Surging costs causing consumers to cut back on sustainable choices

25th November 2022 Consumer Collections |

Intrum’s annual European Consumer Payment Report (ECPR) has indicated a gloomy picture of consumers’ financial wellbeing and economic outlook. With rapidly increasing costs of living, consumers are cutting back on sustainable goods and services to manage their household finances. The ECPR surveyed 24,000 European consumers on payment behaviour and the economic outlook, shows that record…

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CIVEA calls for ECB to uphold standards and support vulnerable

24th November 2022 Consumer Collections | #enforcement

After two years of detailed work, the Civil Enforcement Association (CIVEA) has welcomed the launch of a ground-breaking oversight body for the civil enforcement industry. CIVEA is the principal trade association that represents the civil enforcement industry in England and Wales and was instrumental in designing the blueprint for the independent Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB).…

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Energy price cap to increase to £4,279

24th November 2022 Consumer Collections | #energy

Energy regulator Ofgem has announced its quarterly update to the energy price cap for the period 1st January – 31st March 2023. The price cap is set to rise to an annual level of £4,279 in January 2023, but bill-payers remain protected under the government’s Energy Price Guarantee (EPG). The energy price cap level indicates…

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Christmas spending set to fall by £12.5bn this year

24th November 2022 Customer Insight and Analytics |

New research by LifeSearch Health has found that Christmas spending is set to fall by £12.5 billion this year. The research found that women look set to make the biggest Christmas cut-backs this year, totalling £7.3 billion (£310 per head on average vs £266 by men), reflecting the struggles of the cost-of-living crisis. One in…

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Customers missing one credit card payment increases by 8.3%

23rd November 2022 Arrears and Recoveries | #credit cards

Latest to research from FICO has found that the number of customers missing one payment increased by 8.3 percent compared to August and 9.1 percent year on year. The research also found that average total sales were £775, 4.56 per cent lower than August. The average active balance also dropped in September to £1,595 –…

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Ofgem finds energy suppliers failing vulnerable customers

22nd November 2022 Consumer Collections | #utilities

Ofgem has said that energy firms have been failing vulnerable customers. The energy regulator Ofgem has told all 17 firms in its review to improve, with Good Energy, Outfox, So Energy, Tru Energy and Utilita found to have severe weaknesses. Ofgem said that initial assessment and ratings were formed, many suppliers have already responded positively…

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Four in five concerned about ongoing increases to the cost of living

22nd November 2022 Arrears and Recoveries |

Four in five employees across the UK are concerned about ongoing increases to the cost of living (79%), according to new research from Aviva which shows the over-45s are collectively the most affected. The research found that among lower income employees – those earning less than £30,000 – nearly a third (30%) report that their…

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Intrum agrees deal to acquire Capquest and Mars platforms from Arrow Global

22nd November 2022 Consumer Collections | #debt sale

Credit management services company Intrum has agreed to a £36.5 million deal to buy the Capquest and Mars UK servicing platforms from European fund manager Arrow Global, along with a £121.25 million investment for 50% of Arrow’s UK back book consumer portfolios. The purchase includes outsourcing contracts with major financial institutions as well as the…

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Ten million in ‘missing middle’ face bills crisis

The Social Market Foundation (SMF), a cross-party think-tank, says restricting energy bill support to just those in the benefits and pension systems could exclude over ten million people in fuel poverty. The SMF calculated that 4.5 million households who face spending more than 10% of their income (after housing costs) on energy bills will miss…

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Millions see energy bills reduced as £1.8bn of government scheme support is paid

21st November 2022 Consumer Collections |

Over 27 million households across UK received money off their energy bills last month as the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) provided £1.8 billion in payments. New figures released today show the EBSS successfully provided a £66 discount for 97% of eligible households in England, Scotland and Wales in its first month. This is the…

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Credit & Collections Technology Awards announces 2022 winners

The winners of the 2022 Credit & Collection Technology Awards winners have been announced following a live in-person event yesterday (Thursday 17th November) at the Midland Hotel in Manchester. The awards are the flagship event for innovational technological professionals working in credit and collections and the fifth annual event honoured the UK’s technological innovators, celebrating…

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Chancellor delivers Autumn Statement – industry reaction

18th November 2022 Consumer Collections |

The chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered his Autumn Statement yesterday (Thursday 17th November) in which he announced £30 billion in spending cuts and £25 billion in tax rises. Responding to the Autumn Statement, David Postings, Chief Executive of UK Finance, said “These are challenging times for the country and the chancellor has had to take some…

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Increase in household bills will cause tension among 82% of renters in shared homes

17th November 2022 Arrears and Recoveries |

Eight out of ten (82%) people who live in shared rented properties say that the rising cost of household bills is likely to cause more arguments between them and their housemates within the next six months, according to new research from Comparethemarket. Nearly three-in-five (58%) say that higher energy bills are already causing tension among renters…

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