Pay.UK FPS Reimbursement Rules — Schedule 4 v4.0 (1 May 2026)

Pay.UK FPS Reimbursement Rules — Schedule 4 v4.0 (1 May 2026)

Pay.UK dated FPS Reimbursement Rules – Schedule 4 Version 4.0 on 01 May 2026. The schedule applies to all Directed PSPs that participate in Faster Payments and provide Relevant accounts — banks, building societies and EMIs in scope of PSR Specific Direction 20 — whether or not they are FPS Members. The reimbursement requirement itself has applied to reimbursable FPS APP scam payments executed from 7 October 2024; later PSR pages record an independent review (news dated 01/07/2026) and a dashboard update of 30 July 2026 for Q1 2026.

Why operational teams should care

Schedule 4 is the Faster Payments Operator’s rulebook for the reimbursement requirement. Sending PSPs still reimburse in-scope victims; receiving PSPs still pay the Reimbursable Contribution Amount; Pay.UK still monitors. Version 4.0 does not move the 7 October 2024 implementation date. It changes how you read an in-scope payment, how you label the reimbursability assessment, how you treat victim-beneficiary cases, and how you may pay the contribution other than via FPS.

The PDF URL path contains /2024/12/; lock the cover date (01 May 2026), not the path.

Operational consequences:

  • Re-issue the in-scope payment test (rule 3.10) and the reimbursability assessment (new heading at rule 3.11)
  • Update victim-beneficiary handling against the new definition and the footnotes on rules 4.11.1 and 5.5
  • Allow, by written exception, a non-FPS method for the Reimbursable Contribution Amount (rule 5.8)
  • Keep the five-business-day clocks, stop-the-clock to day 35, and RCMS reporting as they already run

A later independent review and a later dashboard update exist on PSR pages. Those pages do not agree on whether Frontier published in Q1, in Q2, or on 1 July. Flag the conflict. Do not “fix” it in MI commentary.

FPS reimbursement requirements by business type

Business type / role Core obligations under v4.0 Clock that still binds Official references
Sending PSP Reimburse reimbursable APP scam payments (excess, cap, standard of caution, 13-month window). Notify the receiving PSP within two business hours. Assess after the three-business-day opportunity to respond. Pay by close of day 5 unless stop-the-clock applies. Close by day 35 7 October 2024 implementation date (unchanged) Schedule 4 v4.0 rules 3.1–3.12, 4.1–4.15; PS25/5
Receiving PSP Pay the Reimbursable Contribution Amount (half the Reimbursable Amount, apportioned by value received) within five business days. Repatriate recovered funds on the rule 6 split. Update RCMS Five business days for the contribution; three business days for repatriation after internal approvals Rules 5.1–5.8, 6.1–6.5
Indirect / sponsored Directed PSP Accountable to Pay.UK for Schedule 4. A sponsoring DCS bank is not responsible unless it controls access to the claim funds Same clocks as a Member §§2.5 and 3
Pay.UK (FPS operator) Monitor Directed PSPs under SD19; RCMS Core is the expected Standard A channel Effective Date still 7 October 2024 §7
Credit unions, municipal banks, national savings banks Relevant-account definition continues to exclude these account types Out of Schedule 4 for those accounts §10 definition of Relevant account

Operational tip: Rule 3.10.4 now tests whether the payment is received in a Relevant account, not “settled”. If your claims script still says “settled”, you will accept or reject on the wrong fact.

Step-by-step: initial project plan

Step Action What operational staff must deliver Official reference
1 Replace the rulebook copy Controlled copy of Schedule 4 v4.0 dated 01 May 2026. Retire v3.5 (04/12/2024) from RCMS desk instructions PDF cover and §1.1
2 Patch the in-scope test Five-limb FPS APP scam payment test. Limb 4: payment is received in a Relevant account under the control of a receiving PSP in the UK that is not controlled by the Consumer Rule 3.10, including 3.10.4
3 Split “APP scam payment” from “reimbursable” New rule 3.11 heading for the six-limb assessment (standard of caution / vulnerability; not party to the fraud; not a dishonest claim; not a private civil dispute; not an unlawful purpose; reported within 13 months and not before 7 October 2024) Rules 3.10 and 3.11
4 Add victim-beneficiary to the playbook New definition: one victim pays a further victim, who then pays a criminal. Footnotes on 4.11.1 and 5.5: POCA 2002 and the MLRs may restrict the Reimbursable Amount and the contribution §10; footnotes to 4.11.1 and 5.5
5 Exception path for the contribution Default remains FPS. Rule 5.8 allows another method by exception if receiving and sending PSP(s) agree in writing Rule 5.8
6 Re-confirm clocks already live Two business hours to notify; three business days to respond; five business days to reimburse (stop-the-clock only for rule 4.6 reasons); close by day 35; contribution in five business days Rules 4.1–4.9, 4.14, 5.7
7 Later PSR pages — record, do not reconcile Diary PSR news dated 01/07/2026 (Frontier) and the dashboard “Updated: 30 July 2026” for Q1 2026. Official pages disagree on Q1 vs Q2 vs 1 July. Quote each page PSR 1 July 2026 news; Q1 2026 dashboard; One year on

A free self-assessment against the live PSR requirement: PSR APP Scams Reimbursement Diagnostic.

Practical checklist for operational teams

  • Controlled copy – Schedule 4 v4.0, 01 May 2026, in the claims SOP. Older versions off shared drives.
  • RCMS scripts – In-scope test uses “received”, not “settled”. Rule 3.11 stored as a separate checklist.
  • Victim-beneficiary queue – Named cases and a POCA/MLR restriction log. No automatic 50:50 where legislation caps what you may pay.
  • Contribution exceptions – Written agreement for any non-FPS RCA payment; RCMS still updated.
  • Clocks – Two-hour notice, day-3 response window, day-5 reimbursement, day-35 hard close, five-day contribution.
  • MI commentary – If you cite Frontier or the dashboard, quote the page in front of you. Do not reconcile Q1 / Q2 / 1 July.

Common operational pitfalls

  • Dating go-live to 1 May 2026. Version 4.0 is dated 01 May 2026; the reimbursement requirement still commences on 7 October 2024 (rules 3.2 and 8).
  • Treating the PDF path /2024/12/ or the cover “©Pay.UK 2025” line as the effective date.
  • Closing a claim before the three-business-day opportunity to respond has ended.
  • Requesting a contribution on a voluntary reimbursement (above the cap, out-of-time, or pre-7 October 2024).
  • Writing a board paper that “resolves” whether Frontier reported in Q1 2026, in Q2 2026, or on 1 July 2026. The PSR pages conflict; leave the conflict visible.

How GRT Consulting can help

GRT Consulting supports operational teams with:

  • Schedule 4 v4.0 gap analysis against RCMS desk instructions
  • In-scope / reimbursability / victim-beneficiary procedure rewrites
  • Claim-clock, stop-the-clock and contribution-exception controls

Start with the PSR APP Scams Reimbursement Diagnostic, then contact us: T: +44 20 3695 9251 E: info@grtconsult.com Web: grtconsult.com


Sources

.., 6th May 2026

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