Category: Debts

  • UK credit card debt hits record high

    Consumers borrowed £1.5bn net in February — the highest monthly figure since statistics began in 1993 UK consumers borrowed a record amount in February, with some economists saying it was a sign of the cost of living crisis hitting wallets even before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushed energy prices higher. Individuals borrowed a net £1.5bn…

  • Warning as millions of taxpayers owe money to HMRC – are you affected?

    TAX debt is now more than double pre-pandemic levels with the National Audit Office (NAO) today warning the HMRC may struggle in dealing with the workload of collection. Up to 2.4 million taxpayers are thought to be in debt to HMRC since the pandemic with a total debt of £42billion in September according to the…

  • Bailiffs return but are told not to shout

    A report from BBC News has reported Bailiffs that are resuming operations in England and Wales are being told to keep their voices down to protect against coronavirus transmission. They will be chasing unpaid council tax after a five-month suspension. Debt charities have warned of a surge in cases, prompting financial and health risks. But…

  • Five rules bailiffs have to follow when they visit homes following the pandemic

    Bailiffs are now able to approach debtors’ homes over repayments for fines, traffic offences, unpaid council tax and other outstanding penalties. The guidance, which has been published by the Ministry of Justice, outlines that goods can still be seized during the pandemic. But the procedure of bailiffs coming to visit people’s homes is now different from…

  • How to approach rental arrears in a COVID world

    In the wake of COVID-19, local councils and housing providers have been jolted into finding new ways of delivering services and interacting with their tenants – especially when it comes to income collection and rent arrears. Increasingly, we’re seeing providers employ innovative strategies while moving from debt recovery to support provision. Behavioural insights tell us…

  • Your options when a debt becomes overdue

    Once an invoice exceeds its credit terms, the likelihood of collecting the debt decreases as it grows older, which is why it’s worrying to see that 30% of businesses now classify more than 10% of their debtor book as over 90 days old. DIY Firstly, if you have a dedicated credit control team in house…

  • WHAT HAPPENS IF A SERVICE CHARGE DISPUTE IS TAKEN TO COUNTY COURT

    Sometimes, despite the best efforts of property managers, service charge arrears continue to be a problem in blocks where property owners find themselves in financial difficulties, or they are simply unwilling to pay. In cases where demand letters are ignored and payment deadlines missed there is often no option other than to take matters to…

  • Over Half a Million UK companies in financial distress

    A recent survey from redflaghalert has suggest that there has been a significant increase in businesses experiencing critical distress; 2,289 companies are now in this category. Between Q4 2019 and Q1 2020, the increases in certain sectors have been dramatic: Bars and restaurants: +37% Real estate and property: +21% Construction: +11% Retail: +8% Manufacturing: +8%…