The Financial Conduct Authority has promised to be consistent in the messages it sends to firms.
This morning (18 April) the regulator has published its Mission, aimed at helping firms and consumers understand how the FCA operates.
It has acknowledged that the different emphasis across the material it publishes can create uncertainty for firms but has said it aims for consistency.
This, the FCA has said, will ultimately cut costs for firms.
It said: "By providing better clarity and consistency in the information we give to firms, however they come into contact with us, they will have greater certainty about our expectations and supervision.
"This should reduce the overall costs of compliance for both them and for us.
"By making it easier for firms to comply, they will make fewer avoidable errors and reduce harm to consumers."
The mission was launched last year shortly after FCA chief executive Andrew Bailey took over at the regulator with the aim of providing a high level explanation of how the regulator operates.
As part of the process the FCA had promised to carry out a review of its handbook but it admitted that the uncertainty created by Britain's departure from the European Union meant this would have to wait.
The mission says it is "first and foremost" a firm's responsibility to make sure customers are treated fairly and provided with redress of things go wrong.
But it also warned consumers that the FCA does not operate a "zero failure regime".
The mission stated the FCA considers whether or not to intervene based on factors such as "proportionality", "sustainable growth", "consumer responsibility" and "efficieny and economy".
The mission stated: "The blurring of the boundaries between regulated and unregulated activities can create a public expectation that we should always act if an authorised firm’s activity causes harm, regardless of whether the activity falls inside the RAO or within the broader legislative powers set out above.
"Essentially, if we believe an issue is serious, but the relevant activity falls outside the perimeter or wider powers set out above, we may still be able to act."
The FCA said it would act in cases where unregulated activity was illegal or fraudulent, undermined confidence in the UK's financial services system or was closely related to a regulated activity.
damian.fantato@ft.com