Water, energy and broadband regulators should do more to fulfil their critical role in supporting consumers struggling to afford their bills. In a new report, following an inquiry informed by evidence from expert witnesses Martin Lewis, Citizens Advice and the Consumer Council for Water, the PAC lacks confidence that water regulator Ofwat, energy regulator Ofgem…
Read moreNeil Jinks has been appointed Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM) and re-elected Chair of the Civil Court Users Association (CCUA), marking a significant week in his long-standing service to the credit profession and civil justice community. His appointment as CICM Vice President follows the completion of his term as Chair…
Read moreHaboo Money, the adaptive engagement layer for consumer credit, has announced a partnership with motor finance lender Finclusion. The partnership introduces a more flexible digital repayment experience for Finclusion customers, designed around how people are actually paid rather than around a fixed monthly date. At a time of increasing financial volatility, traditional lending systems can…
Read moreLatest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have shown that the UK economy grew in July, despite the impact of the Iran war. The data showed a 0.4 per cent increase in gross domestic product, compared with 0.3 per cent in June. The warm weather and World Cup were cited by some businesses…
Read moreFood and non-alcoholic drink inflation is expected to reach nearly 4% (3.9%) by December 2026, according to the latest Food Inflation Forecast from The Food and Drink Federation (FDF). Consumers are expected to feel the hit of the conflict in Iran and climate-related events – including El Niño and this summer’s droughts across the UK and Europe…
Read moreThe Institute of Directors is calling on the Chancellor to focus on restoring business confidence in his next budget, encouraging private investment and creating the conditions for stronger long-term economic growth. The IoD argues that while the UK economy has delivered stronger growth than many comparable advanced economies in recent years, persistent weaknesses in investment,…
Read moreMore than six million people who expect to pay housing costs in retirement don’t know how they’ll afford them, according to the latest research from Royal London. The research found that around one in three UK adults (34%), equivalent to 18.7 million people, either expect to pay housing costs in retirement or are already doing so. Four in ten (39%) of the approximately 16…
Read moreA taxi driver who ‘cynically exploited’ a Covid loan scheme to buy a flat in Turkey and a pizza oven has been ordered to repay more than £60,000. Murat Dogantekin had a confiscation order of £63,790 made against him at Exeter Crown Court. The order reflects the value of assets identified by Insolvency Service financial…
Read moreConsumer spending reached a 13-month high in August, driven by a resurgence in entertainment and travel, according to analysis by Barclays. Card spending grew by 2.1 % year-on-year in August, building on July’s 2.0 % increase, but remaining below the latest CPIH inflation rate of 3.1 %. Both essential and non-essential spending increased 2.1 %,…
Read moreLatest Mortgage Lenders and Administrators Statistics for Quarter 2 data from the Bank of England, have shown that low-deposit mortgages hit their highest share in 18 years. The data also showed that the value of outstanding mortgage balances with arrears decreased by 1.9% from the previous quarter to £19.7 billion, the lowest since 2023 Q3,…
Read moreFraud prevention service, Cifas, has announced that Companies House is joining the National Fraud Database (NFD) membership. Identity fraud continues to be the most prevalent fraud type recorded to the NFD, accounting for 59% of all cases during the first half of 2026. With criminals increasingly using false or stolen identities, Companies House’s participation in…
Read moreA London hotelier who blamed the banks for not chasing him over repayments has been sentenced after securing £450,000 in Covid loans at the height of the pandemic. Richard Courtenay’s nine Bounce Back Loan applications in May and June 2020 involved fraudulent declarations about the turnover of five companies and applying for multiple loans when…
Read moreMoney Wellness, four MPs and twelve organisations are leading a call to make the public insolvency register private. Someone fleeing an abusive partner who needs help with their debts can have their name, date of birth and home address published on the Government’s Individual Insolvency Register. The register is publicly accessible for anyone to search.…
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