Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
Consumer confidence in the UK reached its highest level in 21 months in July, according to Barclays’ survey. About 30% of respondents expressed optimism about the economy, a 6% increase from June. Consumer card spending was up 2per cent, with discretionary spending also up 1.6 per cent. The new data follows a 1.9 per cent…
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham has outlined a series of measures to tackle the cost-of-living challenges. The plan includes a ban on fake discounts and making it easier for people to opt out of unwanted subscriptions. Responding to the plans, Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said “For too long consumers have been tricked…
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A targeted energy discount scheme could save eligible households £175 and soften the impact of any further gas price shocks this winter. But the Government will need to act fast to have a scheme ready by January 2027, the Resolution Foundation warned. Despite the Prime Minister’s welcome day-one VAT cut on electricity bills, further escalation…
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Middle income earners are increasingly falling into financial precarity, according to a report by lender Plend and investment specialist Triple Point, with 40% of those unable to cover a sudden £300 bill, the Financial Conduct Authority’s own benchmark for financial resilience, now earning above the national median salary. A third of UK adults (35%) are…
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As millions of UK holidaymakers prepare to head overseas this summer, new Freedom of Information (FOI) data obtained by Compare the Market has revealed that consumers paid £508 million in out-of-bundle international roaming charges in 2025, highlighting the continued cost of using mobile phones abroad for many travellers. The figures show consumers paid £508 million…
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New polling from StepChange Debt Charity reveals that almost one in six (15%) of adults, equivalent to more than 8 million people, find keeping up with their credit card repayments a very or fairly large burden each month, highlighting the growing challenge of credit card debt across the UK. The research, conducted by YouGov on…
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The cost of a traditional funeral has risen by £90 in just three months and by £151 since the start of the year, according to new data from Pure Cremation. The research found that the average traditional funeral now costs £4,713, a rise of 1.95% between July and April 2026 and 3.3% since January. The…
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GfK’s consumer-confidence indicator rose to -17 in July, returning to levels last seen in January. All measures tracked by the survey improved, including expectations for the general economy and intentions to make major purchases. The World Cup and the Prime Minister’s promises of help with living costs appear to have improved the national mood. However,…
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Latest research by Generation Rent has found that, if the price of everyday groceries had risen at the same rate as private rents since 1988, a standard ten-item shop from a supermarket would cost more than five times what it does now. The 1965 Rent Act introduced regulated tenancies with long-term security of tenure and…
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Financial resilience among the UK workforce has deteriorated over the last 12 months, with just one in four (25%) of people being classified as financially resilient compared to almost a third (32%) in 2025, according to Hymans Robertson. Meanwhile, those classed as financially vulnerable have risen to 42% compared to 36% in 2025. The drop…
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New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that second charge mortgage new business volumes fell by 1% in May 2026 Commenting on the latest new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Director of Consumer Finance & Mortgages and Inclusion the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said…
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National debt charity StepChange has won a top award for its work to tackle illegal lending and keep its clients safe from loan sharks. The charity, which has its headquarters in Leeds, has been awarded Partner Plus Accreditation by the Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT), known as Stop Loan Sharks, in recognition of its ongoing…
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Latest monthly statistics from the Insolvency Service have shown that personal insolvencies increased whilst business insolvencies declined in June 2026. The data showed that in June 2026, there were 189 personal insolvencies in Northern Ireland. This was 13% higher than in June 2025. The insolvencies comprised 136 IVAs, 20 bankruptcies and 33 DROs. The business insolvencies…
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