DEMSA Column: Insolvency stats / StepChange stats / ICO / Collaborations / Events

In today’s bulletin: General update Utility event – 9 October 2025 Personal insolvency stats – July 2025 StepChange debt statistics – July 2025 Collaborations Events   General update At a headline level, we continue to see ideas ‘floated’ by the government around how to raise more money. The disturbing part about this, impacting consumer confidence, is meddling with pensions, your home and other aspects of passing down legacies from one generation to another for ordinary households. The definition of a… Read more

Insights ¦ Debt strategy A ‘reset’ and ‘reform’ for customers in debt

Published by: Ofgem Search for original: Link Key Take Aways The energy sector is experiencing unprecedented levels of debt due to the recent energy crisis, necessitating bespoke rather than generic solutions. A potential debt relief scheme, targeting vulnerable consumers, could involve a £0.5 to 1bn fund aimed at resetting accumulated debt and restoring financial stability. The current handling of debt by energy suppliers is inconsistent, highlighting a need for standardised standards, including a proposed ‘debt guarantee’ and ‘debt outcome’. An… Read more

Insights ¦ Consultation – Consumer involvement rule

Published by: Ofwat – Water Services Regulation Authority Search for original: Link Key Take Aways The UK water regulator, Ofwat, is introducing a new consumer involvement rule as part of the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 to enhance accountability and trust in the sector. The rule mandates water companies to establish arrangements for involving consumers in decisions that are likely to have a material impact on consumer matters. This initiative aims to address low public trust, underinvestment, pollution issues, and… Read more

Insights ¦ Motor Insurance Claims Analysis

Published by: Financial Conduct Authority Search for original: Link Key Take Aways Motor insurance premiums increased notably between 2022 and 2024, placing affordability pressure on consumers amid rising claims costs. Claims costs related to vehicle repair, property damage, and accidental damage constitute 65% of overall claims growth, driven by longer repair times, more complex vehicles, labour shortages, and higher parts costs. Average claims costs surged by 37% from 2019 to 2023, with a 41% rise in claims cost per policy,… Read more

Insights ¦ A Pilot Study into Bias in Natural Language Processing

Published by: Financial Conduct Authority Search for original: Link Key Take Aways Natural Language Processing (NLP) is rapidly evolving and holds significant promise for financial services, including customer support, automated advice, and document analysis, with AI potentially adding $13 trillion to global economic output by 2030. Despite technological advances, NLP models such as word embeddings may perpetuate harmful social biases, which could lead to unfair or discriminatory outcomes in consumer-facing applications. No single technique is sufficient for measuring bias in… Read more

Insights ¦ FVT Bereavement guide v6 Web

Published by: Financial Vulnerability Taskforce Search for original: Link Key Take Aways Vulnerability is circumstantial, not defined by age or demographics, and can affect individuals at any stage of life. Many clients and families experience vulnerability due to emotional distress, lack of knowledge, or complex legal/financial processes, particularly post-bereavement. Vulnerability is not always disclosed; advisers should recognise behavioural or decision-making difficulties as potential indicators. Effective support requires proactive identification of changing needs—emotional, practical, and financial. Pre-bereavement planning, including Wills, protections,… Read more