Credit, collections & insolvency news
Support for vulnerable people to access banking, build savings and improve financial resilience were part of discussions after Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq hosted the first meeting of the new Financial Inclusion Committee. Made up of consumer groups and financial institutions, the focus is on tackling financial exclusion will discuss ways to provide individuals with poor…
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National debt advice agency PayPlan has announced it has joined forces with the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) to warn people about the dangers of borrowing from loan sharks in the run-up to Christmas. The IMLT is a national organisation, hosted by Birmingham City Council, that was set up 20 years ago to investigate…
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Latest Data from the Bank of England shows that UK lenders approved the most mortgages in more than two years in October, with 68,300 home loans given the green light. This was the highest monthly total since August 2022 and compares to 66,115 approvals in September. While brokers had been anticipating a rebound in activity…
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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found that while life insurers provide good service to bereaved customers, they need to settle claims quicker and improve how they measure customer experience. The multi-firm review found evidence of good practice, such as firms providing additional support for claimants throughout what is a difficult time for them. The…
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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced that it plans to extend the deadline for lenders to respond to customer complaints regarding car loan mis-selling. A court ruling last month deemed it unlawful for lenders to pay undisclosed commissions to car dealers, leading to a surge in complaints. The FCA is considering extending the response…
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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has started criminal proceedings against four individuals for conspiracy to commit false accounting, with three of them facing further charges for fraud. Terry Dodd, John Riley and Brian Flanagan have been charged with fraudulently abusing their positions as directors of the Dial-A-Cab Credit Union for their own personal gain. …
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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has banned Mr Ari Harris from working in financial services. In July 2020, Mr Harris was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent after stabbing a man twice in the neck. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment in July 2022. Mr Harris and Reeds Motors Ltd…
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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced that it will consult on extending the time firms have to respond to consumer complaints about motor finance where a non-discretionary commission was involved, and for consumers to refer them to the Financial Ombudsman Service. The proposals are expected to be published within two weeks and, if taken…
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In response to last month’s Court of Appeal ruling affecting commission disclosure practices, the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB) has swiftly enhanced its support for ,embers by issuing revised compliance templates and offering targeted guidance. The trade association’s proactive approach has included tactical support from the outset and culminated in the revision of…
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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fined Metro Bank £16.75 million. An FCA investigation found that between June 2016 and December 2020, Metro Bank failed to have the right systems and controls to adequately monitor over 60 million transactions, with a value of over £51 billion, for money laundering risks. Metro Bank automated the monitoring of…
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The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted to cut the base rate by 0.25% to 4.75%. MPC voted 8-1 to cut rates, with the dissenter preferring to leave cuts unchanged at 5%. Inflation is expected to increase to around 2.5% by the end of the year, from 1.7% in September. Steve Vaid,…
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The Government has published new guidance that will provide organisations with advice on how to take action to prevent fraud. Introduced last year as part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCT), the offence is intended to hold large organisations to account if they profit from fraud. Under the offence, which has cross-Parliament…
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The Government has announced that it plans to increase the cap on tuition fees for England-domiciled undergraduate students from £9,250 to £9,535 for the 2025-26 academic year. This is in line with the Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest forecast for inflation as measured by RPIX (3.1%). This ends a long-running cash freeze in the fee…
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