Debt Management and Advice

Staffordshire and Black Country councils owed tens of millions

Government figures reveal that tens of millions of pounds in unpaid council tax and business rates is owed to councils across the Black Country and Staffordshire. The figures owed are as follows: Walsall £20.3 million Sandwell £23.3 million Wolverhampton £14.7 million Dudley £8.7 million Cannock £6 million Stafford £4.4 million  

Policy changes to blame for Universal Credit delay

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has blamed policy changes for the delay in Universal Credit rollout. Damien Green, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, issued a statement to parliament outlining three major changes to the roll-out. The full statement can be found here. Source: Parliament UK

Bailiffs, Government and Councils ranked most unfair in dealing with debt

A report by charity Stepchange has found that  bailiffs, government departments and bailiffs are among the most unfair when dealing with people in problem debt. The report titled Creditor and debt collector conduct: What’s making debt problems worse? also found that some creditors are failing to take vulnerabilities such as depression and other ongoing mental health conditions into…

National portal for landlords to be created by Water firms

A new national register – Landlord TAP – places all let properties in England and Wales in one place. Landlords will provide information about tenants responsible for paying water bills.

Borrowing risks to households following Brexit

The Bank of England Financial Policy Committee report published its Financial Stability report, which identified “the high level of UK household indebtedness.”   

Civil Servants Credit Union to launch

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched a Credit Union for civil servants. The DWP has around 85,000 employees. The DWP has set up the scheme with 3 Credit Unions – Commsave, Hull & East Yorkshire and Voyager Alliance.

One in ten homeowners aged over 55 still have interest-only mortgages

Research from over-60s property experts Homewise suggests that up to one in ten over-55s homeowners across the UK are still paying interest-only mortgages therefore facing the prospect of clearing their debt when the deal runs out. 

1.3 million people helped by the Money Advice Trust in 2015

  The Money Advice Trust t helped 1.3 million people to tackle their debts and manage their money last year.

Money Advice launches Vulnerability Guide advising agencies on treating clients in vulnerable situations fairly.

Harrington Brooks acquire Debt Lifeboat business

Knightsbridge acquire Personal Debt Help Line (PDHL)