Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
Credit card defaults in the UK have surged to their highest level since the 2008 financial crisis. Bank of England data indicates a significant uptick in the number of people defaulting on credit card payments, the largest increase since 2009. The data shows a sharp rise in defaults on credit cards and other unsecured loans.…
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Water companies should seize more opportunities to raise awareness among households about the potential financial and environmental benefits of smart water meters, according to new research by the Consumer Council for Water (CCW). Awareness of smart metering remains low among customers, despite companies’ plans to ensure around half of homes across England and Wales are…
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New research from Scottish Friendly has found that women are more likely to be worried about affording everyday outgoings over the next 12 months as day-to-day financial pressures threaten long-term savings and investments. The mutual’s latest Family Finance Tracker research shows that 71% of women are concerned about being able to afford all their regular…
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Millions of people across the UK are still years away from recovering financially from the cost-of-living crisis, and the nation’s overall financial resilience level shows many households are still very exposed if prices rise for basics such as food, fuel and energy, according to new research from Royal London. The report highlights that one in…
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Council tax arrears in the UK have reached £9.3 billion after rising by £1 billion over the past year, a 12% increase. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reported that England accounts for £7.4 billion of the total, with Scotland at £1.6 billion and Wales at £320 million. In the past five years,…
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New data from Ofgem has shown that energy debt has risien 15% year-on-year, hitting a record high of £4.79 billion, marking a 5% increase from the previous quarter. The number of accounts repaying debt rose by 3% for electricity and 4% for gas. Average debt for those with repayment plans is now £828 for electricity…
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Credit Connect Media has announced that it will launch a new Technology & Services Industry Leaders list at its Autumn event series, which also features the Credit & Collections Think Tank and Commercial Credit & Collections Conference, followed by the 2026 Credit & Collections Technology Awards. The events will take place on Wednesday, 18th November…
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Nearly one in four (39%) of adults (27.2 million, as of March 2026) would struggle to cover an unexpected £300 bill, new research from Chetwood Bank has revealed. The research found that financial resilience remains under pressure, with more than half (55%) of UK adults saying they have changed their savings or financial plans in…
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A quarter of graduates can expect to be financially worse off after going to university, especially those who take creative or performing arts degrees, according to new research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). People who took their GCSEs in 2002 and went to university will earn around 40% more over their lifetimes (£320,000…
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A third of renters are saving £100 a month or less and face a 35-year slog to get on the property ladder – with the goalposts moving if house prices climb. According to data from Connells, part of the Skipton Group, the current average first-time buyer deposit stands at £41,403, with properties they are buying…
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Fraudsters and debtors who refuse to pay face tough new consequences, including direct deductions from bank accounts, as new laws come into force. People who have stopped receiving benefits but still refuse to repay money owed to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could also be banned from driving under the new rules. The…
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HMRC used Home Office travel data in an innovative attempt to address a major driver of fraud and error in Child Benefit, which totals £270 million annually, but it lacked sufficient governance and risk management and did not consider the impact on claimants, a new National Audit Office (NAO) report finds. In 2021, HMRC identified…
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Two-thirds (67%) of credit users agree that cost-of-living pressures have increased the use of credit in everyday spending, with nearly six million customers revealing they are doing so with greater intentionality than ever before, according to research by Zilch. The finding comes from the Credit Confidence Study, Zilch’s new study of over 10,000 UK adults and over 6,600 users…
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