Call for common Code of Practice for all consumer collections

2nd March 2018 Alternative Consumer Lending |

Peter Wallwork, Chief Executive of the Credit Services Association (CSA) has again called for the adoption of a Code of Practice as the de facto best practice ‘standard’ across all sectors and organisations collecting consumer debts. Whereas agencies collecting financial services debts are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and adhere to the CSA Code,…

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Consumer credit grows by 9.3%

2nd March 2018 Arrears and Recoveries |

The Bank of England has today published its latest monthly Money and Credit report showing growth in consumer credit of 9.3 percent in the year to January 2018. Outstanding balances for consumer credit now stand at over £207.5 billion. Commenting on the latest figures Money Advice Trust Joanna Elson OBE, Chief Executive said “Whilst the…

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Northview appoints Chief Executive

28th February 2018 Appointments |

The Northview Group has appointed Mark Arnold as its new Chief Executive. Former Chief Executive Amany Attia stood down from the role last year. Northview includes the Kensington, New Street and Acenden brands. Arnold will officially join on 10th April. Northview Group executive chairman Tim Breedon says: “Mark has extensive experience and knowledge across financial…

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1% interest rate rise would add £10billion to the UK’s mortgage bill

27th February 2018 Arrears and Recoveries |

A one percent interest rate rise would add £10billion to the UK’s mortgage bill, ultimately adding £930 a year to the cost of servicing the average mortgage, according to new analysis from international property adviser, Savills. Four in 10 borrowers on variable rate mortgages would be first to feel the pain.  Their annual mortgage bill would…

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UK Finance publishes regional mortgage lending figures

21st February 2018 Consumer Collections |

UK Finance has today published its figures on regional lending trends for the UK mortgage market in 2017 Q4. The figures reveal that in both Scotland and Northern Ireland, the number of first-time buyers and remortgagers have reached their highest levels for a decade. Meanwhile, the Welsh mortgage market continues to grow at a steady…

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Money Statistics: February 2018

20th February 2018 Arrears and Recoveries |

Here is an overview of The Money Charity’s latest statistics for February 2018: Personal debt in the UK People in the UK owed £1.572 trillion at the end of December 2017. This is up from £1.512 trillion at the end of December 2016 – an extra £1,105.77 per UK adult. Per adult in the UK that’s an average…

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Home ownership less likely for young adults than two decades ago

19th February 2018 Consumer Collections | #featured

Today’s young adults are much less likely to own their own home than those in their place one or two decades ago according to a new report IFS research which looks at how and why homeownership rates have changed for young adults over the past twenty years. The biggest decline in homeownership has been among…

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Mortgage lending fell in December 2017

13th February 2018 Consumer Collections |

Mortgage lending for first-time buyers, home movers and buy to let purchases all fell in December 2017 compared to the previous year. UK Finance’s latest mortgage trends update reveals. However, 2017 overall saw the highest number of first-time buyers (365,000) since 2006. There were 30,800 new first-time buyer mortgages completed in December, 5.2 percent fewer…

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Half a million households at risk of negative equity

12th February 2018 Arrears and Recoveries |

A drop in the average UK house price of the scale seen in the last financial crisis would put nearly half a million households at risk of negative equity according to analysis by third-party mortgage servicer Computershare. Computershare has forecast that the value of 4.12% of properties – or approximately 458,000 households – would drop…

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Second charge mortgage new business volumes sees growth in 2017

9th February 2018 Arrears and Recoveries |

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that new business volumes in second charge mortgages continued to grow in 2017. Commenting on the 2017 new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Head of Consumer and Mortgage Finance at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said “Second charge…

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Consumer finance increased 6% in 2017

9th February 2018 Arrears and Recoveries |

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show growth of 6% in consumer finance new business in 2017. New business in December 2017 increased by 1% compared with the same month in 2016. Credit card and personal loan new business together grew by 6% in 2017, while retail store and online credit…

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Arrears and repossessions continue to fall

9th February 2018 Arrears and Recoveries |

Latest figures from UK Finance have revealed that the number of home-owners’ properties being repossessed fell to a 36-year low last year. In 2017, 4,700 owner-occupied mortgaged properties were repossessed – down from 5,300 in 2016. Meanwhile, the number of landlords behind on mortgage payments has risen by 20%, with 1,200 buy-to-let mortgages in “significant…

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Second Charge mortgage arrears fall to record low

8th February 2018 Arrears and Recoveries |

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that the number of second charge mortgage repossessions in 2017 was 105, 27% lower than in 2016. In the final quarter of 2017, the number of repossessions was 27, down by almost 31% compared with the same period in 2016. The rate of second…

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