Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
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…
Read more
Financial services firms recorded a 2.6% reduction in new complaints between January and June 2016 compared to the previous six months, according to new complaints data published today by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The total number of complaints was 2.05 million. Payment protection insurance (PPI) is still the most complained about product. Complaints about current accounts…
Read more
TalkTalk has been issued with a record £400,000 fine by the ICO for security failings that allowed a cyber attacker to access customer data “with ease”. The ICO’s in-depth investigation found that an attack on the company last October could have been prevented if TalkTalk had taken basic steps to protect customers’ information. ICO investigators…
Read moreThe government has resumed the sale of a failed bank’s £15.65 billion pound mortgage portfolio after it was delayed in the aftermath of the country’s vote to leave the European Union. UK Asset Resolution, which is selling off the Bradford & Bingley loans, is planning to send out non-disclosure agreements to prospective bidders this week,…
Read more
Aire, a credit scoring startup has confirmed authorisation with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The company also announced that it raised a further $2 million in funding earlier this year led by White Star Capital alongside Sunstone Capital and Accion Venture Lab. Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Aneesh Varma said: “It’s a huge step for us and also for…
Read moreWonga has admitted that it double-charged 7,000 customers for their loans on Friday. It says an internal system error resulted in extra payments being taken from bank accounts. Wonga has promised that extra costs and charges incurred will be refunded. The short-term lender said that the rogue payments were refunded later on Friday, but may not yet…
Read more
New research shows that millions of working-age people across the UK are at financial risk due to their low levels of savings The research by the Money Advice Service, shows that 4 in 10 (40%, 16.8 million) working-age people across the nation lack a savings buffer, with less than £100 in savings available to them at…
Read more
Intelligent Lending, trading as Ocean Finance has been fined £130,000 after sending more than seven million texts offering a new credit card powered by a major lender. Manchester-based Ocean Finance believed it was complying with the law because the third party firm it obtained names and phone numbers from claimed it had people’s consent to send…
Read more
Leigh Berkley, President of the Credit Services Association (CSA), has been elected to the Board and appointed Vice President of the Federation of European National Collection Associations (FENCA), an umbrella body that serves to promote and develop European best practice, standards and legislation within the European debt collection industry. This strategic re-positioning at the top…
Read moreThe Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will mark six months since the implementation of the Senior Managers’ and Certification Regime by providing feedback on implementation so far and proposing measures to further strengthen the regime. The proposed rules will reinforce the importance of individual accountability at the most senior level of organisations. The new measures are…
Read more
81% of UK consumers feel confident about their job security, according to the latest Lloyds Bank Spending Power Report. The monthly barometer, which tracks both spending habits and consumer confidence, showed four-in-five consumers believe their own job security is either “excellent”, “very good” or “somewhat good” – the highest level in the survey’s history, and a…
Read more
Consumer credit has grown by 6.4% over the year to August, the fastest rate of growth for nearly 10 years according to the latest British Banker Association (BBA) statistics. It is thought the increase has been driven by ultra-low interest rates, people are borrowing more on credit cards and through loans and overdrafts. The number of…
Read more
More and more people are struggling with debts for guarantor loans and rent to own credit products, Citizens Advice reveals today. The charity says there has been a shift in the high cost credit market as the number of people seeking help for problems with these sub-prime products has risen by 16% over the last year…
Read more