Central Trust appoints Regulatory Consultant

4th November 2016 Consumer Collections |

Central Trust has announced the appointment of a Regulatory Consultant to its board of directors. Jane McMahon has joined the second charge mortgage lender as a regulatory consultant. As well as Central Trust, McMahon has also been appointed as regulatory consultant for Central Trust Syndicate Number One Limited, Central Loans Limited, Commercial Trust Limited and…

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Lindorff announces double digit growth

4th November 2016 Consumer Collections |

Lindorff has announced a strong a strong performance in Q3 2016. Net revenue in the quarter was EUR 167m, an increase of 26 percent compared to the same quarter last year, and adjusted EBITDA excluding non-recurring items was up 32 percent to EUR 110m compared to the same quarter last year. The growth was driven…

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Study shows debt halves recovery rate for depression

2nd November 2016 Consumer Collections |

A new report suggests that a failure to address financial difficulty in the main NHS talking therapies programme is holding back the recovery of tens of thousands of people with depression and anxiety. A quarter of people with ‘common’ mental health conditions like depression or anxiety are also in problem debt, which is likely to be holding…

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Debt purchaser agrees to FCA redress package

2nd November 2016 Consumer Collections |

Motormile Finance UK Limited, a debt purchase and collections firm, has entered into an agreement with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide redress to more than 500,000 customers for historic failures in its due diligence and collections process. The firm had inadequate systems and controls over due diligence. In particular, it failed to conduct sufficient…

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Ulster Bank fined €3.3 million over rule breaches

2nd November 2016 Consumer Collections |

Ulster Bank has been fined 3.3 million (£3 million) by Ireland’s financial watchdog over breaches of money laundering and terrorist financing rules. The Central Bank said its inquiries uncovered significant failings in Ulster Bank’s procedures practices over six years from July 2010. It said its inquiries uncovered significant failings in Ulster Bank’s procedures but no money…

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Scottish ministers face calls to act over high street alternative lenders

31st October 2016 Consumer Collections |

Scottish Councils could be handed more powers to limit the number of controversial pay day loan shops opening on Scotland’s high streets. The Scottish Government has faced calls to introduce legislation even though there is now a cap of 0.8 per cent APR on the amount pay day loan firms can charge, campaigners have expressed concern…

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6.5 Million households at debt risk

28th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

Over 6.5 million households are in debt, or face the prospect of falling into debt within a month, should they lose their jobs, according to new research from The Equality Trust. Over 40 per cent of non-retired households have too little saved to pay even a month’s worth of household bills, the research finds. A non-retired household in…

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Increase in Personal Insolvencies across the Summer

28th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

The Insolvency has published the latest Insolvency statistics between July & September. The key finding from the statistics was that total individual insolvencies increased for the fifth consecutive quarter, driven primarily by an increase in individual voluntary arrangements. Bankruptcies increased this quarter. It is likely that changes to the bankruptcy application process have affected the…

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One in three customers disengaged with businesses as a result of online billing

28th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

The growing prevalence of online billing is putting businesses and service providers at risk of losing touch with customers according to new research, which reveals that almost one in three consumers have become distant from their bills as a result. The research of a nationally representative sample of 1,000 UK adults by Echo Managed Services, revealed…

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Co-operative Energy agrees £1.8 million payment for customer service failings

28th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

Co-operative Energy has agreed to pay £1.8 million to energy consumers, because it let customers down in its complaints resolution, call handling and billing processes.  £1.6 million of this money has already been paid with the remainder to be paid shortly to those customers not yet compensated. The money that Co-op is unable to return…

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Rise in Personal Insolvency numbers expected

28th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

The number of people going insolvent across England and Wales is expected to increase. Experts have suggested the days of falling personal insolvency levels may be coming to an end as consumers grapple with underlying debt problems. Official figures for the third quarter of this year, which will be released by the Insolvency Service, show the…

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FCA strategy consultation launched

27th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has today launched a consultation on its Mission, which is designed to provide a guiding set of principles around the strategic choices the FCA makes. It will inform the FCA’s strategy and day-to-day work over the coming years. The intention of the Mission is to provide clarity over the objectives, the…

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Improving the Financial Health of Low Income Groups

26th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

A new CfRC report calls for an expansion of debt advice and financial support services for low paid workers and private tenants. The research (‘Improving the Financial Health of Low Income Groups’), which was supported by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, reviewed how low income households are currently being supported to manage their money, save for the…

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