Credit, collections & insolvency news
UK Finance research has found that homeowner mortgage in arrears of 2.5% or more rose by 3% in the first quarter (Q1)of 2024, compared to the previous quarter, showing that the debt pressure for many homeowners remains acute. However, the rise year on year is substantial – there were 96,580 homeowner mortgages in arrears of…
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Rises in court fees that came into force last week could put vulnerable people at risk of violence, according to debt help specialist, Money Wellness. Money Wellness says that anyone who is granted an insolvency solution because they couldn’t afford to repay their debts has their details, including their address, listed in the public insolvency…
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New polling by YouGov for StepChange Debt Charity shows that nearly one in four (23%) UK mortgage holders has turned to some other form of credit or borrowing in the last three months so that they could keep up with existing borrowing commitments. This comes as the Bank of England is expected to hold interest…
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New research by NFU Mutual has found that despite financial confidence growing overall across the UK, the number of those feeling confident about their finances within the next 12 months has reduced (41%) compared to August 2023 (52%) with 24% of respondents still concerned around household bills. Those aged 75 and above are the most concerned…
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Pay packets are still worth less than in 2008 in nearly two-thirds (63%) of UK local authorities, according to new TUC analysis. The analysis of official statistics shows that 16 years on from the global financial crisis, wages are set to be lower – in real terms – in 212 out of 340 UK local…
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The rate of mortgage arrears growth slowed to 3.9% in Quarter 1 from 5.7% in Quarter 4 2023, the lowest quarterly growth rate since the September 2022 when the combined effects of the cost-of-living crisis and the September 2022 Mini-Budget began to impact UK household budgets according to the latest data from Pepper Advantage. While…
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The number of people in full-time work, including those in jobs such as nursing, have increasingly been asking for advice on debt according to a new report from StepChange Debt Charity. The research has found that one in five (21%) StepChange clients in full-time employment are in a negative budget – meaning their expenditure exceeds…
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The Bank of England’s latest credit conditions survey for the first quarter of 2024 has revealed a rise in default rates on credit cards and other loans, with overall demand for unsecured lending increased. The data shows that demand for unsecured borrowing rose in early 2024 – driven by credit cards – and is expected…
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Young people are three times more likely than older generations to have their mental health impacted by money worries, research from responsible lender,Creditspring reveals. Four in ten (39%) people aged 18-34 say theirmental health has significantly worsened as a direct result of the cost of living crisis, compared to just 13% of over 55s. Three in…
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New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) second charge mortgage new business volumes grew by 17% in February 2024. Commenting on the latest new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Director of Consumer & Mortgage Finance and Inclusion at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said “The second…
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New research from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found that while many are struggling to meet financial commitments with 7.4 million people were struggling to pay bills and credit repayments in January 2024, down from 10.9 million in January 2023. This is still higher than the 5.8 million recorded in February 2020, before the…
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The number of households seeking help to deal with court action over their unpaid energy bills has doubled in the last year, according to Citizens Advice. Citizens Advice said while the numbers affected are small at the moment, the number of people it helped who received a county court judgement (CCJ) from their energy supplier…
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Latest figures from UK Finance have shown that there was a substantial jump in the number of Buy-to-let (BTL) mortgages in arrears of 2.5 per cent or more of the outstanding balance – this was 123.9% higher year on year to 13,570 in Quarter 4 (Q4) 2023. However, UK Finance points out that only 0.68%…
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