Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
The Government has launched a new Economic Crime Plan, in a partnership between the Chancellor Philip Hammond, Home Secretary Sajid Javid, and heads of law enforcement, major financial institutions and legal, accountancy and property organisations. The plan sets out actions to better tackle the scourge of ‘dirty money’ in the UK. It brings together the…
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The Bank of England has said the lenders could withstand the worst case no-deal Brexit and a full-scale global trade war, but warned “material risks of economic disruption” remain from a cliff-edge EU withdrawal. In the latest report from the Financial Policy Committee (FPC), the Bank said it had assessed lenders against a doomsday no-deal…
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The majority of consumers are still living in the ‘age of austerity’, more than 10 years after the recession, a study has found. The study has found that 96 per cent are looking for ways to reduce their spending on a daily basis. Shopping in the reduced section, using price comparison sites and withdrawing cash…
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New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business fell in May by 2%, compared with the same month last year. The retail store and online credit sector reported new business up in May by 2% compared with the same month in 2018, while credit card and personal…
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Parents on Universal Credit will have to find up to £800 extra to pay for childcare over the summer, with some resorting to payday loans to cover the cost, according to a report by Save the Children The report says that thousands of hard-pressed families will have to take out loans or borrow from family…
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The Bank of England has revealed that annual growth in consumer credit continued to slow, falling to 5.6% in May, in its monthly Money and Credit update. The monthly flow of consumer credit in May was broadly in line with the average since July 2018, at £0.8 billion. The Bank of England gross lending stats…
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Consumers are “more pessimistic and polarised about Brexit” impact on finances according to new research by Royal London. In a third quarterly YouGov the survey found that age and gender make a big difference to expectations, with women more likely to expect their finances to get worse rather than better after Brexit (35 per cent…
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Average UK incomes continue to struggle in 2019, with regular real pay, as of April, 1.1% lower than the pre-crash peak in February 2008 and total real pay (i.e. including bonuses) 5.5% below, according to the June 2019 Money Statistics, produced by The Money Charity. Real pay, calculated by adjusting money wages for changes in…
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Consumer spending will continue to outperform the economy as a whole despite being at its lowest level in six years, according to an EY ITEM Club special report. The EY ITEM Club forecasts consumer spending growth of 1.6% in 2019 and 1.7% in 2020, down from 1.8%, 2.2% and 3.2% in 2018, 2017 and 2016…
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British energy customers are facing a potential bill of £172 million from the collapse of 11 suppliers since January 2018. On top of this, thousands of people who owed money to failed suppliers lost out on consumer protections and faced aggressive debt collection as a result, according to new research by Citizens Advice. Energy suppliers…
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The Government has announced a new breathing Space scheme which will protect Individuals and families struggling with problem debt. Under the new scheme, consumers will be given extra help and time to get their finances under control, City minister John Glen has revealed. The new plans will see the introduction of a 60-day Breathing Space…
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More than half (51%) of homeowners aged 45 and oversee money invested in property as part of their financial plans for later life, according to a new report from the Equity Release Council. The research shows older homeowners – particularly those aged 45 to 64, the retirees of tomorrow – are reassessing the traditional roles…
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Firms that overcharge or mislead their customers could be hit with direct fines without the need to go through a court, under plans unveiled by Business Secretary Greg Clark. The government has confirmed it will consult on giving the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) new powers to decide itself whether consumer law has been broken,…
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