Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
Ofgem’s latest debt and arrears data shows that total energy debt has risen once again and now stands at a record £4.55 billion for the period to the end of 2025, up 18% year on year. As essential bills like gas and electricity continue to drive the cost of living crisis, StepChange reveals that client…
Read more
A graduate who grew up in deep poverty will earn 5%, over £2,800 a year, more than a more privileged peer working at the same firm with an equivalent degree a decade after graduation, highlighting the scarring effect of childhood poverty, according to new research published by the Resolution Foundation. The long shadow – funded…
Read more
A new report by Barclays has highlighted how student loans significantly impact graduates’ ability to save for home deposits. The study reveals that individuals with student debt save £310 monthly, while those without save £473.70 creating a £1,963.70 gap annually. Additionally, 44% of loan holders feel repayments hinder their financial stability, and 41% believe it prevents…
Read more
Latest monthly figures from the Insolvency Service for England & Wales have indicated that personal insolvencies increased by 18% when compared to February 2025 and 6% higher than in January 2026, totalling 11,609 insolvencies. The personal insolvency data consisted of 768 bankruptcies, 4,210 debt relief orders (DROs) and 6,631 individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs). The 6,631 IVAs registered…
Read more
New research by Confused.com has found that almost half (48%) of people admit to lying to their partner about their financial situation in the past. With the cost of living crisis putting financial pressure on people it’s not surprising that money can sometimes cause issues in relationships. Over one in two (58%) partners argue about…
Read more
Debt charity, StepChange, has warned that high levels of arrears across essential bills have become the ‘new normal’ for many households. Those on the lowest incomes are being hit hardest, often forced to juggle everyday living costs while trying to repay historic debts. The report reveals that in 2025, average household arrears are up 11%…
Read more
Consumer sentiment has dropped sharply since the conflict in the Middle East escalated, according to a survey by Barclays. The survey found that around 80% of consumers are concerned that the conflict will increase inflation and energy costs. Nearly half of the respondents said they had already started adjusting their spending behaviour. The data showed…
Read more
The Consumer Council for Water (CCW) says allowing five water companies to increase their customers’ bills even further will heap more pressure on households already struggling to absorb recent price hikes. CCW has responded to the final determinations of the Competition and Markets Authority which has ruled on the appeals made by five water companies – Anglian Water,…
Read more
New Age analysis of DWP data has found that, despite the rise in women’s State Pension age, the number of female pensioners in the UK has fallen by 740,000 since 2010-11, while the number of women living in poverty has stayed steady at 1.1 million. Age UK warns that this is a failure of policy and…
Read more
Research from the Current Account Switch Service shows that a third of people (34%) say ‘No‑spend February’ is the point in the year when they finally tackle the life admin tasks they have been putting off, from cancelling unused subscriptions to checking whether their financial products still offer great value. The findings highlight the financial…
Read more
The UK is set for a decent but one-off increase in living standards this year, and a bumper rise for lower-income families. But a fresh energy price shock risks ruining this good news, while the medium-term picture for living standards remains bleak, according to the Resolution Foundation’s overnight analysis of the Spring Forecast 2026. With…
Read more
New figures published today by Registry Trust have shown that court judgment activity rose sharply in 2025, reaching its highest level since before the pandemic. A total of 1,196,174 new County Court Judgments (CCJs) were registered across the UK and Ireland in 2025 – a 10.1% increase year-on-year and the highest annual total since 2019, 1,163,903…
Read more
New Compare the Market research has highlighted that the typical costs people may face when separating and setting up a home on their own, with total expenses ranging from £9,175 to £24,641, depending on housing and marital status. With 28.6 million households in the UK, married couples remain the most common family type, accounting for…
Read more