one deduplicated status, permissions, AR or disciplinary change for one FRN on your watchlist (one dataset row like the sample above). Baselines, quiet runs, duplicates and invalid FRNs are never charged.

### Honest coverage (read before buying)

| Included (official Register API) | **Not** included |
|----------------------------------|------------------|
| Firm `Status` / `Status Effective Date` | HTML scrape of register.fca.org.uk |
| Permissions fingerprint (`Firm/{FRN}/Permissions`) | WatchDog / Distos / ComplyAdvantage keys |
| Appointed Representatives (`Firm/{FRN}/AR`) | Nationwide new-authorisation lead dumps |
| DisciplinaryHistory adds (`Firm/{FRN}/DisciplinaryHistory`) | Individual IRN resources (default OFF) |
| Lookup by **FRN** on your watchlist only | SLA / uptime guarantees (FCA: free API, **no SLA**) |

**Live path:** per-FRN `GET https://register.fca.org.uk/services/V0.1/Firm/{FRN}` with headers `X-Auth-Email` + `X-Auth-Key` (free developer-portal registration). Rate limit ~**50 req / 10s** (429 → ~1 min block). First observation stores a **baseline** (no charge). Quiet days ≈ $0 product charges.

### Value proposition

- **FRN watchlist × Register snapshot diff** → `FCA_FRN_CANCELLED`, `FCA_FRN_SUSPENDED`, `FCA_FRN_AUTHORISED_RESTORED`, `FCA_FRN_STATUS_CHANGED`, optional `FCA_AR_ADDED` / `FCA_AR_REMOVED` / `FCA_DISCIPLINARY_NEW`, `FCA_FRN_GONE`.
- Official FCA HTTP only. **No WatchDog / Distos key.**
- **Pay only for unique delivered change events.** Durable KVS checkpoint + `event_uid` dedupe.

### PRODUCTION USE (required for real monitoring)

> **Store default ≠ product.** Schema defaults use `sourceMode=fixture` so Apify Store daily auto-tests leave a non-empty health dataset **without** calling FCA. That fixture path only writes a non-billable `RUN_STATUS` / `FIXTURE_HEALTH` row. It is **not** FRN monitoring.

For **production monitoring** you **must**:

1. Set **`sourceMode` = `live`**
2. Provide **`fcaEmail`** + **`fcaApiKey`** (free [FCA Register developer portal](https://register.fca.org.uk/Developer/s/))
3. Provide your `frns` watchlist
4. Schedule runs (daily is typical; Register is snapshot/poll-class, not a stream)

Official references:

- [Financial Services Register](https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/financial-services-register) (FCA: free API, no SLA)
- Endpoint: `https://register.fca.org.uk/services/V0.1/Firm/{FRN}`

### Apify Store daily auto-test / default input

| Field | Default |
|-------|---------|
| `frns` | `["122702","311492"]` |
| `signalGroups` | `status`, `permissions`, `appointed_representatives`, `disciplinary` |
| `sourceMode` | `fixture` |
| `emitFixtureDemoEvents` | `false` |
| `includeIndividualIrn` | `false` |
| `maxRunSeconds` | `55` |
| `requestPaceMs` | `250` |

On that path the Actor **SUCCEEDS** quickly, pushes exactly one `RUN_STATUS` / `FIXTURE_HEALTH` row (`billable: false`), and does **not** charge `fca-frn-status-event-delivered`.

### Input (summary)

| Field | Notes |
|-------|--------|
| `frns` | Watchlist (required, numeric FRN) |
| `signalGroups` | `status`, `permissions`, `appointed_representatives`, `disciplinary` |
| `sourceMode` | `fixture` (default) or `live` |
| `fcaEmail` / `fcaApiKey` | Required for live (`isSecret` on key) |
| `emitFixtureDemoEvents` | Default **false** |
| `includeIndividualIrn` | Default **false** (A5) |
| `maxRunSeconds` / `maxEvents` | Budgets |
| `resumeFromCheckpoint` | Default true |
| `requestPaceMs` | Default **250** (raise on 429) |

#### Production example

```json
{
  "frns": ["122702", "311492", "805574"],
  "signalGroups": ["status", "permissions", "appointed_representatives", "disciplinary"],
  "sourceMode": "live",
  "fcaEmail": "you@example.com",
  "fcaApiKey": "<portal-key>",
  "asOfHint": "2026-09-17",
  "maxRunSeconds": 300,
  "requestPaceMs": 250,
  "resumeFromCheckpoint": true
}
```

### Output

#### Change events (billable under PPE)

Typed rows include: `frn`, `organisation_name`, `event_type`, `event_subtype`, `changed_fields`, `previous_value`, `new_value`, `as_of`, `evidence`, `summary`, `source_url`, `event_uid`, `business_type`, `billable: true`.

#### RUN\_STATUS (never billed)

Every successful run pushes one health row (`FIXTURE_HEALTH` | `MONITOR_IDLE` | `CATCHUP_COMPLETE` | `HEALTH_OK`).

### Pricing

Pay-per-event: **`fca-frn-status-event-delivered`** at **$0.02** per delivered unique change event ($20 / 1,000). Single tier (see `docs/monetization.md` and ADR 0010). Health / baseline / duplicate / fixture rows are never charged. `apify-actor-start` ~$0.00005.

### Local development

```bash
cd actors/uk-fca-frn-portfolio-status-monitor
npm install
npm test
npm run build
apify run -p
```

### Attribution

Data originates from the **Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Financial Services Register API**. Not an official FCA product. Not WatchDog / Distos. Status taxonomy stays faithful to Register strings.

# Actor input Schema

## `frns` (type: `array`):

FCA Firm Reference Numbers to monitor via official Register API Firm/{FRN}. Digits only (4–8). Individual IRNs (letter forms) are rejected. Invalid entries are skipped with no charge. Not a nationwide dump — only these FRNs are polled.

## `signalGroups` (type: `array`):

Which change groups to evaluate: status (Authorised/Cancelled/Suspended/gone), permissions (Firm/Permissions fingerprint), appointed\_representatives (Firm/AR adds/removes), disciplinary (new DisciplinaryHistory rows). Default: all. Individual IRN is never included.

## `maxRunSeconds` (type: `integer`):

Wall-clock budget for the run. Large books may need longer budgets or chunked schedules. Respect FCA ~50 req/10s.

## `maxEvents` (type: `integer`):

Stop after this many unique change events are delivered (does not include RUN\_STATUS).

## `resumeFromCheckpoint` (type: `boolean`):

If true, resume FRN snapshots and seen event\_uids from the default Key-Value Store.

## `sourceMode` (type: `string`):

fixture = local/CI / Apify Store daily auto-test default (no network; emits RUN\_STATUS only unless emitFixtureDemoEvents=true). live = official FCA Register API — requires fcaEmail + fcaApiKey. Not HTML scrape; not WatchDog/Distos.

## `emitFixtureDemoEvents` (type: `boolean`):

When sourceMode=fixture, if true push fabricated change events from local fixtures (unit/local demos only). Default false so Store daily auto-tests never emit fake FRN events or charge fca-frn-status-event-delivered. Production: leave false and use sourceMode=live. SAMPLE rows only: demo events use placeholder entities (never real companies/IDs), are flagged sample=true / isSample=true, and are NEVER charged. To see them, set Source mode = fixture and put the placeholder IDs 9999901, 9999902, 9999903 in the watchlist.

## `fcaEmail` (type: `string`):

Email used to register on the free FCA Financial Services Register developer portal. Required only when sourceMode=live. Never logged.

## `fcaApiKey` (type: `string`):

API key from the free FCA Register developer portal. Required only when sourceMode=live. Marked secret; never logged. Not a WatchDog/Distos key.

## `asOfHint` (type: `string`):

Optional as\_of label for events / RUN\_STATUS. Does not force a bulk dump.

## `maxTotalChargeUsd` (type: `number`):

Optional soft budget hint for delivered change events. Platform ACTOR\_MAX\_TOTAL\_CHARGE\_USD also applies when set.

## `requestPaceMs` (type: `integer`):

Minimum delay between outbound FCA HTTP requests. Default 250 ms. Register API ~50 req / 10s; breaches return 429 and block ~1 minute. Raise if you see 429s.

## `includeIndividualIrn` (type: `boolean`):

A5 legal default: OFF. This build does not call Individual IRN endpoints even if set true — product stays firm Status / permissions / AR / disciplinary.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "frns": [
    "122702",
    "311492"
  ],
  "signalGroups": [
    "status",
    "permissions",
    "appointed_representatives",
    "disciplinary"
  ],
  "maxRunSeconds": 55,
  "maxEvents": 500,
  "resumeFromCheckpoint": true,
  "sourceMode": "fixture",
  "emitFixtureDemoEvents": false,
  "requestPaceMs": 250,
  "includeIndividualIrn": false
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `OUTPUT` (type: `string`):

JSON summary: delivered, charged, runStatus, checkpoint, stats, FCA coverage limits

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("plym-actor-factory/uk-fca-frn-portfolio-status-monitor").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("plym-actor-factory/uk-fca-frn-portfolio-status-monitor").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{}' |
apify call plym-actor-factory/uk-fca-frn-portfolio-status-monitor --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,plym-actor-factory/uk-fca-frn-portfolio-status-monitor"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/aS0SCexUinQVTZEEh/builds/dWYpdZLbKmqeREj8v/openapi.json