Energy suppliers submit bids to supply bankrupt GB Energy customers

30th November 2016 Consumer Collections |

Britain’s biggest energy suppliers have submitted bids to take over 160,000 customers left behind by bankrupt energy provider GB Energy, which collapsed on Saturday after being caught out by rising market prices. All of Britain’s Big Six energy suppliers, EDF Energy, Innogy’s Npower, E.ON, Scottish Power, SSE and Centrica’s British Gas, have submitted bids in…

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Addleshaw Goddard and HBJ Gateley approve merger

30th November 2016 Consumer Collections |

The partners of Addleshaw Goddard and HBJ Gateley (HBJ) have voted “by an overwhelming majority” to merge their businesses, creating the UK’s 15th largest legal firm. The merger, which will see HBJ’s business, people and partners transfer to Addleshaw Goddard by June 1st 2017, will “deliver stronger client and sector offerings across the whole of…

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New research shows consumers have benefited from reform of payday market

29th November 2016 Consumer Collections |

The first independent research to analyse the impact of the regulation and price cap on the high-cost short term credit market has been published.  The study by the Social Market Foundation (SMF), commissioned by the Consumer Finance Association (CFA), shows consumers are now paying less to borrow.  According to the report, high-cost short-term credit plays…

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UK’s richest unable to secure credit

29th November 2016 Consumer Collections |

Independent research commissioned by London-based bridging lender Market Financial Solutions (MFS) has revealed that 1.3 million of Britain’s high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) have been denied a loan or any form of credit over the past five years. MFS’s new report ‘Asset Rich, Credit Poor’ surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults, finding that 17%…

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Masthaven launches digital bank

29th November 2016 Consumer Collections |

Masthaven has launched as a digital bank. The bank will offer savings and lending products, saying it is committed to offering what people want, not just what is available. Masthaven says at the heart of the bank is a people business –  which at launch sees 80% of employees already shareholders in the business.  Access to…

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October 2016 Bank of England statistical data

29th November 2016 Consumer Collections |

The Bank of England has published it’s latest statistical data. Bankstats Bankstats consists of: money and lending; monetary financial institutions’ balance sheets; further analyses of deposits and lending; external business of banks operating in the UK, public sector debt and the money markets (including gilt repo and stock lending); sterling commercial paper, other debt securities,…

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FCA launches call for input on high-cost credit and overdrafts

29th November 2016 Consumer Collections |

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has today announced that it is seeking evidence and feedback to further inform its work on high-cost credit, including a review of the payday loan price cap.  Since taking over regulation of consumer credit in April 2014, the FCA has focused on products that it believes pose the highest risks…

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1st Credit goes live with SmartCollect

28th November 2016 Consumer Collections |

1st Credit and Telrock Systems are pleased to announce that the SmartCollect platform is today in full production across the 1st Credit business. The platform allows 1st Credit to execute cost effective SMS and email campaigns to engage with its customers and provides a 24x7x365 self – service capability to its customers through the SmartCollect…

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Christmas food shopping set to top £15 billion

28th November 2016 Consumer Collections |

The majority (64%) of UK adults are budgeting to spend an extra £96.22 per week on food during the Christmas and New Year period, reveals new insight from short-term loan provider Sunny. The insight into this year’s festive food shopping habits reveals that those UK shoppers planning to splash out more this Christmas, believe they…

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Over 13 million women in the UK lack a financial safety net

28th November 2016 Consumer Collections |

For nearly three in ten (28%) women in the UK, the inability to support themselves or their families financially is their greatest financial fear. A new report from Aegon ‘Protection matters: does women’s financial planning match their priorities?’, which draws on the opinions of more than 2,000 women, found that nearly half (46%) believe it’s…

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October 2016 figures for high street banks

28th November 2016 Consumer Collections |

The BBA has released high street bank figures for October. Dr Rebecca Harding, BBA Chief Economist, said “Consumer credit is now growing at its fastest rate since November 2006, reflecting strong retail sales growth. Consumer confidence remains robust as borrowers take advantage of record low interest rates. Mortgage approvals ticked up a little October.  There has only…

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Card payments grow by 0.6% in September

28th November 2016 Consumer Collections |

The UK Card Payments Association has announced that payment card spending grew by 0.6 per cent in September to reach £54.7 billion, driven largely by a £302 million rise in debit card spending. Card spending increased by £4.4 billion in the three months to the end of September compared to the previous quarter, a 2.8%…

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Lowell GFKL Group announces latest results

25th November 2016 Arrears and Recoveries |

Lowell GFKL Group, has announced its latest company results for its third quarter ended 30 September 2016. Commenting on the results, Colin Storrar CFO said: “I’m pleased to announce the delivery of impressive results by the Lowell GFKL Group. We have seen positive momentum during the third quarter with significant growth in both Cash EBITDA and 120…

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