Credit & Collections Spring Series 2026 review

Credit Connect hosted its second annual Spring Series of events at the end of May at Eastwood Hall Hotel in Nottingham. The event opened with the first-ever Industry Leaders networking dinner, which hosted 60 attendees who have been nominated and ratified by Credit Connect’s Industry Leaders partner associations: CIVEA, CICM, CCUA, CCTA, Cifas and Registry…

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One in five regret their spending beyond their means

A fifth of adults in the UK are feeling constant ‘financial regret’ over their spending habits, with pressures felt particularly strongly by younger generations, according to research from Hymans Robertson Personal Wealth. The poll found that more than a fifth (21%) of people said they regret overspending on “consumables” such as clothes and meals out,…

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One in four young people gamble to pay bills

Eight in ten gamblers aged 18-24 (83%) will bet more frequently in 2026 due to major sporting events like the World Cup, with a quarter (25%) doing so to help cover essential bills, according to new research from Nationwide. By comparison, less than half (37 per cent) of those over 55 expect to gamble more.…

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One in three workers have had to create extra income to make ends meet

New consumer survey and spending data from the Vanquis Financial Wellbeing Index has revealed that one in three workers earning under £40,000 are creating additional income streams to make ends meet. At the same time, households continue saving less than £3 in every £100 earned. Despite widespread efforts to manage money carefully, many households simply…

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Energy price cap will rise by 13% from July

Energy regulator Ofgem has announced a 13% increase in the energy price cap for the period covering 1st July to 30th September 2026. The price cap refers to the default tariff applied when a customer has not signed for a fixed-rate tariff. It sets a maximum rate per unit and a standing charge that can…

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Brits expected to rack up £1.6k in debt this summer

Research conducted by Updraft has revealed that Brits are expected to accumulate an average of £1,641 in credit card debt over the summer months, with many falling into the trap of overspending, missing grace periods and accruing interest. In fact, for some, summer 2025 spending may not even be paid off yet. Updraft surveyed 2,002…

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Over half of Scots hit by problem debt

Over half (57%) of Scots have experienced problem debt, new research suggests, underlining the scale of financial pressure facing households as a new Scottish Parliament gets underway. New Censuswide polling commissioned by StepChange Scotland reveals 57% of adults in Scotland have a lived experience of problem debt, with almost two in five (38%) saying they…

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Households feel poorer as financial pressures mount

Research from St James’s Place has shown that average household wealth has fallen 17.5% over the last year, dropping from £126,482 to £104,329. More than a third of people said their financial position has worsened over the last twelve months, while one in five households now say they are struggling financially. The data finds that…

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British Gas to pay customer settlement after force-fitting of prepayment meters

Energy regulator Ofgem has announced it closed its investigation into British Gas on its treatment of customers who had a prepayment meter (PPM) installed without their permission, with consumers set to benefit from the settlement agreement made with the regulator. Ofgem’s investigation concluded that British Gas failed to meet the standards required of an energy…

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Water companies trust hits a new low as worries over bills deepen

Water companies are failing to win back customers’ trust amid deepening concerns over the fairness and affordability of water bills, a new report has revealed. Trust in water companies across England and Wales has reached a new low, according to the Consumer Council for Water’s (CCW) annual Water Matters report, which has been tracking household…

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Half of adults who live alone say they could struggle with unexpected bills

More than half (58%) of adults who are single or live alone say they could not cope with an unexpected bill of £850 according to new research by Aviva According to the research, people who live alone spend on average a little over £630 a month on essential costs, such as food/ groceries, transport, council…

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One in four pensioners are struggling financially

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…

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4.3m households still paying off Christmas debt

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…

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