Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
New research by Age UK has found that 3.4 million (28%) pensioners, more than one in four, are struggling financially, and nearly half of them have been struggling for three years or more. Notably, a fifth (22%) of those struggling, equivalent to 740,000 aged 66+ said they have been struggling financially for more than five…
Read more
New research from debt management firm Lowell has revealed that on average, it takes families until mid-April (3.8 months) to clear their festive debt. The survey found that 74% of UK families relied on credit cards and Buy-Now-Pay-Later schemes to help cover the cost of Christmas. While some families have the luxury of being able…
Read more
Billpayers are set to benefit from a stronger energy regulator, under reforms of its remit set out by the Government. The transformation will empower the energy regulator, Ofgem, to ensure energy consumers are treated fairly, including measures to guarantee good market practice. This is the first major update to Ofgem’s scope since the regulator was…
Read more
While the use of AI in payments management continues to grow, the UK is proving slower to adopt AI solutions than its European peers, with skills gaps and regulatory uncertainty slowing progress according to new research by Intrum. Intrum’s European Payment Report, based on a survey of over 8,000 businesses in 20 markets, is produced…
Read more
Latest monthly statistics from the Insolvency Service have shown that business insolvencies and personal insolvencies rose in Northern Ireland in March 2026. The data showed that there were 35 company insolvencies registered in Northern Ireland, 21% higher than in March 2025. The insolvencies comprised of 25 compulsory liquidations, nine CVLs and one CVA. There were…
Read more
Latest monthly figures from the Insolvency Service for England & Wales have indicated that personal insolvencies increased by 3% when compared to February 2026 and 30% higher than in March 2025, totalling 12,252 personal insolvencies The insolvencies consisted of 654 bankruptcies, 4,523 debt relief orders (DROs) and 7,075 individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs). T The 7,075 IVAs registered…
Read more
The Government has announced that is it modernising rules around council tax debt collection, as the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government responded to their modernisation consultation. The Government announced that the timeframe before a person loses the right to pay in instalments will be extended from one missed payment to three, and at…
Read more
Rising energy prices caused by the war in the Middle East will cause a drop in living standards for households, according to new analysis by the Resolution Foundation Despite some lower-income households receiving a long-overdue real-terms increase in their benefits, we now estimate – based on market-forecasts for the rise in energy prices consistent with…
Read more
Latest data from the Bank of England has found that loan defaults have risen to 6.2% in early 2026, the highest since late 2024 (7.8 per cent), when the UK had seen several hikes in interest rates. Unsecured lending defaults hit 18.6% in Q1 this year, the highest figure since the last quarter of 2023.…
Read more
Credit Connect has announced the shortlist of companies and partnerships for this year’s third annual Credit & Collections Industry Awards. The finalists for this year’s awards consist of 108 entrants (whittled down from nearly 115 entries) from nearly 80 companies within the shortlist. There are over 20 partnership entries in the running to win across…
Read more
Two thirds (64%) of couples claim higher living costs is making money a bigger issue in their relationship according to new research from Hymans Robertson Personal Wealth. Despite this, less than half (46%) say they know how much their partner earns and only 14% of couples say they regularly discuss their finances together, suggesting many…
Read more
New Barclays research shows that a long‑standing reluctance to talk about money continues to affect how confidently adults manage their household finances. While many avoid financial conversations – often reflecting attitudes shaped in childhood – there is growing recognition that being more open can make a real difference. With six in ten adults (59 per…
Read more
Ofgem’s latest debt and arrears data shows that total energy debt has risen once again and now stands at a record £4.55 billion for the period to the end of 2025, up 18% year on year. As essential bills like gas and electricity continue to drive the cost of living crisis, StepChange reveals that client…
Read more