FEATURE: A customer-centric approach to collections

13th October 2017 Consumer Collections |

How cloud technology can improve collections performance In today’s world, few consumers are immune to the risk of personal debt. The uncertain nature of the global economy is creating a new breed of debtor, in the form of a consumer who has temporarily fallen on hard times, after living their whole lives as reliable bill-payers.…

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Credit card debt among over-55s reaches a six-year high

12th October 2017 Consumer Collections |

Research data by Aviva has shown that credit card debt among the over-55s has reached a six year high of £1,052, up 9% since last year and the highest level since Aviva began collecting the data in 2011. The findings come from its latest Real Retirement Report series, which suggests that both secured and unsecured debts are…

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Vanquis fined by ICO over spam messages

11th October 2017 Consumer Collections |

Vanquis Bank is among the latest firms to be fined by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for sending illegal marketing texts and emails. Vanquis Bank based in Bradford, instigated a campaign to send 870,849 spam text messages and 620,000 spam emails to promote its credit cards. Both the emails and texts broke the law because…

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Half a million people will enter poverty if benefits freeze

10th October 2017 Consumer Collections |

Latest research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has highlighted how a benefits freeze will affect families- the majority of which are in work. The freeze is the single biggest policy driver behind the expected rise in poverty by the end of the Parliament. JRF is calling for the Government to target its resources better…

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Consumer finance increases by 4% in August

6th October 2017 Consumer Collections |

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business in August grew by 4% compared with the same month last year. Credit card and personal loan new business together grew by 4% compared with August 2016, while retail store and online credit new business increased by 7%. Second…

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Payment system operator appoints Board

5th October 2017 Consumer Collections |

The UK’s new payment system operator has announced the appointment of its first five Board members: Anna Bradley – Chair, Rail Safety and Standards Board Becky Clements – Head of Industry Engagement and Payment Change at Metro Bank Russell Saunders – Managing Director Global Payments at Lloyds Banking Group Peter Wyman – Chairman, Care Quality Commission…

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Millennials feel that ‘pay as you go lifestyle’ is their only option

2nd October 2017 Consumer Collections |

Research from independent car buying site, carwow, reveals that nine in ten Millennials are renting or leasing modern day essentials such as cars, homes and mobile phones because it’s the only way to afford to them.  Due to soaring living costs, a poll of 2,000 car owners by carwow shows that one in two millennials…

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New Payment System Operator appoints Chief Executive

28th September 2017 Consumer Collections |

Paul Horlock has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the UK’s new payment system operator, which has been established to develop the capability and capacity of the UK’s retail payment systems, which between them process over £6.4 trillion pounds of payments every year. Horlock has worked in the banking sector for over 15 years,…

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Outdated assessments push consumer debt off track

28th September 2017 Consumer Collections |

Among growing concerns about high consumer debt levels in the UK, a new study finds that almost a third of credit card and personal loan debt – up to £35bn – is sitting with people who are deemed to have low financial maturity. Aire, which uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to help lenders provide applicants…

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FCA rejects Labour Credit Card cap

27th September 2017 Consumer Collections |

The  FCA has rejected calls to cap interest rates charged on credit cards saying that planned measures to help people avoid excessive debt should be given time to work. Speaking at Reuters Financial Regulation Summit Andrew Bailey, Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority said “We are not there at the moment,” said in response…

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BOE warns of consumer credit pocket of risk

26th September 2017 Consumer Collections |

The Bank of England’s (BoE) Financial Policy Committee (FPC) has said that lenders are creating pockets of risk by placing too much weight on recent benign conditions. In a statement from its policy meeting on 20 September 2017, the BoE said that the overall credit quality of consumer credit has improved significantly since the financial crisis.…

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Industry reaction: RBS delays low rate credit card launch

26th September 2017 Consumer Collections |

RBS has announced its plans to postpone the introduction of cut-price credit cards and the Labour Party has pledged to back legislation limiting the amount of interest that can be charged on credit card debt. Key industry groups have responded to the developments in the consumer credit landscape. Steve McNicholas, Managing Director – Credit and…

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Rising debt levels highlight the struggle to cover household bills

20th September 2017 Consumer Collections |

Rising debt levels and the continued struggle to meet essential household bills are among the key findings from the latest statistical research released today by StepChange Debt Charity. The Statistics Mid-Year Book which examines the latest trends from the charity’s client data, highlights how increasing numbers of the under-40s, lone parents and people in rented…

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