Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
LegalTech business ME Group, which solves complex legal disputes using technology, has called for the government to ensure that lenders do not use the recent Bank of England interest-rate cut to boost profits at the expense of borrowers on standard variable rate (SVR) mortgages. ME Group CEO Rob Cooper said that when the Bank took…
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The three major credit reference agencies (CRAs), Experian, Equifax and TransUnion have confirmed that consumer credit scores will be protected when people have agreed ‘payment holidays’ in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Payment holidays refer to a pause agreed between an individual and their lender on regular loan payments. Earlier this month…
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Global information and insights provider TransUnion, has found that three out of five (59%) households are already being negatively financially impacted by the COVID-19 virus, according to a new study. The findings contrasts with research commissioned just before the outbreak for TransUnion’s Consumer Credit 2020 report, where 60% of consumers had stated they had the…
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New figures from debt charity StepChange have revealed that thousands of households’ finances are at breaking point as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. The research reveals just how vulnerable people are to changes in personal circumstances with three out of four new clients identified a life event or income shock as the main reason for…
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The Bank of England’s latest money statistics show that the net flow of consumer credit was £0.9 billion in February. There was no additional borrowing on credit cards. Net mortgage borrowing by households hit £4bn, the same total as in January, giving an annual growth rate of 3.5 per cent. Meanwhile, mortgage approvals for house…
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Here is an overview of The Money Charity’s latest statistics for March 2020 Personal debt in the UK People in the UK owed £1,680 billion at the end of January 2020. The average total debt per household, including mortgages, was £60,363 and per adult was £31,845, around 112% of average earnings. Net mortgage lending rose…
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Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has urged the Government to go further to protect people on low incomes from the impact of coronavirus. The Government has rightly committed to several bold and compassionate measures that will offer security to many businesses and employees. But new data published today by the DWP shows that the country entered…
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Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds have become the first major banks to review overdraft charges, as it aims to help customers struggling financially through the coronavirus crisis. Barclays will waive overdraft charges for a fixed period while Lloyds Banking Group and HSBC are increasing fee-free overdraft buffers to £300. Barclays account holders will have any interest…
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New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that FLA members provided £11.1 billion of new business in January 2020, 2% higher than in the same month in 2019. Growth was driven by the consumer finance sector which reported new business up by 4% compared with January 2019. It was a…
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The TUC has called on the government to provide urgent aid to Britain’s five million self-employed workers. A new report published today says the current measures in place for self-employed workers are “inadequate” with many facing severe hardship over the coming months. The report calls on ministers to extend the wage subsidy scheme announced on…
Read moreThe spending limit for contactless card payments will be increased from £30 to £45, with a national roll-out beginning from 1st April 2020, UK Finance has announced. The decision to raise the limit was taken following consultation between the retail sector and the finance and payments industry and follows similar increases in several other European…
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The latest quarterly Moneyfacts UK Credit Card Trends Treasury Report, which studies the UK personal finance market (unsecured personal loans, credit cards and overdrafts), highlights that average unsecured personal loan rates have increased, with the lower tiers particularly impacted over the last quarter. In the past quarter, tiers to have seen average rates rise include…
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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published new guidance for mortgage lenders and administrators and small business lenders. This supports the announcements made by the Chancellor earlier this week. The new mortgage guidance makes clear that firms should grant customers a payment holiday for an initial period of 3 months, where they may experience payment…
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