Tackling the engagement gap

11th September 2024 Industry opinion |

Here at the Credit Services Association (CSA), we have launched our latest report titled ‘Tackling the Engagement Gap Addressing the reluctance of consumers to discuss debt; which takes a closer look at the reasons for customer disengagement. This report builds on work we started some years ago with our #heretohelp campaign, which sought to reassure…

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Housing expenses continue to stretch family budgets

2nd September 2024 Industry opinion |

UK household budgets continue to be stretched, with particular pressure coming from housing expenses. The challenge of affording a place to live and call home remains one of the major stretches on UK household budgets, with difficulties being faced across the board; for those renting, hoping to buy, or those keeping up with their mortgage.…

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Lenders prepared to manage higher mortgage interest rates and increased default levels

2nd August 2024 Industry opinion |

Lenders have never been in a stronger position to manage higher mortgage interest rates and increased default levels. Many mortgage holders have been eagerly awaiting the next Bank of England rate cut in the expectation that it will lead to significantly lower monthly mortgage payments for them. Unfortunately, they are largely wasting their time. Truth…

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Households continue to face challenge of spend or save

30th July 2024 Industry opinion |

Household saving ratios continue to climb upwards as more seek to take advantage of higher interest rates, but many are still challenged by their ability to find the right balance between saving and spending. Recent months have seen a gradual increasing of the ratio at which UK households are saving and while a positive sign,…

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Consumer-centric approaches shine at new industry awards

15th July 2024 Industry opinion |

As a corporate communications consultant with specialist expertise in financial services, it’s been a privilege to be part of the inaugural Credit and Collections Industry Awards which celebrate excellence and innovation across credit, lending and collections. The high standard of entries and breadth of impressive initiatives certainly brought to light the consumer-first approach that’s been…

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UK’s Improving big picture yet to impact individuals

27th June 2024 Industry opinion |

While signs appear positive for the UK economy gradually moving in the right direction, this progress is not yet translating into tangible benefits being felt by households. Recent months have brought news of a more positive outlook for the UK’s finances, albeit with progress relatively marginal and slow. However, while welcome news for hard-pressed households…

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Awards Season – making it count

21st June 2024 Industry opinion |

It is nearing the end of exam season and in the last couple of weeks, I have also spent some time marking… judging industry award entries. As always it has been an interesting process, with lots of close entries, which often made it hard to determine winners. Of course a winner there has to be.…

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Taking Control of Goods: Ten years on, is it working?

20th June 2024 Industry opinion |

It’s ten years since Taking Control of Goods Regulations came into force. The regulations are used to define and measure the work of enforcement firms, but they are basic and no longer reflect modern enforcement practices. So what more is needed? The industry has been on a path of reform since the review of civil…

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Do you really ‘Know Your Customer’? The growth of identity fraud and what we should do about it

5th June 2024 Industry opinion |

If you asked most people which of their assets was the most desirable for criminals, they’d probably respond with a range of high-value goods, such as vehicles, jewellery and tech. They’d be wrong. In the digital era, arguably the asset which has the most financial value to criminals is you – in the form of…

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Cost of housing adds to burden on household budgets

3rd June 2024 Industry opinion |

The cost of affording a place to live and call home is placing significant pressure on all kinds of different UK household budgets. Steep price rises in all areas of the housing market, home ownership to renting, are creating an additional burden on already-pressured household budgets across the UK. Renters in particular are increasingly vulnerable…

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Living costs continue to squeeze households pressuring working families

30th April 2024 Industry opinion |

Working families remain under significant financial pressure as they struggle to cover their most essential living costs, with family members of all ages increasingly aware of these challenges. UK families continue to grapple with balancing the books as living costs increase. These increases ever more frequently offset any rises in regular pay, rates for which…

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AI in the debt sector: how can we get the underlying exchange of data right?

12th April 2024 Industry opinion |

I don’t know about you, but whenever I hear someone talk about AI or Artificial Intelligence, I feel somewhat sceptical, even scathing. When I was quite a bit younger, I remember watching Tomorrow’s World on the BBC, learning all about something new called an ‘Information Superhighway’ that had been invented and was going to change…

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Beware April’s impending employment law changes

3rd April 2024 Industry opinion |

There are a number of key employment law changes that are coming in this April that businesses need to be aware of. Flexible working rights A significant change to worker rights set to be introduced in April will ensure flexible working is more accessible than ever before and demonstrates the traditional 9-5 working pattern is…

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