Prime Minister Andy Burnham has outlined a series of measures to tackle the cost-of-living challenges. The plan includes a ban on fake discounts and making it easier for people to opt out of unwanted subscriptions. Responding to the plans, Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said “For too long consumers have been tricked…
Read moreMiddle income earners are increasingly falling into financial precarity, according to a report by lender Plend and investment specialist Triple Point, with 40% of those unable to cover a sudden £300 bill, the Financial Conduct Authority’s own benchmark for financial resilience, now earning above the national median salary. A third of UK adults (35%) are…
Read moreNew polling from StepChange Debt Charity reveals that almost one in six (15%) of adults, equivalent to more than 8 million people, find keeping up with their credit card repayments a very or fairly large burden each month, highlighting the growing challenge of credit card debt across the UK. The research, conducted by YouGov on…
Read moreHoliday childcare costs across Great Britain have risen by 5% in the last year, leaving working parents facing an average bill of £191 per child per week – or £1,145 for the six-week summer holiday according to Coram Family and Childcare research. The survey finds that holiday childcare continues to cost almost three times as much as after-school childcare during…
Read moreThousands of people in financial crisis will get faster access to the help they need, thanks to a £900,000 technology boost to speed up debt relief order (DRO) applications. The new technology will allow debt advisers to send DRO cases directly to the Insolvency Service portal. The move will make the DRO application process more…
Read moreStepChange Debt Charity has welcomed the long-awaited Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) regulation coming into force on Wednesday this week (15th July), which will mean all BNPL products come under FCA regulation and include consumer protections in line with borrowing such as credit cards and personal loans. The charity has laid out what the changes…
Read moreRecent changes to Debt Relief Orders (DROs) have successfully enabled more people in financial difficulty to access debt relief, according to an Insolvency Service review. The review assessed the impact of the 2021 and 2024 reforms, which raised the maximum debt level, increased the asset allowances, and widened access for people with low incomes and low…
Read moreCredit Connect has published the annual 2026 Credit & Collections Industry Awards Review. The annual review highlights why the judges decided the winners at this year’s Industry Awards, which were announced in May in York. The review provides background and context for the award results, recognising companies for advancing industry standards and excellence. The review…
Read moreThe rising cost of everyday essentials is taking a growing toll on mental wellbeing, according to new research from cashback shopping app Tuck. Tuck surveyed more than 3,000 consumers and found that 40% of adults feel mentally exhausted by financial worries either every day or several times a week, while nearly one in five (18%)…
Read moreNew Resolution Foundation analysis has found that income gaps between different regions across Britain have remained resolutely high over the past thirty years, including during the pandemic upheaval and ‘levelling-up’ agenda, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing PM-in-waiting Andy Burnham as he seeks to tackle geographic inequality. The research shows that before-housing-cost income gaps…
Read moreCredit card defaults in the UK have surged to their highest level since the 2008 financial crisis. Bank of England data indicates a significant uptick in the number of people defaulting on credit card payments, the largest increase since 2009. The data shows a sharp rise in defaults on credit cards and other unsecured loans.…
Read moreMillions of people across the UK are still years away from recovering financially from the cost-of-living crisis, and the nation’s overall financial resilience level shows many households are still very exposed if prices rise for basics such as food, fuel and energy, according to new research from Royal London. The report highlights that one in…
Read moreCouncil tax arrears in the UK have reached £9.3 billion after rising by £1 billion over the past year, a 12% increase. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reported that England accounts for £7.4 billion of the total, with Scotland at £1.6 billion and Wales at £320 million. In the past five years,…
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