Tesco cancels credit cards after fraud concerns

9th March 2018 Consumer Collections |

Tesco Bank has cancelled some of its customers’ credit cards, after concerns that a number of accounts may have been compromised. The bank said that only a tiny number of its three million credit card users would be affected, and apologised for the inconvenience. A Tesco Bank spokesman said “We take the security of our customers’ accounts…

Read more

FLA launches motor finance apprenticeship

8th March 2018 Consumer Collections |

The Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), working alongside employers in a Trailblazer group, has launched its Motor Finance Specialist apprenticeship to offer employment and training opportunities to those entering one of the UK’s fastest growing sectors. A new section on the FLA’s website provides all the necessary information that firms will need to get their…

Read more

Irish watchdog wants regulation of firms offering PCP finance

7th March 2018 Consumer Collections |

Irish regulator, The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has published a detailed report analysing the Personal Contract Plan (PCP) car finance market. Prompted by the growing popularity of this type of finance, the large sums of money involved and the complexity of the agreements, the CCPC began a study of the market in July…

Read more

New data reveals young people at risk of ID fraud

7th March 2018 Consumer Collections |

Fraud prevention service, Cifas, has released new figures showing stark increases in the number young people acting as ‘money mules’ and those falling victim to identity fraud.  The data has been released to coincide with the launch of new anti-fraud lessons plans, developed by Cifas, in association with the PSHE Association, the national body for…

Read more

Mann Island Finance announces MD appointment

2nd March 2018 Consumer Collections |

Mann Island Finance has announced that Head of Sales John Hughes has been appointed as Managing Director of the business. Hughes replaces Jo Jenner who has now moved to a new role at parent Investec. Hughes has been part of the team that sold the business to Investec in 2014,and will be taking the lead…

Read more

Call for common Code of Practice for all consumer collections

2nd March 2018 Consumer Collections |

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,…

Read more

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…

Read more

Responsible Finance calls for credit reference agencies to support financial inclusion

2nd March 2018 Consumer Collections |

Credit reference agencies are using traditional credit scoring methods that are out of sync with modern financial life and that fail to accurately capture the creditworthiness of many people according to research released by trade body Responsible Finance. As a result, consumers are either completely financially excluded or pay a premium for credit. Responsible Finance…

Read more

Morses Club announces latest preliminary results

1st March 2018 Consumer Collections |

Home collected credit provider Morses Club has announced its trading update for the 52-week period to 24 February 2018. Trading performance for the period has been strong and is in line with the Board’s expectations. Total credit issued was up 21% to £174.3m compared to the prior year (FY 2017: £144.1m) with a strong increase in the Company’s gross…

Read more

Citizens Advice calls for action on high-cost credit

1st March 2018 Consumer Collections |

Citizens Advice has called on the Government to act on high-cost credit. Matthew Upton, Head of Consumer Policy at Citizens Advice, will give evidence to the Government’s Treasury Committee as part of its inquiry into household finances today (Thursday 1st March). The national charity says households are facing growing insecurity due to more unpredictable incomes…

Read more

Payment Systems Regulator announces plans to protect payment scam victims

1st March 2018 Consumer Collections |

The Payment Systems Regulator has announced the outcome of its consultation on introducing a contingent reimbursement model for victims of authorised push payment (APP) scams. An industry code will be in place by September 2018, paving the way for victims of APP scams to have better protection. The consultation, which ran from November 2017 to January 2018,…

Read more

Holmesdale Building Society announces Skipton merge plans

28th February 2018 Consumer Collections |

The Board of Holmesdale Building Society today announces it has agreed on on terms to merge with Skipton, the UK’s fourth largest building society. Subject to approval by its members and confirmation by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), the merger is expected to become effective on in October 2018. Full details of the proposed merger…

Read more

Provident Financial confirms £300m rights issue

28th February 2018 Consumer Collections |

Provident Financial has confirmed it is looking to raise around £300m to shore up its finances and meet the costs of FCA investigations into its credit card and car finance arms. As part of its latest company results Provident said its Moneybarn division continues to cooperate with the FCA in its ongoing investigation into affordability,…

Read more