Brits underestimate true cost of fraud

26th April 2017 Consumer Collections |

Online research from Equifax reveals that 61% of Brits underestimate the financial cost of fraud, valuing the impact at less than £1 billion. Over half (54%) estimate the cost to be £500m or below, well below the £1.1 billion level published in the latest KPMG Fraud Barometer. The survey, conducted by YouGov, found 60% of…

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Report: One in Five consumers have concerns about new payment methods

26th April 2017 Consumer Collections |

Almost four in five (77%) British consumers have concerns about using new payment methods according to data from global law firm Paul Hastings. A survey of over 2,000 consumers highlights how security fears are preventing many consumers from embracing new payment technologies, yet providers of new methods are often leading the way in creatively addressing…

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Northern Ireland tops mortgage sales growth in March

21st April 2017 Consumer Collections |

Northern Ireland led the way for the highest regional mortgage sales growth in March with a 21.0% increase on February, according to Equifax Touchstone analysis of the intermediary marketplace. Wales and London followed closely behind with sales increasing by 18.8% and 17.2% respectively, while the North West experienced the lowest growth of 12.0%. Overall, mortgage…

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Gross mortgage lending increases 19% in March

20th April 2017 Consumer Collections |

The Council of Mortgage Lenders estimates that gross mortgage lending reached £21.4 billion in March. This is 19% higher than February’s lending total of £17.9 billion, and 19% lower than the £26.3 billion lent in March last year. The sharp fall in year-on-year lending was expected, as March last year saw significant rises in activity…

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Households facing tightest spending squeeze since 2014

20th April 2017 Consumer Collections |

Households are experiencing the tightest squeeze on their spending power since the summer of 2014, according to Markit’s Household Finance index. A “sharp and accelerated” squeeze on households’ financial well-being is largely being driven by renewed pressures on the amount of cash available to spend – which has fallen at the fastest pace seen since…

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Risk Management and Compliance more important than Customer Experience

19th April 2017 Consumer Collections |

Over two thirds (69%) of organisations prioritise risk management and compliance over customer experience and operational responsiveness, according to a study from Callcredit Information Group. The research, part of Callcredit’s New Affordability report, asked UK risk and customer experience managers about their attitudes towards affordability assessments. It unearths the struggle experienced by many when it…

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Retirement lending market set to double over the next 10 years

19th April 2017 Consumer Collections |

New research from more 2 life, the innovative equity release lender, shows that the size of the retirement lending market in the UK is set to rise from £65bn in 2017 to more than £142bn in 2027 – an increase of over 120%. The research predicts that total debt among the over-65s will pass the…

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Experian launches new collections software tool

19th April 2017 Consumer Collections |

Experian has combined its flagship decision management platform with its market-proven collections product Tallyman to offer a cost-effective, compliant and customer-focused approach. PowerCurve Collections will unlock the full potential of data and analytics, allowing companies to make decisions based on the needs and situations of individual customers. “Every contact with a customer is an opportunity to strengthen the…

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£400 billion of wealth set to cascade from parents to children

18th April 2017 Consumer Collections |

New research from insurer Royal London has found that over £400 billion in wealth being held by Britain’s grandparents is set to cascade down through the generations to the benefit of Millennials in the coming years.   Although most of the wealth held by the grandparents’ generation will be passed on initially to their baby boomer…

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April 2017: Money Statistics

12th April 2017 Consumer Collections |

Here is an overview of The Money Charity’s latest statistics for April 2017: Personal debt in the UK People in the UK owed £1.524 trillion at the end of February 2017. This is up from £1.476 trillion at the end of February 2016 – an extra£964.450 per UK adult. Based on February 2017 trends, the…

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Consumers in the East of England worst hit by energy price hikes

12th April 2017 Consumer Collections |

New MoneySuperMarket analysis reveals the recent price hikes from five of the Big Six energy companies could cost British bill payers £1bn collectively, with households on standard variable tariffs in the East of England worst hit by rising bills of an average of £88 each – more than any other area in the UK. Bill…

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FEATURE: “Compliance and Close Customer Communications” – Why Speech Analytics Drives Collections Success

11th April 2017 Consumer Collections |

New market and regulatory forces are having a major impact on the UK debt collections sector. The industry is going through a transitionary phase and as a result, businesses are having to shift their operational focus and adapt their business models. One of the biggest changes has been in the nature of the regulatory environment.…

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Home buying activity increases by 7% in February

11th April 2017 Consumer Collections |

The Council of Mortgage Lenders has published it’s latest home buying figures which indicate that home buying activity up 7% in February. Looking on a seasonally adjusted basis, first-time buyer and home mover activity increased by value month-on-month and year-on-year. Buy-to-let house purchase and remortgage activity remained unchanged by volume and by value month-on-month, but…

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