More than half of consumers are paying interest on credit cards

5th January 2022 Banking and Loans | #credit cards

New research by TotallyMoney has shown that more than half (54%) of customers with an outstanding monthly credit card balance are paying interest, indicating that it could be costing consumers £1,831 by not transferring a credit card balance. The esearch shows customers are 31% more likely to be eligible for a credit card now than…

Read more

Second charge mortgages more likely to be used for debt consolidation

New research by Evolution Money has indicated that second charge mortgages more likely to be used for debt consolidation. The company analysed data from two different types of its second-charge mortgage products, split between those borrowers using the loans for debt consolidation purposes, and those clients who have prime credit ratings. The research showed a…

Read more

Money Statistics: December 2021

21st December 2021 Arrears and Recoveries |

Here is an overview of The Money Charity’s latest statistics for December 2021 Personal debt in the UK People in the UK owed £1,749.9 billion at the end of October 2021. The average total debt per household, including mortgages, was £62,965 and per adult was £33,086, around 108.3% of average earnings. Net mortgage lending rose by…

Read more

Consumers expect to take on additional debt over Christmas period

20th December 2021 Arrears and Recoveries | #debt

One in four consumers expects to take on additional debt at Christmas, according to Intrum’s annual consumer report conducted in 24 European countries. Although households with families are more likely to take on debt to pay for food and presents than the average consumer, the age group being most likely to do so is Generation…

Read more

Quarter of families will need to borrow to survive this winter

18th December 2021 Arrears and Recoveries | #risk

Families face being pushed into debt over the next few months with over a quarter (27%) of people with dependents saying they’ll need to borrow to survive the winter, according to research from subscription loan provider, Creditspring. Families’ finances are set to suffer much worse than those with grown-up children – of whom just 5%…

Read more

October sees second consecutive month of a fall in spending

New FICO data has suggested that the tide might be turning on consumer finances with average card spend falling and early missed payment rates rising as furloughs finish FICO says that though its, analysis of UK card trends for October 2021, says that it appears that with the first signs that lockdown savings — which…

Read more

Double whammy of rising inflation and interest rates means households need debt help

17th December 2021 Arrears and Recoveries | #consumer debt

Many people with significant amounts of outstanding borrowing will be worrying about the double whammy of inflation and higher interest rates following the Bank of England’s decision to raise the policy rate. According to StepChange Debt Charity, higher interest rates will push up the cost of borrowing while being unlikely to feed through to relief…

Read more

Warning issued over long-term increase in inequality caused by the pandemic

Researchers from abrdn Financial Fairness Trust have issued a stark warning on the post-pandemic outlook for living standards in the UK following an extensive review of over 200 reports examining the impact of the pandemic. Although the macro-economic forecasts for the UK are comparatively positive, at a household level the situation is more mixed. The…

Read more

8% of retired people concerned about being able to pay bills

15th December 2021 Arrears and Recoveries |

New research Opinium has found that 8% of retired people are concerned about being able to pay bills. The research found that 41% said being able to pay their bills in retirement was a realistic goal. Worryingly 8% did not think it was a realistic prospect, whilst 11% did not think it was realistic that…

Read more

Half of families £110 a year worse off since 2019

Analysis from the New Economics Foundation (NEF)  has found that half of UK families have seen their disposable incomes shrink in the last two years, with the poorest half of the population seeing their incomes squeezed by £110. The report also shows that the richest 5% are £3,300 a year better off. The analysis found…

Read more

Second charge mortgage new business volumes increases by 43%

10th December 2021 Arrears and Recoveries | #mortgages

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) have indicated that’s second charge mortgage new business volumes grew by 43% in October 2021 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),…

Read more

One in four will struggle to afford Christmas this year

10th December 2021 Arrears and Recoveries | #spending

Rising living costs, reduced incomes, and cuts to support among the easons more people than last year will turn to borrowing to pay for the festive season according to research by StepChange debt charity. The report says that this Christmas will be a time of financial distress for many households, with more people expecting to…

Read more

Tenants with covid rent debts see arrears increase

Average rent debts still owed by renters as a result of the pandemic have increased by 41 per cent since May according to the latest research by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA). A survey of over 2,000 private renters in England and Wales by research consultancy Dynata has found that average COVID related rent…

Read more