The UK’s three largest debt charities have called on the Government to instruct local authorities in England and Wales to suspend bailiff action for the duration of the Covid-19 outbreak. The move comes as Citizens Advice, Money Advice Trust and StepChange Debt Charity report that debt advisers have already begun to receive calls about bailiffs…
Water companies are taking all possible measures to help vulnerable customers and ensure households will not struggle to pay their bill during the national crisis according to Water UK. As yet there is no set policy for what billpayers will be offered but payment collections will be halted as part of the measures offered by…
The Government has confirmed a £500 million hardship fund will provide council tax relief for vulnerable households. Local Government Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP has confirmed the government’s £500 million Hardship Fund will provide council tax relief to vulnerable people and households to help those affected most by coronavirus. The government has set out…
The incomes of self-employed people are ‘falling like a stone’ amidst economic disruption caused by Covid-19, according to charity the Money Advice Trust, which runs the Business Debtline advice service. The warning comes after Chancellor Rishi Sunak told MPs that constructing a scheme to protect the self-employed who are losing work because of the Coronavirus…
The spending limit for contactless card payments will be increased from £30 to £45, with a national roll-out beginning from 1st April 2020, UK Finance has announced. The decision to raise the limit was taken following consultation between the retail sector and the finance and payments industry and follows similar increases in several other European…
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published new guidance for mortgage lenders and administrators and small business lenders. This supports the announcements made by the Chancellor earlier this week. The new mortgage guidance makes clear that firms should grant customers a payment holiday for an initial period of 3 months, where they may experience payment…
Direct cash support for affected households, a pause on debt enforcement, and urgent support for those who fall behind on their rent and council tax are among the immediate measures needed from Government to support households through the Covid-19 crisis – according to a new call from two of the UK’s largest debt advice charities.…
Further to the Chancellor’s announcement regarding the mortgage industry’s support for homeowners who are experiencing financial issues due to COVID-19, lenders representing banks, building societies and other specialist lenders have come together to announce additional support for homeowners and residential landlords. In a joint announcement UK Finance and the Building Society Association (BSA) said that…
New emergency measures with the energy industry have been agreed by the government to protect the domestic energy supply of those most in need during the disruption caused by the coronavirus. As part of new measures, customers with pre-payment meters who may not be able to add credit can speak to their supplier about options…
The government has announced a radical package of measures to protect renters and landlords affected by coronavirus. As a result, no renter in either social or private accommodation will be forced out of their home during this difficult time. Emergency legislation will be taken forward as an urgent priority so that landlords will not be…