Callcredit receives FCA authorisation

23rd February 2017 Consumer Collections |

Callcredit Information Group has announced that it has achieved full Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) authorisation. The authorisation process involved the Group companies demonstrating they had in place robust business plans, risk management frameworks, and had adequate systems and processes in place to support fair consumer outcomes. In addition, the companies were required to propose a number…

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Benefit payments suspension can lead to rent arrears

22nd February 2017 Consumer Collections |

A new Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report  into the use of benefit sanctions has revealed jobcentres and providers use them “inconsistently”, with some Work Programme providers referring twice as many people for sanctions as others in the same area. It also found the “severity” of sanctions – a reduction or suspension of payments because a claimant…

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CML backs bill proposal for legal guardians of missing persons

22nd February 2017 Consumer Collections |

Lenders have given their backing to a new law being debated by the Government that would allow the close relatives of missing people to continue to administer their financial affairs such as a mortgage until they are found. The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill, seeking to create a new…

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Standard Financial Statement launch date confirmed

21st February 2017 Consumer Collections |

The Money Advice Service (MAS) has announced that the Standard Financial Statement (SFS will) begin operation on 1st March 2017. The Money Advice Service also thanked the many advice agencies, creditors, trade bodies and others involved in its development, including Money Advice Liaison Group (MALG) members who were part of the governance group. The first…

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New financial guidance body must report on outcomes to be effective

20th February 2017 Consumer Collections |

Responding to the Government’s consultation on a new single financial guidance body, LV= says that the new body should be required to report on the consumer outcomes of guidance, as well as the number of people it refers to regulated financial advice at retirement.  This should ensure consumers are being supported to make the right…

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Express Gifts to pay £12.5m redress for insurance practices

17th February 2017 Consumer Collections |

Express Gifts has entered into an agreement with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide £12.5 million redress to approximately 330,000 customers who were sold insurance that offered little or no value. The insurance products sold by Express Gifts covered against accidental damage and theft for all products purchased from their Ace or Studio brands.…

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Credit broker fined by ICO

15th February 2017 Consumer Collections |

Credit broker Digitonomy Ltd has been fined £120,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for being responsible for millions of marketing texts sent without proper consent. Between April 2015 and February 2016 there were 1,464 complaints about the spam messages which encouraged people to apply for loans and directed them to company websites.  An ICO investigation revealed…

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West Brom Building Society and Jaywing announce IFRS 9 partnership

14th February 2017 Consumer Collections |

Jaywing has announced a new partnership with West Bromwich Building Society to develop IFRS 9 and stress testing models as part of an integrated modelling programme that will underpin all regulatory modelling requirements.. One of the biggest challenges faced by lenders today is implementing a solution to IFRS 9 requirements that is proportionate to the…

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FCA issues warning over unauthorised loan provider

14th February 2017 Consumer Collections |

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued a warning over an unauthorised personal loans provider called Jazz Loans. The FCA warning statement said “We believe this firm has been providing financial services or products in the UK without our authorisation. Find out why to be especially wary of dealing with this unauthorised firm and how to…

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Chair appointed to new integrated Association

10th February 2017 Consumer Collections |

Bob Wigley has been announced as the chair of the new integrated trade association called Financial Services Trade Association, which will bring together six member organisations operating across a wide range of financial services in the UK. The six trade associations which are set to merge are: The Asset Based Finance Association (ABFA) British Bankers’…

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Buddy Loans secures full FCA approval

7th February 2017 Consumer Collections |

Buddy Loans has received full accreditation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), enabling the U.K.’s leading guarantor loan provider to give more consumers access to credit. The Cheadle-based company was set-up in 2013 by entrepreneurs Guy Mackenzie and Nicholas Zapolski, to provide consumers, who have been refused loans from mainstream lenders, with affordable credit.  Buddy…

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CSA dismisses IFS report of new apprenticeship levy

6th February 2017 Consumer Collections |

The Credit Services Association (CSA) has criticised a report from the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) that suggests only a fraction of the cash being raised by a new levy on firms of a certain size from April will be spent on Apprenticeships. The CSA also disagrees with the IFS claim that increasing the number…

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CMA order moves Open Banking revolution closer

3rd February 2017 Consumer Collections |

The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) shake-up of the banking industry will offer overdraft users the opportunity to save an average of £180 a year, while other current account holders can save an average of £92. In its final report on the retail banking market published last year, the CMA announced a package of reforms…

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