New research by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute has revealed the links between financial difficulty and mental health problems in England – and which mental health conditions can increase your chances of being in problem debt. The charity is calling on the government to use its upcoming Consumer White Paper to ensure people with…
In line with its statutory duty, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has reviewed the retained provisions of the Consumer Credit Act (CCA) 1974, and set out its findings in a new report. The new report says that the government has an opportunity to change the rules on intimidating creditors’ letters, which are contributing to people…
The Scottish government risks missing its child poverty targets by some distance as poverty levels are set to rise rather than fall over the next five years, according to new analysis published by the Resolution Foundation. The analysis shows that, following large falls in the 2000s, relative child poverty has been rising since 2011-12. The…
A survey by Comparethemarket.com has revealed consumers attitudes towards credit and how debt is impacting their lives. The price comparison site wanted to discover the main reasons why people get into debt and how it affects their lives, in particular, their relationships and mental health. The survey found that 45% of consumers are in debt,…
Research carried out by financial advice website Moneycomms.co.uk and supported by credit experts TotallyMoney has revealed that credit card cash withdrawals cost UK consumers £219 million in fees and interest last year. In the 12-month period, there were more than 36 million credit card cash transactions. The average amount withdrawn or spent was £125. Every time a…
A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) has found that the four main regulators – Ofwat, Ofgem, Ofcom and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – understand the significant difficulties facing consumers across utilities, communications and financial services markets, but cannot prove if they are effectively responding to consumer concerns or offering enough protection for…
A high number of consumers don’t know how to manage their finances in a responsible manner, according to research. A survey of 1,000 UK adults, carried out by personal insolvency practice Creditfix, found that only 34% of consumers admit they feel ‘in control’ of their finances. An overwhelming number (57%) said they couldn’t even confirm…
Contactless transactions have risen 31 percent year-on-year in 2018, to latest data from banking trade body UK Finance. The current payment limit with a contactless card is £30, more than which a Pin must be used. But an increase in usage throughout 2018 is expected to lead to an increase in that maximum, although those…
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its second thematic review of the debt management sector, looking at commercial and not-for-profit firms that provide debt advice and administer debt management plans to help customers deal with their debts. The FCA’s first thematic review in 2015 found significant concerns with the quality of advice being given…
New research from Experian has identified 5.8 million people in the UK who are virtually invisible to the credit economy because there is little or no information available on their financial track record. In the absence of sufficient information to make a decision, these Invisibles can either be excluded from mainstream financial services or be…