1st Credit and Hammersmith & Fulham Council launch joint venture

6th July 2017 Consumer Collections |

Hammersmith & Fulham Council and Debt Purchaser 1st Credit have launched a new joint venture: H&F Ethical Debt Collections, at the Local Government Association’s annual conference in Birmingham.The partnership changes the way public sector debts are handled, ending the two-tier treatment of customers in debt by applying Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) standards to public as…

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New toolkit helps creditors to support people who fall behind on payments

5th July 2017 Consumer Collections |

A new toolkit to bring consistency to the way creditors work with debt advice agencies when collecting repayments from people who are in debt has been launched by the Money Advice Service today. This is the first time that all major debt advice agencies and creditors have worked together to raise standards of creditor practice…

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Average student debt rises to more than £50,000

5th July 2017 Consumer Collections |

Three-quarters of students will never clear their debt with the average debt now standing at £50,000 according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) report. Students in England graduate with average debts of £50,800, after interest rates are raised on student loans to 6.1%.Other key findings in the report include: Those from the poorest backgrounds…

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FCA announces proposals on consumer credit performance management

4th July 2017 Consumer Collections |

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published proposals on how consumer credit firms should manage risks related to how they pay and manage the performance of their staff. The FCA expects all firms to consider the way they pay and incentivise staff, and ensure they manage any potential harm to consumers. The FCA is consulting…

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Research shows how Local Authorities can improve Council Tax collection practice

28th June 2017 Consumer Collections |

The Debt Counsellors Charitable Trust has today published new research which identifies good practice for Local Councils when collecting Council Tax debts. Sevan local councils agreed to be interviewed for the report and based on these interviews, it details recommendations that would allow the collection of council tax in a more responsible, fair and consumer focused…

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Over a quarter of Brits have personal debt repayment fear

19th June 2017 Consumer Collections |

A TDX Group Consumer Debt Report has revealed that over a quarter (28%) of Brits fear they may not be able to keep up with repayments on their personal debt. The online survey, conducted by YouGov, also found that unsecured debt now tops average monthly earnings¹, with more than one in four (28%) owing in…

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Overdue bills and housing arrears triple in a decade

14th June 2017 Consumer Collections |

Debt charity Christians Against Poverty has discovered that household bills and costs have tripled in the past ten years. A decade ago, the average client owed £1,412 in priority arrears, a figure representing just nine per cent of that person’s whole debt problem. In 2016, it had ballooned to £4,582, nearly a third (32%) of…

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CEO announced for Lindorff and Intrum Justitia

9th June 2017 Consumer Collections |

Intrum Justitia AB has announced that Mikael Ericson will be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of the combined company once the transaction is completed. Erik Forsberg, the current Chief Financial Officer of Intrum Justitia, will continue as the CFO of the combined company. In November 2016 Nordic Capital Fund VIII, currently, the indirect majority…

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Arvato Financial Solutions appoints new Commercial Director

6th June 2017 Consumer Collections |

Arvato Financial Solutions has appointed a new Commercial Director in the UK & Ireland as it targets growth in the Finance & Accounting Business Process Outsourcing (F&A BPO) and debt collection space. Debbie Nolan, who has spent the last four years as Business Development Director in Arvato’s Customer Services business, will move on to its…

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Cabot announces DCA acquisition

25th May 2017 Consumer Collections |

Cabot Credit Management (CCM) has announced its financial results for the three months ending 31 March 2017. As part of the results, Cabot announced that it has acquired Orbit Debt Collection, a UK based debt contingency business who specialises in the Utilities sector. In addition, Cabot has also obtained regulatory approval for the Irish business, Cabot Financial Ireland,…

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Consumer Credit grows by 6.4% in April

25th May 2017 Consumer Collections |

The British Bankers Association (BBA) latest high street banking data shows that consumer credit growth was 6.4% in April, compared with 6.1% in the previous month. Gross mortgage borrowing totalled £13.4 billion in April.* Net mortgage borrowing was 2.4% higher than a year ago. Eric Leenders, BBA Managing Director for Retail Banking said “As the…

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Lowell company results show 37% increase in cash income

23rd May 2017 Consumer Collections |

Debt Purchaser Lowell has announced its company results for the period 1 January to 31 March 2017. These results show the benefits of the Group’s ongoing portfolio expansion and diversification, as well as its continued consumer focus. Financial Highlights:          37% y-o-y increase in Cash Income to £148m        …

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Lindorff and Intrum Justitia announce plans ahead of merger

18th May 2017 Consumer Collections |

Nordic Capital Fund VIII, currently the indirect majority shareholder in Lindorff, notified the European Commission of the intended combination of Intrum Justitia and Lindorff. Based on its initial investigation, the European Commission has informed the parties of potential competition concerns in five Nordic/Baltic markets, relating to both debt collection and debt purchasing in each market.…

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