FCA publishes terms and definitions for payment accounts

2nd May 2018 Consumer Collections |

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published the final list of the most representative services linked to a payment account and subject to a fee within the meaning of Regulation 3 of the Payment Accounts Regulations. The move is part of the EU Payment Accounts Directive’s goal to improve the transparency and comparability of fee…

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Consolidation of three UK Payment System Operators confirmed

1st May 2018 Consumer Collections |

The New Payment System Operator (NPSO) has confirmed that it has now taken over responsibility for the operation of two of the UK’s retail payment systems – Bacs and Faster Payments. The successful consolidation of the three operators has been a key focus for both the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) and the Bank of England.…

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Consumer credit data indicates monthly slowdown in lending rate growth

1st May 2018 Consumer Collections |

The Bank of England has published its latest monthly Money and Credit report showing consumer credit growth was 8.6 percent in the year to March 2018, down from 9.4 percent in February. Outstanding balances for consumer credit stand at £209.2 billion exceeding the previous quarterly peak of £208.2 billion in the third quarter of 2008. The…

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CSA announces line up of speakers for UKCCC

1st May 2018 Consumer Collections |

The Credit Services Association (CSA), the voice of the UK debt collection and debt purchase sectors, has confirmed the line-up of speakers for this year’s UK Credit and Collections Conference (UKCCC). Two senior executives from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – Roma Pearson (Head of Consumer Credit) and Richard Fox (Head of Cross-Sectorial & Funds…

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Ireland Money and Banking Statistics: March 2018

30th April 2018 Consumer Collections |

Ireland’s Central Bank has released its latest money and banking statistics for March 2018. The figures show that lending for house purchase increased by €184 million.  This represents the fifth consecutive month of positive annual growth. Other highlights include: Developments in Household credit and deposits Loans to households, adjusted for loan sales and securitisations, declined…

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Consumers turn to credit cards and overdrafts as wages are stretched

30th April 2018 Consumer Collections |

Millions of consumers feel they are ‘living beyond their means’, a study has found. Researchers discovered a large percentage of the nation fall back on credit cards and overdrafts when wages fail to last until the end of the month according to new research by Vantage Leasing. Of the 2,000 Consumer surveyed, 43 percent have…

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Labour announces pledge to cap overdraft and interest fees

30th April 2018 Consumer Collections |

The Shadow Chancellor has announced Labour’s plans to place a cap on the total amount that can be paid in overdraft fees or interest payments. The move is supported by campaigners, such as actor Michael Sheen, Labour’s says it plans will help an estimated 2.7 million people who according to the Financial Conduct Authority are…

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UK card spend decreases

27th April 2018 Consumer Collections |

Latest update figures on household finance by UK Finance indicates that card spending was 1.2 percent lower than in March 2017 with repayments outstripping new lending in the first quarter of 2018. Outstanding levels of credit card borrowing have grown by 5.8 per cent over the year. Gross mortgage lending in March is estimated to have…

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DWP figures confirm 80,000 consumers have had mortgage help stopped

26th April 2018 Consumer Collections |

More than 80,000 people have had their mortgage help stopped according to the first official figures released since changes were made to the Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) scheme. The figures issued on 24 April show only 18,000 claimants out of a caseload of 103,000 have opted to continue to receive SMI under a new…

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Morses Club latest company results show 17% revenue increase

26th April 2018 Consumer Collections |

The UK’s second largest home collected credit Morses Club has announced its preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended 24 February 2018. Commenting on the results Paul Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Morses Club, said “We are very pleased to report that FY18 was an even stronger year for Morses Club, reflecting our continued success in serving…

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PRA rule change limits Lender choice for portfolio landlords

26th April 2018 Consumer Collections |

Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) rules introduced at the end of September 2017 are having a significant impact on the buy-to-let mortgage market according to Paragon’s latest PRS Trends research. The research is based on interviews with 203 experienced landlords in Q1 2018. The new rules comprise the second phase of the PRA’s buy-to-let underwriting standards and…

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Irish redress payments reach €459 million

25th April 2018 Consumer Collections |

The Irish Central Bank has published its April update on the Tracker Mortgage Examination, showing that, at end-March, banks and smaller lenders had paid out €459 million to customers affected by their failings. This is an increase of €162 million since the December update on the Examination. The update also showed that an additional 3,400…

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Illegal Lenders to face crackdown

25th April 2018 Consumer Collections |

Illegal lending loan sharks will face a fresh new crackdown today as the government announces new funding to tackle unlawful lending. Over £5.5 million will be spent to fund the fight against loan sharks, helping to investigate and prosecute illegal lenders and support their victims. 100,000 of money already seized from loan sharks will also…

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