Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
New research by the Resolution Foundation has highlighted the challenges faced by the 4 million UK households who pay for energy via pre-payment meters (PPMs). High prices and the concentration of energy use in the winter months mean that, on average, households with a PPM will need to spend more than 30 per cent of…
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New research by Go.Compare Money has revealed Britain’s biggest money concerns for the new year, with 45% of people saying they are anticipating a bad year financially. The survey asked consumers about their feelings towards their finances as the new year begins, as well as their top money worries. It found that more women (47%)…
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According to a free money advisory service, nearly 4,000 people searched for debt help over Christmas. Data from the Money Wellness website showed that 3,994 people visited the website on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day seeking advice on dealing with unmanageable debt. Almost 2,000 (1,835) people in London searched for support, followed by…
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New figures from Rightmove has shown that average rents are set to increase next year as demand outstrips supply in the private rental sector. The rental market study finds that the average number of enquiries sent to agents about each available property is still nearly double the level it was in pre-pandemic 2019, with an…
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Ofwat has announced that water bills are set to rise by an average of £31 per year (36%) over the next five years from April. The water regulator has said the increase was enough for water companies in England and Wales to pay for upgrades and reduce sewage discharges. The increase is higher than the…
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Almost one in two (48%) university students have been struggling to repay their credit card balance within three months according to research by Compare the MArket, with the main reasons being the rising cost of everyday expenses (33%), increased university costs (31%), and having to prioritise other household bills such as energy or rent (23%).…
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Outstanding balances on credit card accounts have grown by 6.6 per cent over the twelve months to September and 49.4 per cent of outstanding balances incurred interest compared to 50.1 per cent in September 2023 according to latest card spending date from UK Finance The data showed 2.2 billion debit card transactions in September, 4.5…
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Consumer optimism about household finances has fallen, according to data from TransUnion. The latest survey data finds that just 44% of consumers are optimistic about their household finances in the next 12 months, dropping by two percentage points from the previous quarter. This bucks the trend of rising optimism since Q4 2023. With inflation and…
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New research by Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) has found that the average household expected to spend £40 more this Christmas, but real expenditure is still falling short of pre-pandemic levels Cebr says that the cost-of-living crisis and the lingering effects of the pandemic have reshaped the financial landscape for UK households. This…
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The employment gap between people living in the poorest and richest families in Britain has fallen by a third since the late 1990s according to latest research by the Resolution Foundation. The data also showed that workers in poorer households remain less likely to be satisfied with their job, and more likely to have insecure…
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Energy regulator Ofgem has laid out plans to make firms offer tariffs without standing charges from next winter. The new plans also outline better support for households struggling with debt. The regulator will consult on introducing an option under the price cap to include zero standing charge tariffs alongside existing tariffs, offering consumers the ability to choose…
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New YouGov polling by StepChange Debt Charity has revealed that more than one in four people (28%), equivalent to around 14.5 million, will struggle to afford Christmas this year – which is a rise of 1.6 million people since last Christmas (25%). The new survey also shows that among people with children at home, over…
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Almost one million pensioner households in England and Wales could be living in water poverty by 2029/30 if the UK Government doesn’t introduce a single social tariff, according to a shocking new report by charity Independent Age. This is an increase from 2022/23 when there were 750,000 pensioner households living in water poverty. The report,…
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