---
type: "AIHallucinationFinding"
title: "Is the obligation to conduct consumer testing under the Consumer Duty a binding rule in PRIN 2A, or…"
citation_id: "RLB-H-GB-FCA-CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9-Q007-Sonnet46"
finding_uid: "GB-FCA-GB-001-CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9-v1-007--sonnet-46-websearch"
question_uid: "GB-FCA-GB-001-CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9-v1-007"
regulation_id: "GB-FCA-GB-001-CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9"
regulation_slug: "CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9"
regulation_title: "Consumer Duty (PS22/9 + PRIN 2A), Financial Conduct Authority"
regulator_short_code: "FCA"
regulatory_body_id: "FCA-GB-001"
jurisdiction_code: "GB"
j_level: "J3"
ai_subject: "claude-sonnet-4-6"
ai_subject_display: "Claude Sonnet 4.6 (web search on)"
ai_subject_version: "sonnet-46-websearch"
response_failure_mode: "inference_drift"
substrate_document_name: "p_05_REGULATION_FG22_5_vs_PRIN_2A___guidance_obligation_2.html"
substrate_document_path: "https://reglegbrief.com/substrate/GB/FCA/CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9/_raw_manual_substrate/p_05_REGULATION_FG22_5_vs_PRIN_2A___guidance_obligation_2.html"
substrate_section_anchor: "FG22/5 vs PRIN 2A — guidance obligation vs rule obligation on consumer testing"
citation_issue_types: ["Pretextual"]
audiences: ["ai_labs", "practitioners", "sector_dept"]
published_at: "2026-06-07T07:58:28.589839+00:00"
substrate_version: 1
methodology_version: "2.3"
license: "CC-BY-4.0"
resource: "https://reglegbrief.com/regulators/j3/gb/fca/CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9/ai-labs/finding/GB-FCA-GB-001-CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9-v1-007--sonnet-46-websearch/"
tags: ["ai-hallucination", "inference_drift", "fca", "consumer-duty-ps22-9", "gb"]
timestamp: "2026-06-16T00:00:00+00:00"
---

# AI Hallucination Finding: Is the obligation to conduct consumer testing under the Consumer Duty a binding rule in PRIN 2A, or…

- **Citation ID.** `RLB-H-GB-FCA-CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9-Q007-Sonnet46`
- **Finding UID.** `GB-FCA-GB-001-CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9-v1-007--sonnet-46-websearch`
- **Regulation.** [`CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9`](/okf/regulations/CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9.md) — Consumer Duty (PS22/9 + PRIN 2A), Financial Conduct Authority
- **Regulator.** [`FCA-GB-001`](/okf/bodies/FCA-GB-001.md) — Financial Conduct Authority
- **AI subject.** Claude Sonnet 4.6 (web search on)
- **Failure mode.** [`inference_drift`](/okf/taxonomy/failure-modes.md)
- **Published.** 2026-06-07T07:58:28.589839+00:00

## Question put to the AI subject

Is the obligation to conduct consumer testing under the Consumer Duty a binding rule in PRIN 2A, or does it appear only as recommended guidance in FG22/5? What does PRIN 2A.5 actually require on consumer understanding?

## AI subject's verbatim answer

The testing obligation arises under PRIN 2A.5.10R through PRIN 2A.5.14R, which set out requirements for testing and monitoring of communications. PRIN 2A.5.10R requires firms to test communications 'where appropriate.'

## Verbatim regulator text contradicting the answer

> FG22/5 contains guidance (not rules) recommending firms 'should' consider consumer testing of communications. PRIN 2A.5 (rule) requires firms to act to deliver good consumer understanding outcome

_Source:_ [p_05_REGULATION_FG22_5_vs_PRIN_2A___guidance_obligation_2.html](https://reglegbrief.com/substrate/GB/FCA/CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9/_raw_manual_substrate/p_05_REGULATION_FG22_5_vs_PRIN_2A___guidance_obligation_2.html)
_Section anchor:_ FG22/5 vs PRIN 2A — guidance obligation vs rule obligation on consumer testing

## Failure mode

**`inference_drift`** — Inference drift — the AI inferred a conclusion the regulator's text does not warrant, often by combining unrelated provisions.

## Citation-issue types

- **Pretextual** — <https://handbook.fca.org.uk/handbook/PRIN/2A/5.html>
- **Pretextual** — <https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/finalised-guidance/fg22-5.pdf>

## Related concepts

- Regulation: [CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9](/okf/regulations/CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9.md)
- Regulator: [FCA-GB-001](/okf/bodies/FCA-GB-001.md)
- Failure-mode taxonomy: [inference_drift](/okf/taxonomy/failure-modes.md)
- Methodology: [v2.3](/okf/methodology.md)
- Editorial standards: [right of reply](/okf/editorial-standards.md)

## Reproduction

Citation ID: `RLB-H-GB-FCA-CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9-Q007-Sonnet46`

Resource URL (HTML view of this finding):

<https://reglegbrief.com/regulators/j3/gb/fca/CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9/ai-labs/finding/GB-FCA-GB-001-CONSUMER-DUTY-PS22-9-v1-007--sonnet-46-websearch/>

This finding is reproducible against the substrate document linked above, using the same AI subject, the same methodology version, and the verbatim question text.