Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
With the implementation date just over a year away, there is still a lot of conjecture surrounding the impending General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), particularly around its appropriateness and applicability once the UK leaves the EU. One thing that is clear, however, is that now is the time for any firm handling personal data to…
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People on the cheapest basic broadband deals are hit with an average price rise of £113 a year once their deal ends – with many unaware they face an increase in cost, finds Citizens Advice. A new report from the national charity reveals that more than a third (35%) of broadband customers don’t realise they…
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Plusnet, a BT owned company, has today been fined £880,000 by Ofcom for continuing to bill more than a thousand ex-customers. The penalty is the result of an investigation, which found that the telecoms company broke a fundamental billing rule by continuing to charge a group of customers for landline or broadband, after they had…
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New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show growth of 10% in consumer finance new business in January, compared with the same month in 2016. Credit card and personal loan new business together grew by 11% compared with January 2016, while retail store and online credit new business increased by 1%.…
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Ofcom has announced that more than two million people who buy only a landline telephone service from BT will see their monthly bills cut by at least £5 per month. Ofcom has reviewed how the market is working for customers who buy only a landline service from a provider – either because they do not want…
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A fifth of UK consumers choose everyday service providers – such as mobile phone, utilities and broadband companies – solely based on the perks and benefits they offer, according to new research from Echo Managed Services. The research, based on a nationally-representative sample of 1,000 UK adults, revealed that a quarter of all consumers are significantly…
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EE has been fined £2.7 million by Ofcom for overcharging tens of thousands of its customers. The penalty is the result of an investigation into the mobile phone provider, which found that the company broke a fundamental billing rule on two separate occasions. First, EE customers who called the company’s ‘150’ customer services number while…
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Household bills rose by almost £200 in 2016 according to new findings from comparethemarket.com. An analysis of costs across energy, motor and home insurance found that, after a £180 drop in 2015, bills rose by 9.7% in the past year from £2,032 in 2015 to £2,223 in 2016. Key finings in the report included: The…
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Ofcom and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) have published an update on their joint action plan to tackle nuisance calls and texts>The latest update highlights recent targeted enforcement action, new ‘blocking’ measures to help stop nuisance calls getting through to consumers and progress in their call tracing work. It also summarises how Ofcom is working to…
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Nearly half a million young people are struggling to cope with the cost of running their mobile phone, according to new research from National Debtline, run by the Money Advice Trust. Newly-published findings from the charity’s Borrowed Years research, based on a survey of 2,042 18 to 24 year olds conducted online by YouGov, reveal…
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Equifax has commented that the clock has started for Telco businesses to prepare for new data protection rules. Neil Compton, Telco and Utilities Director at Equifax said “Privacy and data protection are high on the agenda for consumers and regulators. Telcos are custodians of vast amounts of data and must start overhauling their procedures now to…
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The growing prevalence of online billing is putting businesses and service providers at risk of losing touch with customers according to new research, which reveals that almost one in three consumers have become distant from their bills as a result. The research of a nationally representative sample of 1,000 UK adults by Echo Managed Services, revealed…
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Vodafone will be fined £4,625,000 by Ofcom for serious and sustained breaches of consumer protection rules. The Ofcom investigation uncovered mis-selling, inaccurate billing and poor complaints handling procedures The penalty is the result of two investigations into Vodafone completed by Ofcom. One investigation found that 10,452 pay-as-you-go customers lost out when Vodafone failed to credit their…
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