Almost half of people admit lying to their partner about money

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…

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High level of essential bill arrears have become the ‘new normal’

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%…

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Further water bill rises will hurt struggling households

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,…

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Government announces water bill support reform

The Government has announced that hundreds of thousands of households will benefit from lower water bills after the Government announced a major reform of WaterSure.   Low-income households that use high amounts of water can qualify to have their bills capped. They must have a water meter and either a specific medical condition or three or…

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Energy price cap to fall by 7% from April

25th February 2026 Arrears and Recoveries | #energy bills

Energy regulator Ofgem has announced a 7% (or £117) reduction of the energy price cap for the period covering 1st April to 30th June 2026. This change amounts to a reduction of around £10 a month for the average household using both electricity and gas. The price cap refers to the default tariff applied when a…

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Energy price cap forecasted to fall

20th February 2026 Consumer Collections | #energy prices

Cornwall Insight has released its final forecast for the April – June 2026 which predicts the cap will fall by £117 to £1,641 a year for a typical dual fuel household. This would represent a decrease of 7% from the current price cap, which is set at £1,758 per year. The main driver behind the…

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Government extends energy bill support for millions of families

30th January 2026 Consumer Collections | #energy bills

The Government has announced that around six million low-income households will continue to receive £150 off their winter energy bills with the Warm Home Discount scheme extended by five more years. The Government’s expansion of the Warm Home Discount last year added 2.7 million families to the scheme, bringing the total number of eligible households…

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Water bills set to increase by £33 a year from April

29th January 2026 Consumer Collections | #water bills

New data from Water UK has indicated that water bills in household water bills in England and Wales will rise by an average of 5.4% – around £33 a year, or approximately £2.70 per month – from April, reflecting significant investment in upgrading water infrastructure. The rise is two percentage points above December’s official inflation…

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Energy company to pay £2.7m redress for over payment failures

Energy company, OVO will pay over £2.7 million in redress after failing to provide Warm Home Discount (WHD) rebates to 11,646 customers by the statutory deadline of 31st March 2024. These customers did not receive their rebate until November 2025 – more than 19 months late. The delay meant that some of the most vulnerable…

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Households face higher energy bills as Ofgem launches £28bn grid upgrade

5th December 2025 Consumer Collections | #energy bills

Ofgem has announced that household energy bills will rise to help fund a £28 billion investment to upgrade the UK’s energy network. The energy regulator said that it has approved more than £17.8 billion of spending plans to upgrade gas transmission and distribution networks in the five years from April 2026. The remaining initial investment…

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Bill reform could save struggling households £950 a year

As people across the country battle an unrelenting living standards crisis, Citizens Advice has revealed reforming bill support across essential markets, including energy and water, could save eligible households a staggering £950 a year. That’s the equivalent of £79 a month, which amounts to an income boost of almost 6% for low-income households. Citizens Advice’s…

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14% of households are worried about debt

2nd December 2025 Arrears and Recoveries | #debt

Only 14% of households are worried about debt, but fewer than one in five (19%) are classed as resilient when it comes to their use of it, according to research by the HL Savings & Resilience Barometer. The data also showed that across the board, almost half (46%) of debt is used for consumption rather…

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One in three struggling with energy bills set to rise £75

Nearly one in three UK households are worried about paying their winter bills, according to new figures from Ocean Finance. With energy costs rising faster than many can cope with, families face a tough few months ahead whilst Ofgem warns that bills could rise by £75 next spring.  The survey also revealed that 33% of…

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