Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has announced a call for evidence to review of enforcement agent (bailiff) reforms. The call for evidence asks about people’s experiences of the 2014 reforms which regulate how enforcement agents (bailiffs) operate and to end what it calls intimidating practices and to better protect vulnerable people. The consultation has been…
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More than 80 percent of North Ayrshire Council tenants on Universal Credit are in rent arrears. Responding to the news the local authority’s leader has branded the welfare policy a ‘tragedy’. Labour Council Leader Joe Cullinane said Universal Credit was pushing families into debt, which could lead to a sharp rise in poverty, hardship and anxiety. Since…
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The number of debt judgments in Jersey fell by almost a third during the third quarter of the year compared to the same period of 2017, according to figures released today by Registry Trust. However the average value of judgments increased by 84 percent compared to the third quarter of last year. In Q3 2018,…
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The total number of defaults and small claims judgments issued in Northern Ireland during the third quarter of the year was 1,711, a historic low for any quarter, according to figures released today by Registry Trust. In the third quarter of 2018, the number of small claims judgments fell by 22 percent and the average…
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The average value of a consumer county court judgment (CCJ) reached a historic low during the third quarter of 2018, according to new figures released by Registry Trust. The fall in average value was accompanied by a fall in number to 276,097, down 13 percent compared with the same quarter of the previous year. The…
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The number of business debt judgments registered in the Republic of Ireland during the third quarter of 2018 fell to the lowest levels on record for any third quarter, according to figures released today by Registry Trust. In Q3 2018, 137 business judgments were issued, 10 percent fewer than Q3 of last year and the…
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The number of debt decrees registered against Scottish consumers rose by six percent more than in the third quarter of 2017. During Q3 2018, 5,668 debt decrees were registered against Scottish consumers. A further one percent increase on last year’s historic Q3 high in the average value of small claims and summary cause decrees set a…
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Rule-breaking bailiffs are causing people increased stress, anxiety and financial hardship, according to new research published today by Citizens Advice and StepChange. The charities are calling for the government to step in and regulate the industry to prevent more people suffering at the hands of debt collectors who flout the rules. New figures reveal that…
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Almost one-fifth of consumers (19%) would never inform a partner of their debt situation, according to new research by Equifax. The survey conducted online with Gorkana, found those aged 65 and over (29%) are almost twice as likely as those aged 18-24 and 35-44 (both 12%) not to reveal their debt to their significant other.…
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Enforcement agency Bristow & Sutor (B&S) has announced the formation of a new Independent Advisory Panel, to be chaired by Anthony Sharp of Anthony Sharp Associates. The industry-wide consultancy has been launched to discuss all matters relating to credit and debt collection. The new Panel consists of experienced individuals drawn from the debt advice, regulatory and creditor sectors…
Read moreThe Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has today published the complaints figures for regulated firms for the first half of 2018. Complaints continued to increase for the fourth successive half year, reaching a new record level of 4.13 million complaints made to 3,161 firms. This was a 10% increase compared with the previous 6-month period. 98%…
Read moreCommunity service should replace the sanction of imprisonment for non-payment of Council Tax, according to the Civil Enforcement Association (CIVEA). The industry proposal is in response to a consultation by Financial Secretary, Mark Drakeford AM, which calls for a ban on imprisonment for anyone who does not pay their Council Tax. CIVEA, which represents the…
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The new energy price cap won’t cut bills for customers on three in ten dual-fuel deals, some of which cost almost £200 more than the cap per year for a medium energy user, according to new Which? Research. Which? looked at all energy deals available and identified more than 70 fixed deals that were more…
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