Payplan gains FCA Authorisation

16th September 2016 Consumer Collections |

PayPlan has announced that it has received full authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Rachel Duffey, CEO of PayPlan said “Today’s news confirms our status as a recognised leader in the debt advice field. The staff have worked very hard in creating a culture where the client always comes first and the FCA authorisation is a…

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Ofgem proposes capping prepayment meter charges for indebted consumers

15th September 2016 Consumer Collections |

Ofgem has published proposals to cap charges for installing prepayment meters under warrant. An option in the consultation includes placing a firm limit on charges of £100 or £150. The proposals also include plans to ban prepayment meters warrant installation charges for the most vulnerable customers. When customers fall in debt, one option is for…

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Debt problems hit record high

7th September 2016 Consumer Collections |

New Research from StepChange has found that the number of people seeking help with debt problems has hit a record high with those affected increasingly likely to be younger, working part-time and renting their home. The charity’s Statistics Mid-Yearbook, released today, shows that over 300,000 people sought advice from StepChange Debt Charity between January and…

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Parents cut back on standard of living to fund University education

6th September 2016 Consumer Collections |

A third of students would rather ask their parents for money rather than forego nights out, a new study from Nationwide Flex Student has revealed.  Two thirds of British parents have had to cut back on their standard of living to pay for their children’s university education, according to the poll. The study of 500…

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Average debt owed to family and friends is over £4,000

1st September 2016 Consumer Collections |

A report by StepChange debt charity has found that the number of people seeking debt advice, who owe money to family and friends is rising and the average amount borrowed is now more than £4,000. The charity’s figures from the first half of 2016 show that 28% of the charity’s clients now owe money to…

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32% people in the UK have borrowed money from friends or family

31st August 2016 Consumer Collections |

New research from Equifax has found that 32% of people in the UK have had to borrow money from friends or family. The online survey, conducted by YouGov, found 31% of these loans were to pay for household essentials such as food, 23% to pay for car repairs and 18% to pay for utility bills…

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Young people in debt worry and are unlikely to seek advice

30th August 2016 Consumer Collections |

New research by the National Debtline has found that 37% of 18 to 24 year olds are already in debt, owing an average of nearly £3,000 (excluding student loans and mortgages). Young people are building up debt and worrying about money in their first few years of adult life, but far too few are seeking advice…

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1.6 million UK households are living in extreme debt

23rd August 2016 Consumer Collections |

A report by TUC and Unison suggests that about 1.6 million UK households are living in extreme debt. The report says official figures underestimate the intense burden of repayment on many families and individuals. The Britain in the Red report says households are finding it harder than ever to cope as wages have fallen. Total unsecured…

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Student Loan interest increase from September

19th August 2016 Consumer Collections |

Following on from the Government announcement of March’s Retail Prices Index (RPI) rate of inflation at 1.6%, millions of students and graduates will be charged more interest on their student loans from September. The RPI rate of inflation is used to decide how much interest graduates pay on their student loans – a much higher figure…

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London is the debt capital of Britain

18th August 2016 Consumer Collections |

Londoners are more likely to be struggling with debt than the rest of the UK costing  the city £1.4 billion a year according to a new report from StepChange Debt Charity. The report shows that the charity’s clients living in the capital owe more on credit cards and loans, have higher arrears on bills meaning that they…

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E.on to refund overcharged customers

16th August 2016 Consumer Collections |

Energy Provider E.on will refund it’s customers after it spotted a flaw in the way some meters are being read.  Around 600 of its customers – both homes and businesses – are affected. Energy regulator Ofgem commented “Ofgem is aware that a very small number of gas customers are being incorrectly charged for their energy use and…

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One in three working families only one pay cheque away from losing their home

9th August 2016 Consumer Collections |

The study by Shelter and YouGov found that one in three families have little or no personal savings to fall back meaning that a staggering three million working families could be just one pay cheque away from losing their home. The research also revealed that a fifth of working parents face the prospect of being immediately unable to…

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Citizens Advice calls on creditors to pass on interest rate cut following research

8th August 2016 Consumer Collections |

A research report by Citizen Advice finds that high levels of debt make people less likely to move house, apply for a new job or start a business, exposing the ways excessive debt damages life chances. Following the Bank of England’s decision last week to cut interest rates to 0.25%, Citizens Advice is also calling…

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