Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
Water regulator, Ofwat has published new guidelines for water companies to help household customers across England and Wales pay bills, get help and repay debts. The new guidelines cover several areas, including requiring companies to: Offer more flexible payment options for customers on irregular incomes and zero-hours contracts; Talk sensitively with customers struggling to pay…
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Ofgem boss Jonathan Brearley has told MPs the regulator expects the price cap to increase by more than £800 this October as the war in Ukraine continues to exacerbate the energy crisis. Appearing before the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee both Brearley and former Ofgem Chief Executive Dermot Nolan apologised for not intervening…
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Latest figures from the Registry Trust have shown that there was a decline in consumer County Court Judgments (CCJs) in England & Wales in the first quarter of 2022. The report shows that CCJs fell by 17% from 234,891 in Q1 2021 to 194,744 in Q1 2022. The total value of consumer CCJs also fell…
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Latest figures from the Insolvency Service have indicated that personal insolvencies in England & Wales decreased by 18.5% to 9,409 in April 2022 compared to 11,550 in March, and were 4.7% lower than April 2021’s figure of 9,873. The personal insolvencies figures show that there were 530 bankruptcies registered, which was 36% lower than in April…
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Energy regulator Ofgem, has proposed that the energy price cap on bills should be reviewed every three months instead of twice a year to help households. Ofgem says that at a time when consumers are being squeezed financially from all sides, it is looking at how it can use its powers to make the market…
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A rogue volume IVA provider has been wound-up by the Insolvency Service. Vanguard Insolvency Practitioners (along with three connected companies: MDN Consultancy Limited, Newtco Limited and KIS Financial Consultancy Limited) were wound-up in the public interest at the High Court in Manchester before His Honour Judge Hodge. Petitions were submitted to the court by the…
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As the cost of living crisis bites householders across the UK, water billpayers in England and Wales have reported increased anxiety about affording their bills, with more than 61% stating they are concerned about their finances worsening this year. Research by Ofwat showed a correlation between those struggling to pay and suffering with poor wellbeing…
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A Financial Services and Markets Bill aimed at cutting red tape was among the flagship measures announced in the Queen’s Speech. The new bill revokes retained EU law on financial services and updates the objectives of the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority to bring about a greater focus on growth and international…
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Charities have warned the Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), Thérèse Coffey, that plans to restart ‘managed migration’ must immediately be halted. In an open letter, the coalition of charities have urged the DWP to stop the process due to the risk of cutting off people’s incomes. ‘Managed migration’ is…
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Western Power Distribution (WPD), the largest electricity distribution network operator in the UK, has agreed to make a voluntary redress payment of £14.9 million after accepting it failed to meet its obligations to provide information to some of its most vulnerable customers. Network companies are required to provide additional services to households in vulnerable circumstances who are…
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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced that it has recruited three experienced individuals to its senior leadership team. Mel Gunewardena will take up a Senior Advisor role at the FCA. Gunewardena is currently Chief Market Intelligence Officer at the Commodities and Futures Trading Commission based in Washington DC and a former Managing Director at…
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The cost of living crisis is being made worse for poorer households by waning competition in British markets according to new a report by Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) The CMA states that effective competition helps make sure shoppers and households get a fair deal when buying goods and services. This is especially important at…
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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a new strategy to improve outcomes for consumers and in markets throughout the UK. The FCA says as its remit is broad and growing, the three-year strategy prioritises resources to prevent serious harm, set higher standards and promote competition. The regulator will also, for the first time, hold itself…
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