Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has outlined new measures for Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) lending, which will aim to simplify information for borrowers whilst ensuring income checks and support for those in financial difficulty. Lenders must now be authorised and comply with the FCA’s Consumer Duty, ensuring clearer information on agreements and affordability checks.…
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Consumer confidence has now been negative for ten consecutive years, with the GfK index falling sharply again in January. Analysts describe a mood of resignation rather than panic, as inflation continues to outpace wage growth and households remain cautious. The prolonged pessimism is dampening entrepreneurial risk-taking and discretionary spending. The Consumer Confidence Index was up…
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Analysis of credit card data for November 2025 by global analytics software leader FICO has found that spending, balances and payments followed seasonal trends in the run-up to Christmas. However, while spending rose as expected during November, it was lower year-on-year, signalling continued pressure on household finances. Average balances resumed an upward trajectory as payment…
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Latest data from the Bank of England data has shown that net mortgage approvals for house purchase fell by 3,100 to 61,000 in December 2025. By contrast, approvals for remortgaging rose by 1,600 to 38,400 in December. Net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals remained unchanged when compared to November at £4.6 billion in December. The…
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Latest data from the Equity Release Council has found that the equity release market grew 11% in 2025, with total annual lending increasing from £2.3 billion in 2024 to £2.57 billion in 2025. More than a quarter of advisers responding to the Council’s latest survey (26 per cent) say customers are now using equity release…
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Consumer confidence has been in negative territory for the past ten years, according to a survey produced by GfK. The Consumer Confidence Index was up one point to -16 in January. Three measures were up, and two were down, compared to last month’s announcement. The figures showed a slight increase in sentiment amongst consumers. People…
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The gap between what aspiring homeowners can realistically afford and the actual cost of purchasing a home has widened significantly in recent years, according to the latest research by the Home Builders Federation (HBF). As a result, despite strong demand for housing, millions are unable to turn that demand into a purchase, with young people…
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Research by Pepper Money has found that more than 16 million people have now experienced adverse credit, showing that rising living costs and financial pressures are driving a sharp increase in credit struggles across the UK, the highest figure since the study began nine years ago. The data showed that adverse credit is now increasingly common…
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New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business grew in November 2025 by 3% compared with the same month in 2024. In the eleven months to November 2025, new business in this market was 5% higher than in the same period in 2024. The credit card and…
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New research from the Centre for Responsible Credit has highlighted how concerns around credit scores can prevent people in financial difficulty from seeking help and should be viewed as one aspect of financial health, not the entirety. Statistics from the report show that credit score concerns have stopped hard-up borrowers from seeking help: with industry-promoted…
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New research from Aegon has revealed that six in ten people (60%) in the UK feel positive about their finances for 2026, maintaining last year’s results which, in turn, were an improvement on the 2024 results. In total, 11% feel “extremely positive” and 49% “somewhat positive”, compared to 36% who feel negative overall. This year’s…
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New data from Premium Credit has shown that 44% of insurance customers are using credit or are reliant on finance from insurers and premium finance companies. The research showed that nearly six out of ten (57%) consumers use some form of credit to pay for one or more policies they have.. Whilst 44 per cent of…
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Financial confusion and overwhelm are quietly draining the wallets of millions of people, costing them hundreds of pounds annually. On average, people lost over £640 in the past year alone because they delayed major financial decisions, according to new research from financial education charity Money Ready. Left unchecked, these annual losses can add up: over £3,000…
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