Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
Rising energy costs, supply chain disruption and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict are already impacting the majority of UK businesses with two thirds (66 per cent) reporting experiencing energy and fuel cost pressures, while shipping and logistics costs (43 per cent) are also weighing on margins. According to the latest Barclays…
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Energy regulator, Ofgem has announced a new requirement for suppliers to offer at least one lower standing charge tariff to their customers. The regulator has published a consultation on requirements for suppliers to offer a lower standing charge tariffs.. Under the plans, these tariffs would be available to customers in every region of Great Britain…
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More than two million households say they won’t turn on their heating this winter, an increase of a fifth (22%) compared with last year, according to new research from Uswitch. People who live alone are most likely to take drastic action, with one in ten solitary dwellers (10%) avoiding using the heating altogether. While households…
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The Government has announced new proposals to introduce an Open Banking-style data sharing scheme in the energy sector. The scheme aims to give consumers could get greater control over their energy usage and save money on their bills under plans for an energy smart data scheme. Smart data is the process of securely sharing customers’ data, such…
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New Age UK analysis reveals that shockingly high numbers of pensioners living below or just above the poverty line – 82% or four in every five are set to lose their Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) as a result of the Government’s policy change. This includes huge numbers of older people who are aged over 80, disabled,…
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New Which? research has found energy and broadband customers lost an estimated £298m and 27.3 million hours to poor customer service in a year, as the consumer champion challenges firms to make urgent improvements. Which? surveyed more than 4,000 people to uncover how many people had a customer service issue in the year to May…
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With energy prices set to rise 10% in October, new research from Go.Compare Energy has revealed that half of consumers (51%) would consider switching energy providers to manage the cost of their bills, with one in four (25%) actively looking for a new tariff. The new Price Cap will increase from £1,568 to £1,717. Ahead…
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Scottish Power Energy Retail says it will pay £1.5 million in refunds and compensation after it charged customers above the price cap during the height of the energy crisis. Ofgem agreed the redress package after the supplier confirmed that between 2015 and 2023, it mistakenly overcharged 1,699 direct debit customers a higher rate, which should…
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A consultation on how to develop the price cap so customers remain protected as the energy market evolves to a smarter, more flexible system has been launched by Ofgem. The price cap, along with the temporary ban on acquisition-only tariffs, have worked well to protect customers from the ‘loyalty penalty’ where customers on default tariffs…
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Chief Executive Officer’s of Energy suppliers have been reminded of their responsibility to treat customers fairly when installing involuntary prepayment meters, ‘Pay as you Go’ meters, and that they must follow Ofgem’s new rules or face tough action and fines. The warning from Ofgem’s Director General for Markets, Tim Jarvis, in a letter, comes as…
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6.5 million people in the UK (14 percent) will struggle to heat their homes as much as they need this Christmas due to the impact of the cost of living, according to findings from National Debtline. The findings show 2.7 million people (5 percent) are having to choose between buying food or presents and four…
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Latest data from, energy efficiency platform, Snugg has found that many people feel they are wasting money on energy bills because of their home’s poor energy efficiency. And while most would like to make their home more efficient, there is mass confusion over how and what help is available. The research found that 32% feel…
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Ofgem has announced that energy suppliers have been banned from forcibly installing prepayment meters for people over 75 with no support in their house and homes with children aged under 2, The energy regulator has confirmed that the Code of Practice for the involuntary installation of prepayment meters (PPMs) will be made mandatory. It has…
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