Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
The use of direct deductions from people’s benefits, by utility companies, housing providers, councils and others, to cover arrears payments is making it more difficult for families to pay for essentials and is forcing many to use credit to keep on top of bills. This is according to new research released today by StepChange Debt…
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The Money Advice Service (MAS has launched a free new resource ‘How to use behavioural science to increase the uptake of debt advice’. The guide has been designed to assist debt advisers across the UK, to encourage over-indebted people to engage with their services. Money Advice Service worked with Ogilvy Change, a specialist behavioural interventions…
Read moreThe number of low-income households in England and Wales receiving financial help from their water company has almost doubled to more than 400,000 in the past year, according to the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater). The water watchdog has welcomed the rise in support for cash-strapped customers but warned that it remains a drop in…
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250,000 private renting families in England are becoming burdened with serious debt because they have to move house so frequently, according to Shelter. New research from the housing charity says private renting is so unstable, short and expensive that families are being forced to move too frequently. One in four (255,944) renting families are taking…
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Commenting on the July 2017 new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Head of Consumer and Mortgage Finance at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said “The second charge mortgage market reported its fifth consecutive month of growth in July, with new business up 23% by value and 21% by volume.…
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The Money Advice Trust has launched a new face-to-face training course designed to help creditor staff to better support customers affected by gambling, alcohol and substance addictions. The course has been developed in partnership with the Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest, and can be tailored to creditor organisations across a range of sectors. The…
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RSM Restructuring Advisory LLP Administrators of Debt Free Direct has agreed a sale of the business to Aperture Debt Solutions. Debt Free Direct Ltd, based in Chorley, Lancashire, is an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) business that delivers debt solutions for individuals across the UK and employs 72 people. The Company was part of the wider Fairpoint…
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Business and personal insolvency experts, Fortis Insolvency have announced a Partnership with Encompas Corporation to support and enhance their Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance processes. Manchester based Fortis Insolvency provide advice and support to business and individuals across the north-west who may be facing financial and operational issues. Chris Parry, Managing Director at Fortis Insolvency said “Evolving regulations, not…
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Parents who increasingly have to fork out for iPads, extracurricular activities and uniforms when their children go back to school, are being advised to budget carefully to avoid being pulled into a cycle of debt. PayPlan says that while the price of uniforms has been driven down in recent years, families still have to pay…
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The growth in borrowing by consumers appears to be slowing amid a squeeze on households according to the Bank of England’s latest consumer statistics. The annual rate of growth for consumer borrowing through credit cards, overdrafts and personal loans decreased to 9.8% in July, the lowest rate of expansion since April 2016. The growth rate…
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Research by Citizens Advice has found that nearly 1 in 5 people struggling with debts have had their credit card limit raised without them requesting it, a practice the charity would like to see banned. After the Bank of England issued a warning to lenders about how they are granting credit to consumers, Citizens Advice…
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The cost of running a home now almost half household income according to research by MORE TH>N as part of its second annual ‘Cost of Running a Home’ report. The study found that owning a three-bedroom home in the UK comes with average annual running costs of £18,197 (£1,516 per month), with rented three bedroom homes…
Read moreWith the start of the new school year fast approaching, an annual survey shows how parents will be spending £1.48 billion getting the UK’s 8.5 million children ready for the start of term – equating to £174.31 per child to purchase items such as jumpers, blazers, ties, shoes and sports kit. Research by Nationwide in a…
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