The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority says a Scottish court has made Arthur Temlett, trading as Abacus Insurance Consultants, bankrupt, after the regulator applied for the order. The FCA asked the Court to make Arthur Temlett, trading as Abacus Insurance Consultants (‘Abacus’), bankrupt, and a Sheriff granted the application on 27 August 2026. In Scots law, this type of process is known as sequestration in Scotland.
A trustee has now been appointed to take charge of what remains of Temlett’s financial affairs.
FCA secures Scottish court order to bankrupt Arthur Temlett
The bankruptcy order followed the FCA’s application to a Scottish court, and it brought an insolvency professional into the case to handle what comes next. Emma Porter of Aver Chartered Accountants (‘Aver’) was appointed as trustee. In that role, she will now assess Mr Temlett’s financial affairs and seek to distribute any recovered funds to creditors.
Temlett’s earlier regulated-activity restriction
On 21 January 2025, the regulator took action to protect consumers by stopping Arthur Temlett from carrying out any regulated activities, including acting as an insurance broker. This was because of concerns that he may have sold home and motor insurance without passing premium payments on to the insurance provider. That ban addressed Temlett’s ability to carry out regulated activity.
The criminal case against Temlett
Arthur Temlett is awaiting trial on embezzlement charges brought following an investigation by Police Scotland.
Anyone who believes they have paid for a policy that does not exist should report this to Police Scotland in the first instance by dialling 101 and using the crime reference number: CR/0470100/24.
What happens next for Abacus policyholders
On the question of outstanding cover, Abacus stopped regulated activities in January 2025, and on that basis the FCA has said most previous policies will have expired or been renewed with another provider by now. For anyone still affected, a compensation route remains available. FSCS is open to claims against Abacus.
- The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protects consumers when UK financial services firms go out of business.
- The FSCS is operationally independent of the FCA.
FCA warns of impersonation risk around the trustee appointment
The FCA also flagged a scam risk tied to the case. Fraudsters sometimes claim to be from legitimate firms authorised by the FCA, or, in a bankruptcy case such as this one, the appointed trustee. If contacted by someone claiming to be Abacus, Arthur Temlett or the trustee, the FCA advises: End the call straight away.
For readers who follow FCA broker enforcement, InsuraBeat has separate coverage of Anthony Jones (UK) Limited’s agreement to stop all FCA-regulated activity. For readers who follow broker-related fraud risk, InsuraBeat has separate coverage of the FCA’s warning on ghost broker fraud in motor insurance.
