Demsa

In today’s bulletin: General update FCA statement on motor finance review next steps FCA findings around their Consumer Support surveys Testing and reviewing communications with consumers Collaborations Training Events General update The UK economy (GDP) contracted ‘unexpectedly’ in January 2025 by 0.1%, which was weaker than forecast, driven mainly by a decline in the manufacturing sector. Economists had predicted the economy would grow by 0.1% in January, after 0.4% growth in December 2024. Monthly readings can be ‘volatile’, and the… Read more

In today’s bulletin: General update FCA reports on their vulnerability guidance The StepChange 2024 Impact Report Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVA) outcomes and providers 2024 Tackling scam calls FOS - Quarterly complaints data: Q3 2024/25  Collaborations FCA vulnerability event on 11/3/2025 General update One of the headlines last week was 'Chancellor set to cut welfare spending by billions' is unlikely to raise consumer confidence or be welcome news to those with low financial resilience. Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1lpjqg2mp5o We had an interesting discussion… Read more

In today’s bulletin: General update Consumer Understanding under the Consumer Duty FCA has found that financial advisers are delivering suitability reviews Collaborations FCA vulnerability event on 11/3/2025 General update I have steered FCA February 2025 Regulatory Round-up - Duty Champions I have posted that the FCA has published its February 2025 regulatory round-up, which includes the launch of MyFCA and confirmation that the FCA no longer expect firms to have a Consumer Duty Board Champion. This follows the FCA letter… Read more

In today’s bulletin: General update Consumer Understanding under the Consumer Duty Quality Assurance Frameworks under the Consumer Duty – 21/2/2025 New guide to assist people with additional support needs Personal Insolvency statistics – January 2025 Collaborations Events General update I have steered away from any Rachel Reeves stories this week as we have had a rebellion from FCA-regulated ‘complaint handlers’ being compared with ‘economists’. People Management has examined the wider implications of career history embellishments and false information after inconsistencies… Read more

In today’s bulletin: General update Quality Assurance Frameworks under the Consumer Duty – 21/2/2025 Consumer Understanding under the Consumer Duty Competency Assessments and Skill Gap Analyses to be an SMF Collaborations Events General update I was delighted to chair one of the Credit Strategy creditor roundtables on Monday last week. There was a strong focus on the Consumer Duty and the outcomes of IVAs. Creditor voting and IVA variations were ‘hot topics’. Future events: https://www.creditstrategy.co.uk/events/premium-roundtables The UK economy unexpectedly grew… Read more

In today’s bulletin: General update FCA QA survey for end of February 2025 – event on 21/2/2025 Charging CMCs from April 2025 FCA steps up action against misleading financial adverts Collaborations Events General update The Bank of England has halved its growth forecast for this year as it cut interest rates to the lowest level for more than 18 months. The Bank cut interest rates to 4.5% from 4.75%. At its meeting ending on 5 February 2025, the MPC voted… Read more