Firm fined £300,000 after targeting people in debt with unlawful texts

23rd June 2026 Consumer Collections | #fraud

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined KRA Consultancy Ltd (KRA) £300,000 after it targeted people who were already in financial difficulty with unlawful spam texts – including fake bailiff messages. The Manchester-based company sent 5,575,715 unsolicited direct marketing texts between April 2022 and May 2025, promoting debt solutions to people who had already been…

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Families paying £774 a year to stay online

22nd June 2026 Consumer Collections | #online

UK households are now spending an average of £64.52 a month, around £774 a year, just to stay connected, according to new research commissioned by Go Compare. The study found that around four in ten (41%) households are paying for at least one subscription they are not fully using, highlighting how unused and forgotten services are…

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Personal insolvencies increase by 2%

Latest monthly figures from the Insolvency Service for England & Wales for May 2026 indicate that there were 11,223 personal insolvencies, 2% higher than April 2026 but 10% higher than in May 2025. Personal insolvencies  in May were 10,955. Personal insolvencies were 10% higher in May 2026 compared to the same month in 2025 when…

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Enforcement sector criticises TV programme for fuelling hostility towards frontline staff

Enforcement agents have criticised a recent segment on Good Morning Britain (GMB), warning that the inflammatory language used risks escalating violence towards workers on the ground. Amy Collins, the new President of the Civil Enforcement Association (CIVEA), the principal trade body representing the sector, published a response to the programme (which aired on 17 June)…

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One in five young men do not consider controlling someone’s spending as abuse

One in five young men do not consider controlling someone’s spending as abuse, as the government and banks unite as part of the Enough campaign. Victims and survivors of economic abuse will benefit from a new partnership to tackle the issue, as new figures from a survey by Ipsos UK published by the Home Office…

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Second charge mortgages grew by 21% in April

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that second charge mortgage new business volumes grew by 21% in April 2026. Commenting on the latest new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Director of Consumer Finance & Mortgages and Inclusion the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said “The…

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Nearly half of parents forced to work extra to pay for children’s dental appointments

Children’s dental problems are leading to almost half (46%) of working parents working extra hours, Bupa Dental Care reveals. The study also highlights the significant knock-on effects to business productivity and economic impact that poor oral health in children has on a parents’ working day, with two in five (39%) stating that their child’s dental…

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New report highlights impact of language barriers on customer engagement

The Credit Services Association (CSA) has published a new report examining how language barriers can affect customer engagement across the sector. In particular, the research highlights that language barriers are a recurring operational issue across debt advice organisations, and support capabilities can vary. The paper titled ‘Signposting for customers who have language barriers,’explores the practical…

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High Court Enforcement Officers Association appoints new Chair

18th June 2026 Appointments |

The High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA) has (Wednesday 17th June 2026) appointed Michael Jackson as the organisation’s new Chair. Jackson succeeds the outgoing Chair Alan J Smith, and brings a wealth of experience and continuity to the role, having served as HCEOA’s Vice Chair for the past five years. During that time, he played…

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Debt charity helped more than 216,000 tackle £2.9bn of debt last year

New figures show more than 216,800 people were helped by free debt advice services National Debtline and Business Debtline in 2025 – a 6% increase on the previous year, as high living cost pressures continued to drive debt issues. The services – run by charity Money Advice Trust – helped people tackle more than £2.9 billion of debt in…

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Record numbers turning to loan sharks

Over two million Britons are reportedly in debt to illegal lenders, a rise of 500,000 since 2022, according to the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ). Britain is facing a growing illegal lending crisis as record numbers of cash-strapped households turn to loan sharks to cover everyday living costs. The number of people borrowing from unscrupulous…

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Flint Bishop appoints Head of Finance Dispute Resolution

12th June 2026 Appointments |

National UK law firm Flint Bishop has announced it has appointed banking and finance litigation specialist Zarvin Vandrewala as Partner and joint Head of Finance Dispute Resolution Vandrewala joins from Aberdein Considine, where he was a Partner advising financial services clients on a wide spectrum of contentious matters. He brings more than 14 years’ experience…

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World Cup triggers gambling spike

With the 2026 World Cup kicking off, new research from Lowell shows that 43% of all gamblers increase their betting activity during major sporting events or tournaments. This rises to 50.6% among sports bettors specifically, with levels climbing to as high as two-thirds in certain cities. Gambling can significantly impact personal finances, with many bettors dipping…

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