Rate rise will create a repayment shock for millions

26th October 2017 Consumer Collections |

A rise in interest rates will result in monthly repayment shocks for millions of homeowners who are already living on a tight budget, according to figures from free debt advice provider PayPlan. PayPlan has launched an interest rate calculator this week to help clients find out how a potential mortgage rate rise might affect them.…

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Phone networks overcharging loyal customers

20th October 2017 Consumer Collections |

Three of the four largest mobile phone network providers continue to charge customers extra for a handset after this cost has been covered in their fixed deal, according to Citizens Advice research. New analysis from Citizens Advice finds customers of Vodafone, EE and Three who choose to stay on the same phone plan after the…

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Money Statistics: October 2017

18th October 2017 Consumer Collections |

Here is an overview of The Money Charity’s latest statistics for October 2017: Personal debt in the UK People in the UK owed £1.554 trillion at the end of August 2017. This is up from £1.5 trillion at the end of July 2016 – an extra £1029.82 per UK adult. Per adult in the UK that’s an average debt…

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Unsecured debt reaches £300bn

17th October 2017 Consumer Collections |

Over the past year, UK consumers’ unsecured debt, amassed primarily on credit cards, student loans, car financing and overdrafts, has reached an all-time high of close to £300bn, or £11,000 per household, growing at a faster rate than at any time in the past 15 years, According a new PwC analysis report. As evidence of…

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Consumer finance increases by 4% in August

6th October 2017 Consumer Collections |

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business in August grew by 4% compared with the same month last year. Credit card and personal loan new business together grew by 4% compared with August 2016, while retail store and online credit new business increased by 7%. Second…

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Millennials feel that ‘pay as you go lifestyle’ is their only option

2nd October 2017 Consumer Collections |

Research from independent car buying site, carwow, reveals that nine in ten Millennials are renting or leasing modern day essentials such as cars, homes and mobile phones because it’s the only way to afford to them.  Due to soaring living costs, a poll of 2,000 car owners by carwow shows that one in two millennials…

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Outdated assessments push consumer debt off track

28th September 2017 Consumer Collections |

Among growing concerns about high consumer debt levels in the UK, a new study finds that almost a third of credit card and personal loan debt – up to £35bn – is sitting with people who are deemed to have low financial maturity. Aire, which uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to help lenders provide applicants…

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Ofcom announces billing and collection reforms

21st September 2017 Consumer Collections |

Ofcom has announced new reforms to protect consumers against bad practices at broadband and mobile providers. The regulator says the reform will focus on communication which includes poor billing service and debt collection exploiting vulnerable customers. The improvements to the rules will also include nuisance calls and complaints. The reforms include: ban providers from charging for caller display facilities,…

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Money Statistics: September 2017

19th September 2017 Consumer Collections |

Here is an overview of The Money Charity’s latest statistics for September 2017: Personal debt in the UK People in the UK owed £1.548 trillion at the end of July 2017. This is up from £1.489 trillion at the end of July 2016 – an extra £1033.06 per UK adult. Per adult in the UK…

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Consumer finance new business grows by 13%

8th September 2017 Consumer Collections |

New figures released tby the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show growth of 13% in consumer finance new business in July, compared with the same month last year. Credit card and personal loan new business together grew by 16% compared with July 2016, while retail store and online credit new business increased by 11%. Second…

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Identity Fraud escalates to new levels

23rd August 2017 Consumer Collections |

Fraud prevention service, Cifas has released new figures showing that identity fraud has continued to rise at record levels in the first six months of 2017.  A record 89,000 identity frauds were recorded, up 5% from last year. Representing over half of all fraud recorded by the UK’s not-for-profit fraud data sharing organisation, 83% of…

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Consumer finance grows by 7% in June

17th August 2017 Consumer Collections |

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show growth of 7% in consumer finance new business in June, compared with the same month last year, and growth of 4% in the second quarter of 2017 overall. Credit card and personal loan new business together grew by 10% compared with June 2016, while…

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ICO fines Talk Talk over data risk breach

11th August 2017 Consumer Collections |

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC £100,000 after it failed to look after its customers’ data and risked it falling into the hands of scammers and fraudsters. An ICO investigation found TalkTalk breached the Data Protection Act because it allowed staff to have access to large quantities of customers’ data. Its…

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