Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
The level of outstanding fines in Northern Ireland is “exceptionally high”, according to the Northern Ireland Audit Office. Kieran Donnelly, comptroller and auditor general, reported to the Northern Ireland Assembly on the results of his audit of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) Trust Statement for 2015-16. The Trust Statement records the collection of…
Read more
Ofcom and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) have published an update on their joint action plan to tackle nuisance calls and texts>The latest update highlights recent targeted enforcement action, new ‘blocking’ measures to help stop nuisance calls getting through to consumers and progress in their call tracing work. It also summarises how Ofcom is working to…
Read more
Ofgem has confirms it has asked energy providers to return £670million of customer money owed since 2014. In 2014, Ofgem challenged large suppliers to do more to return money to former customers who had credit on their account after their account was closed, typically after switching supplier. The regulator says that today, most customers are…
Read moreThe Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has today announced that it is inviting views on the future funding of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) and has also launched a consultation on a number of specific changes to its scheme rules. The FSCS is the UK’s statutory compensation scheme of last resort, which can step in…
Read more
Anglia UK has achieved a industry-leading accreditation for the safety and security of its data handling. The Spalding-based vehicle credit management specialist has become the first in its industry to achieve ISO 27001 in recognition of its stringent approach to confidential data handling and IT management. ISO is an independent benchmarking company that gives world-class specifications…
Read more
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found that many firms are improving the way they deal with customers in early arrears. However, there are a number of areas where consumer credit firms still need to improve their practices. Jonathan Davidson, Executive Director of Supervision – Retail and Authorisations, said “Firms must treat customers in default…
Read moreThe Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has today launched a market study to consider whether competition in the mortgage sector can be improved to benefit consumers. The FCA wants to understand whether consumers are empowered to choose on an informed basis between products and services and are in a position to understand whether these represent good…
Read more
The Credit Services Association (CSA) and the Civil Court Users Association (CCUA) issued a joint statement following the Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) meeting attended by Leigh Berkley and Rob Thompson as industry representatives, and by the Master of the Rolls. The outcome was as follows: • The Pre-Action Protocol (PAP) is likely to be…
Read more
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have sent a letter to CEOs of all debt management firms expressing their concerns with the way firms are carrying out annual reviews and to remind them of the requirements of administering debt management plans (DMPs). All debt management plans must be reviewed at least once a year. If a…
Read more
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has finalised details for the introduction of a price cap for approximately 4 million households on prepayment meters. In its final report published in June following a two-year investigation into the energy market, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said that it would introduce a price cap for prepayment customers…
Read more
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has appointed Rob Luker as Deputy Commissioner (Policy). Luke will join the ICO on 30th January. He was previously British High Commissioner to Malta, and has also served overseas in Brazil and Paris as well as in policy roles at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London. Information Commissioner Elizabeth…
Read more
Ofgem has chosen Co-operative Energy to take on supplying GB Energy Supply’s customers. The company will honour all outstanding credit balances for both current customers, and for past customers of GB Energy Supply who are still owed money. For current customers any credit on their account will be used to offset future energy use. The…
Read more
Two companies responsible for millions of spam texts offering easy access to loans have been fined by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Separate ICO investigations into Dorset-based Silver City Tech Ltd and Oracle Insurance Brokers Ltd, in London, found the firms had broken the law because they did not have the consent of the people…
Read more