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…

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Almost five million families face big social housing rent rise

22nd December 2021 Arrears and Recoveries | #rent arrears

Almost five (4.75) million families living in social housing in England are facing rent rises of up to 4.1 per cent next April – equivalent to an average £202 extra per year – the biggest nominal increase in a decade, according to Resolution Foundation research. The latest Housing Outlook examines how the rise in the…

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Households set to spend £1.3bn this Christmas using BNPL schemes

22nd December 2021 Alternative Consumer Lending | #BNPL

New research by Scottish Friendly has indicated that households set to spend £1.3 billion this Christmas using buy-now pay-later (BNPL) schemes. The survey of 2,000 UK adults found that nearly three in ten (28%) are likely to make Christmas-related purchases using BNPL schemes this year. On average they will spend £162 using BNPL payment options,…

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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…

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Over half of consumers worry increased contactless limit could encourage overspending

More than half (55%) of consumers believe that the increased contactless limit could encourage people to spend more money this festive season. NerdWallet’s Consumer Borrowing Index, a nationally representative study of 5,000 UK adults, has revealed two in ten admitted to spending with less thought since the limit rose to £100 from £45 on 15…

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Personal insolvencies fall by 3.2% in November

Latest figures from the Insolvency Service have indicated that personal insolvencies in England & Wales fell by 3.2% to 9,372 in November 2021 compared to 9,678 in October 2021, and were 0.4% higher than November 2020’s figure of 9,339. There were 2,054 DROs and 630 bankruptcies in November 2021 in England & Wales. The number…

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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…

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Northern Irish business insolvencies rise by 29% whilst personal insolvencies double

Latest statistics from the Insolvency Service have shown that Northern Irish business insolvencies increased by 29% whilst personal insolvencies doubled when compared to 2020 in the latest monthly figures. In November 2021 there were 193 personal insolvencies in Northern Ireland, 11% more than double the number in November 2020, but 32% lower than November 2019.…

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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%…

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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…

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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…

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Data On Demand and VRS agree vulnerability partnership

17th December 2021 Company News |

The Vulnerability Registration Service (VRS), a not-for-profit company providing the UK’s first central vulnerability database, has partnered with Data On Demand, an alternative consumer data specialist that aims to improve service providers’ engagement with customers. The partnership will mean that the Vulnerability Registration Service’s database will feed into Data On Demand’s existing data insight to…

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Quarter of families plan to spend less on Christmas due to rising living costs

17th December 2021 Consumer Collections | #spend

Almost a quarter (23%) of UK families with children living at home are set to spend less on Christmas compared to last year, as the rising costs of living and household bills, alongside the ongoing effects of the pandemic, hit household budgets. According to comparethemarket.com’s latest Household Financial Confidence Tracker,two-fifths (41%) of families feel their financial wellbeing…

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