FFA UK reports shows 25% increase in financial fraud

13th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

The latest Financial Fraud Action (FFA) UK report, published today, reveals a 25% year-on-year increase in financial fraud losses for the first half of 2016 to £399.5 million. John Marsden, Head of ID and Fraud at Equifax said  “Cyber and ID fraud dominate the fraud landscape, and online scams and attacks continue to rise. E-commerce…

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FCA fines and imposes penalties on Sonali Bank (UK)

13th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fined Sonali Bank (UK) Limited (SBUK) £3,250,600 and has imposed a restriction, preventing it from accepting deposits from new customers for 168 days. It has also fined the bank’s former money laundering reporting officer (MLRO), Steven Smith, £17,900 and prohibited him from performing the MLRO or compliance oversight functions…

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Yuill & Kyle gains FCA authoristaion

12th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

Glasgow-based independent law firm Yuill & Kyle Limited has secured full authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority. Yuill + Kyle managing partner Stephen Cowan said: “Quite often as part of an audit process a creditor may take the view that they will not deal with a legal firm unless they have the FCA consent. Because Y+K…

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Mortgage arrears on the rise again

12th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

The Money Charity has released statistics indicating that after years of steady falls, cases of mortgage arrears have risen for the second quarter in a row. According to the Financial Conduct Authority, at the end of Q2 2016 there were 218,279 mortgage loan accounts with arrears of more than 1.5% of the current loan balance.  This…

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Overdraft charges adding millions to problem debt

12th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

Spiralling charges on unarranged overdrafts are adding millions of pounds to problem debt and they must be capped by the FCA, says StepChange Debt Charity. New figures from the charity, suggest that almost two thirds of people seeking its help with overdraft debts have regularly exceeded their limit and faced charges of £45 each time…

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Target Group appoints new Chief Client Officer

11th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

Target Group has today announced the appointment of Jeremy Edwards as the company’s Chief Client Officer (CCO). Having held senior leadership positions at Accenture, Firstsource Solutions and Hinduja Global Services, Jeremy brings with him a wealth of experience in financial services, business process outsourcing (BPO) and client services. The new role brings together business development, client…

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Cerberus buys £2 billion book of loans from Ulster Bank

11th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

Ulster Bank has sold off £2 billion tranche of loans to Cerberus.  The portfolio consists 900 mortgages, across Ireland. Around 14% of the debt is based in Northern Ireland. A spokesman for Ulster Bank said: “Ulster Bank has confirmed the completion of a sale of significantly impaired loan portfolio, predominantly in the Republic of Ireland, enabling…

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Continued growth in consumer car finance sector

10th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that new business in the point-of-sale (POS) consumer new car finance market grew 9% by value and 5% by volume in August, compared with the same month last year. The percentage of private new car sales financed by FLA members through the POS reached…

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Consumer Finance continues to grow

10th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show growth of 16% in consumer finance new business in August, compared with the same month last year. Credit card and personal loan new business together grew by 17% compared with August 2015, while retail store and online credit new business increased by 6%…

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New single body to launch to advise public on debt

10th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

The Government has announced that they will be creating a new single public body responsible for delivering advice to consumers on money, debt and pensions. The new service will replace the Money Advice Service (MAS). The government thinks a single advisory body will be more efficient but has yet to decide how the new service will…

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Aphility integrates digital bank verification capability

8th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

Aphility  has introduced a secure, real time, certified digital bank verification capability by integrating DirectID from the online trust company. The IDCo to enable the verification of business and consumer income and expenditure data from UK Banks. This enhancement will enable customers and partners to undertake faster and more accurate affordability assessments and credit decisions delivering…

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Clarke Willmott adds appointment to the Debt Recovery team

7th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

South West law firm Clarke Willmott LLP has announced the appointment of a new Marketing Development Manager for its Debt Recovery team in Taunton. Emma Kitchen joins the firm having previously worked in the Energy and Financial Services industries and has a background in marketing communications, strategy and planning. Kitchen, who has extensive knowledge and experience…

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Financial Conduct Authority: PacNet announcement

7th October 2016 Consumer Collections |

Following a decision by the United States Department of the Treasury(link is external) to designate the PacNet Group as a ‘significant transnational criminal organisation’, we understand that the ceasing of PacNet Group firms’ operations has led to some customer payments, including direct debits, not reaching creditors and firms. Firms affected by this should assess their payment…

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