Consumer finance increases by 9% in November

13th January 2017 Consumer Collections |

New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show growth of 9% in consumer finance new business in November, compared with the same month in 2015. Credit card and personal loan new business together grew by 10% compared with November 2015, while retail store and online credit new business increased by 3%…

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Equiniti acquires loan broker

13th January 2017 Consumer Collections |

Gateway2Finance has revealed that it has been acquired by Equiniti Group PLC. The acquisition of the Halifax-based loan brokerage is expected to support Equiniti Group’s strategy to promote loan, mortgage and technology solutions to meet the requirements of the fast-moving credit marketplace. Paul Woodworth, managing director of Gateway2Finance.“Everyone within Gateway2Finance is delighted with the move…

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West One Loans appoints Sales Director

13th January 2017 Consumer Collections |

Former V Loans Managing Director Marie Grundy has been appointed as Sales Director of West One Loans. Grundy brings a wealth of knowledge from 20 years in the mortgage sector. That experience spans both broking and lending, where most recently she spent over nine years with second charge master broker V Loans. Stephen Wasserman, Managing Director of…

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Universal Credit payment option to be given direct landlord

13th January 2017 Consumer Collections |

The Scottish Government plans to use its new social security powers for the first time to increase the frequency of Universal Credit payments and offer to pay housing benefits direct to landlords. While Universal Credit itself remains reserved, ministers will use new powers to give claimants the option to be paid fortnightly instead of monthly.…

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Morses Club announces acquisition

13th January 2017 Consumer Collections |

Specialist Home Credit Collector (HCC) lender Morses Club has announced the acquisition of Shelby Finance a provider of online instalment loans.  Shelby Finance is fully authorised by the FCA to provide online instalment loans and will operate as a subsidiary of Morses Club. Morses Club state that the acquisition is an important strategic development as…

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Target Group acquires commercial mortgage specialist

12th January 2017 Consumer Collections |

Target Group has announced the purchase of the operating business of Commercial First. Commercial First are a provider of commercial and residential mortgage servicing, due diligence and property valuations for clients ranging from blue chip banks and fund managers to private equity and mortgage securitisations. Established in 2002 and based in Skipton, Commercial First provides…

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KBC bank sells loans for the first time

12th January 2017 Consumer Collections |

Irish bank KBC has sold loans to credit-servicing and debt-collection firm Cabot Financial Ireland. The sale of the KBC portfolio is understood to involve more than 100 loans – most of which related to buy-to-let properties that have been sold – with money is still owned on the original mortgages. The sale comes weeks before…

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DFC Global’s US CEO leaves role

12th January 2017 Consumer Collections |

Bob Stefanowski is to be replaced as Dollar Financial Corporation Global (DFC) Chief Executive Officer. Bondholders in Dollar Financial Corporation Global (DFC) were informed late last week that Bob Stefanowski was stepping down as its chief executive, to be replaced by Glen Wakeman, a former GE Money executive in Latin America. The change at the…

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Report reveals the scale of mental health issues caused by debt

12th January 2017 Consumer Collections |

Creditfix has released new figures that show that personal debt is having a negative impact on the mental health of individuals affected by financial problems. In a UK-wide survey of people currently in an Individual Voluntary Arrangement or Protected Trust Deed (IVA/PTD) with Creditfix, 74 per cent of respondents said their personal debt situation had…

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People living alone have the least spare cash

12th January 2017 Consumer Collections |

New research from SunLife has found that people living alone are hit the hardest, both financially and emotionally. SunLife’s Cash Happy report (studied the day to day finances of 3,000 UK households, mapping income – and how it is used – against happiness) has found that while there is a strong link between happiness* and…

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Brits left ‘overwhelmed’ and ‘stressed’ by demands of money management

11th January 2017 Consumer Collections |

 New research* from Gocompare.com Money has found that, on average, people now manage over 30 accounts across all aspects of their lives, from online banking and shopping, to gym memberships and subscriptions for home entertainment.  And almost a third of us are stressed out by trying to keep track of them all. The survey of…

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FLA to create motor finance apprenticeship

11th January 2017 Consumer Collections |

The Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), working alongside employers in a Trailblazer group, has won Government approval to develop a Motor Finance Specialist apprenticeship standard for the motor finance industry. We will now begin working with members, brokers and dealers to devise a training standard which will highlight the skills and knowledge that employers in…

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Hoist appoints new Country Manager

11th January 2017 Consumer Collections |

Julian Winfield has been appointed the new Country Manager for Salford-based Hoist Finance UK, the leading debt restructuring partner for international banks. He joined the business in 2014 as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Winfield has more than 20-years’ experience in financial services, insurance and retail, having started his career with Kwik Save and Argos. More recently he…

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