Demsa

In today’s bulletin: General update IVA Protocol FOS Strategic plans and budget Aryza blog from Debt Awareness Week Collaborations Training Events General update £1 trillion worth of UK card transactions in 2024 UK issued debit and credit cards were used to make 31.4 billion transactions in 2024 (both here and abroad) – up from 30.2 billion transactions in 2023.  At the end of 2024 there were 163.4 million UK debit and credit cards in issue – up from 159.7 million… Read more

In today’s bulletin: General update Personal insolvency stats for February 2025 QA framework workshop Call for evidence – data intermediaries Government Debt Management Function (GDMF) Functional Centre - Communication Toolkit Collaborations Training Events General update Interest rates were held at 4.5% last week. At its meeting ending on 19 March 2025, the MPC voted by a majority of 8–1 to maintain Bank Rate at 4.5%. One member preferred to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 4.25%. Link: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy-summary-and-minutes/2025/march-2025… Read more

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