Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
The number of County Court Judgments (CCJs) issued against consumers in England and Wales saw a huge rise in Q2 2021 compared to the same period last year, according to figures released by Registry Trust. The number registered in Q2 2021 was 188,092, up 267 per cent from 51,245 in Q2 2020. The value of…
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The number of decrees and total amount of debt registered against Scottish consumers saw large rises in the second quarter of 2021 (Q1 2021) compared to the same period last year, according to figures released by Registry Trust. The number rose from 1,419 to 3,991 in Q2 2021, a rise of 181 percent from Q2…
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The number and total value of judgments registered against Irish consumers saw very large percentage rises in the second quarter of 2021 (Q2 2021) compared to the same quarter last year, figures released by registrar Irish Judgments show. The number of judgments registered against Irish consumers in Q2 2021 was 307, an increase of 358…
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The number of personal insolvencies (bankruptcies and protected trust deeds) in Scotland rose by 12.3% to 1,884 in April-June 2021compared with January-March 2021’s figures of 1,677, and was 9.6% lower than in April-June 2020 according to latest Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) figures. A total of 586 bankruptcies were awarded during this quarter – a 61.4%…
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Water regulator Ofwat has outlined its view that levels of bad debt costs across the business retail market are exceeding 2% of non-household revenue. Ofwat has therefore decided a temporary increase in the maximum prices retailers are permitted to charge is warranted. Measures introduced since March 2020 to contain the spread of Covid-19 could lead…
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New Ofcom data has found that around two million households are struggling to afford internet access. The research shows that many people on low incomes are struggling to pay, and not all are getting the support they need from telecoms companies and that there is considerable variation in the support available for customers who may be…
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The Government has revealed proposals to trial automatic switching for customers on expensive default energy tariffs to cheaper deals, and government to tackle ‘loyalty penalty’. Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng published proposals to trial automatic switching for customers on expensive default energy tariffs to cheaper deals. Research has shown that while around 5.8 million…
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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) have published an updated assessment of the UK’s access to cash infrastructure, taking into account the impact of coronavirus (Covid-19), alongside new research on consumers who rely on cash. The findings show that most people have reasonable access to cash through a combination of bank, building…
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Credit Connect’s hosted the latest edition of the Connected News series last week which saw a discussion focused on the delivery of responsible vulnerable communications strategies and the future of the sector discussed by four leading collections professionals. Banks, credit card providers, building societies, loan providers, collections specialists, utility firms and fintechs were amongst the…
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A coalition of consumer groups, charities and financial services industry bodies, including Which? UK Finance, Martin Lewis and MoneySavingExpert, the Personal Investment Management and Financial Advice Association (PIMFA), the Investment Association, the Association of British Insurers and the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, among many others have renewed its call for the Government to…
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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced it has taken action against five ‘debt packager firms’ – otherwise known as IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) lead generators – stopping them from providing regulated debt advice. This comes following concerns over firms failing to properly manage conflicts of interest, manipulating income and expenditure figures, trying to promote…
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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has criticised Provident Financial’s plans to cap compensation for customers of its failed doorstep lending arm,. The regulator has also said it would not oppose the lender in court. Provident has set aside £50 million under a scheme of arrangement to reimburse customers who were mis-sold loans. The FCA said…
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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has made a commitment to be a more, innovative, adaptive and assertive regulator. The commitment reflects the FCA’s Business Plan for 2021/22, the first annual plan since Nikhil Rathi joined the FCA as Chief Executive in October 2020. Rathi said “The FCA must continue to become a forward-looking, proactive regulator.…
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