BSA: Innovation needed for first-time buyers

14th November 2018 Consumer Collections |

A new report released by the Building Society Association (BSA) has highlighted, how with the right financial support from parents, this type of lending could grow further, without jeopardising the long-term financial well-being of older generations.  Recommendations from Building on the Bank of Mum and Dad, report include: More products and innovation: lenders expanding provision, offering…

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£96bn of debt hidden from friends and family

14th November 2018 Consumer Collections |

Consumers are hiding more than £96 billion of debt from their friends and family, with the average amount of hidden debt in the UK standing at £4,164 per person. These findings come from new research by the Money Advice Service for Talk Money Week – a public awareness campaign held this week (from 12th to 18th November),…

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Brexit impacting on mortgage market levels

14th November 2018 Consumer Collections |

Latest figures from UK finance show that the mortgage market has softened following period of strong growth. The figures indicate that there were 29,400 new first-time buyer mortgages completed in the month, some 4.5 percent fewer than in the same month a year earlier. The £5.0bn of new lending in the month was the same…

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Indesser appoints new Chair

14th November 2018 Consumer Collections |

Indesser, a joint venture between TDX Group (an Equifax company) and the Cabinet Office to support debt management, has announced Andy Briscoe as its new independent Chair. Briscoe brings a wealth of expertise to the role, with more than 30 years’ experience in financial services, insurance, and healthcare, including at Centrica and Bupa. He will…

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CIVEA responds to charities call for action on bailiff regulation

13th November 2018 Consumer Collections |

Rule-breaking bailiffs are causing people increased stress, anxiety and financial hardship, according to new research published today by Citizens Advice and StepChange. The charities are calling for the government to step in and regulate the industry to prevent more people suffering at the hands of debt collectors who flout the rules. New figures reveal that…

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Hidden housing problems caused by debt revealed

13th November 2018 Consumer Collections |

A new survey of StepChange Debt Charity clients shows the hidden housing problems caused by debt, particularly in the private rented sector. StepChange says these are so complex that the government should review the suitability of the private rented sector for housing vulnerable people. The charity is particularly worried about the position of clients in…

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5.8 million people ‘invisible’ to the financial system

13th November 2018 Consumer Collections |

New research by Experian has revealed that there are 5.8 million people in the UK who are virtually invisible to the financial system, because there is insufficient information available about their financial track record. The campaign which is fronted by British food writer, Jack Monroe aims to raise awareness and educate consumers of the importance…

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One in five firms say automation will help with competition

12th November 2018 Consumer Collections |

One in five (21%) medium-sized businesses in the UK believe that automation will help them compete with larger rivals, according to research from international payments, treasury management and foreign exchange specialist Centtrip. Seen as both a threat and opportunity, automation – the execution of a task or process without human assistance – is having a…

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Debt advice making four out of five people feel better

12th November 2018 Consumer Collections |

To celebrate Talk Money Week (12th-18th November), debt charity Stepchange has revealed new evidence from clients about how taking debt advice is helping them feel better, sleep better, and feel more confident about making ends meet. The charity has introduced a major new rolling client tracking survey to capture information about what kind of differences people report…

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One in six apply for loans to pay household bills

12th November 2018 Consumer Collections |

According to ender Welendus, 15% of short-term loan applications are being made to cover household bills. 42% of loan requests were to pay for surprise bills, Of the 35,000 loans peer-to-peer lender Welendus has received this year, 5,000 have been to meet the cost of regular bills. The FCA-approved ethical lender has revealed that 2,400…

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Study finds 16-year olds have better money skills than older generations

12th November 2018 Consumer Collections |

Today’s school leavers have higher levels of financial literacy than adults aged 19-39, suggesting that financial education in English secondary schools is having a positive impact. The finding comes from free-for-life credit report and score provider Noddle.co.uk, who tested over 1,000 people in England on their personal finance skills with a mock GSCE financial literacy…

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Handelsbanken receives UK subsidiary banking license

12th November 2018 Consumer Collections |

Handelsbanken, the local relationship bank with over 200 branches nationwide, has received banking authorisation for its new UK subsidiary, Handelsbanken plc. Authorisation enables the Bank to enter the final phase of establishing Handelsbanken plc, which it sees as a natural next step in its UK development. Since its UK launch in 1982, the Bank has…

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Provident’s consumer credit division achieves FCA authorisation

12th November 2018 Consumer Collections |

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has informed Provident Financial that its Home Credit and Satsuma businesses have been fully authorised. Malcolm Le May, Chief Executive Officer of Provident Financial plc said “This is excellent news for our customers and testament to the improvements achieved in Home Credit during the past year from an operational and…

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