Consumers’ electricity bills could fall if the government promoted time-varying prices

A new IFS and LSE report, published as part of the IFS Green Budget and funded by the Nuffield Foundation, has suggested that the Government could ease cost-of-living pressures caused by high electricity prices by promoting time-varying electricity tariffs. The report says that. the Government should promote the take-up of contracts with time-varying electricity prices…

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Millions who appear financially secure are exposed to financial shocks

Millions of households that appear financially secure today could be vulnerable to future financial shocks, according research by Yorkshire Building Society in collaboration with the University of Bradford, which provides a practical framework for understanding financial vulnerability and resilience. Drawing on data from 10,000 UK adults and advanced predictive modelling, the report finds that many households…

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Missed payments go beyond customer intent

22nd September 2026 Arrears and Recoveries | #payments

New research from Trust Payments has found that missed payments in the consumer credit and collections sector are not solely a question of customer willingness, with industry professionals also pointing to administrative errors, limited payment options and communication failures as contributing factors. The findings come as millions of UK consumers continue to experience difficulty meeting…

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FCA issues debt advice warning to people seeking support

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued a fresh warning to people in need of debt advice about the importance of seeking free, impartial and trustworthy advice. The Regulator has identified several red flags to look out for to ensure consumers are dealing with properly regulated and legitimate debt advice providers. The red flags include:…

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One in four worry about making their money last until pay day

22nd September 2026 Arrears and Recoveries | #pay day

A new survey by credit card brand Aqua has revealed that almost two in five people (38.8%) typically run out of money before their next payday. Almost a quarter of people (23%) worry every day about having enough money till payday, highlighting the financial pressures many households may face when trying to make their income…

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Personal insolvencies fell in August 2026

Latest monthly figures from the Insolvency Service for England & Wales showed that personal insolvencies decreased by 2% in August 2026 compared to the previous month, with 11,644 individuals entering insolvency in England and Wales. This was similar to July 2026 and 3% higher than in August 2025. The personal insolvencies consisted of 725 bankruptcies,…

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Northern Irish personal insolvencies increase whilst business insolvencies fall

Latest data from the Insolvency Service has shown that personal insolvencies increased whilst business insolvencies fell in Northern Ireland in August 2026. The data showed that there were 140 personal insolvencies; this was 4% higher than in August 2025. The insolvencies comprised 117 IVAs, 16 DROs and seven bankruptcies. Business insolvency data showed that insolvencies…

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Many adults left with just £194 a month

New analysis from debt advice provider PayPlan has found that the average person seeking debt advice in 2026 is juggling 10 separate unsecured debts (such as credit cards, personal loans and overdrafts) totalling £22,717 – and is left with just £194 a month once essential living costs are met. The findings, drawn from 24,406 people…

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Bank of England holds interest rates – industry reaction

The Bank of England has held interest rates at 3.75%. Policymakers voted 6-3 to make no change, with three members voting for an increase by 0.25 percentage points. Three members voted to increase base rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 4%. Tamsin Powell, Consumer Finance Expert at Creditspring, said “Today’s decision to keep the base…

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2026 Credit & Collections Technology Awards shortlist announced

Credit Connect has announced the shortlist of companies and partnerships for this year’s ninth annual Credit & Collections Technology Awards. The finalists for this year’s awards consist of 112 entrants (whittled down from nearly 130 entries) from over 60 companies on the shortlist. There are also 20 partner entries in the running to win across…

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Complaints about water companies hit 20 year high

The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) has reported a significant escalation in customer complaints, with figures reaching a 20-year high.  CCW’s latest annual household complaints report reveals that complaints from household customers escalated to the watchdog increased by 84% in 2025-26, up to 15,115 from 8,235 in the previous year. It marks the steepest year-on-year…

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Two in three students skip meals to save money

16th September 2026 Arrears and Recoveries | #student loans

A National Student Money Survey has found that 63% of respondents skip meals at least some of the time to save money. The data showed that surveyed students spend an average of £1,146 per month on living costs (£1,326 per month in London) with on average, Maintenance Loans fall short of spending on living costs by £467…

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Over 120 organisations call for hidden electricity tax to be removed

More than 120 organisations, including Energy UK and Age UK, are urging the Government to remove policy levies embedded in energy bills. The organisations have signed a letter to the government warning that high electricity costs risk driving business closures and job losses, and exacerbating cost of living challenges, unless the government acts in the…

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