Pulling in the same direction: Why collaboration is the only way forward for the debt sector

Published 01 October 2026

When I stepped into the role of Money Advice Liaison Group (MALG) CEO in March 2026, one thing hit me immediately: the UK debt landscape is full of brilliant, committed people – advisers, creditors, lenders, regulators, collectors, utilities, enforcement professionals, fintech innovators, researchers – working hard to improve outcomes for people in problem debt.

Unlocking credit access: How alternative data is transforming UK lending

Published 29 September 2026

The UK lending landscape is undergoing a significant transformation as financial institutions face rising consumer demand, evolving regulations and increasing pressure to improve financial inclusion. According to insights in “LexisNexis Risk Solutions – Untapped Lending Report”, traditional credit data, long the backbone of lending decisions, may no longer be sufficient.

Changing track: The Financial Services Bill: Why it matters for consumer credit

Published 24 September 2026

It is not often that a piece of legislation genuinely changes the direction of travel for financial services. Most Bills amend existing rules, tidy up legislation or deal with highly technical issues that rarely make it into everyday conversations between lenders and regulators. The Financial Services Bill feels rather different.

Compliance belongs in product design, not at the end of it

Published 22 September 2026

In regulated financial services, the familiar pattern persists: a product team develops an idea, maps the customer journey, defines the experience, and only then asks compliance to review it. By that stage, the most important decisions are usually already made. That model is increasingly outdated.

At a crossroads: AI and the race for efficiency in debt collection

Published 17 September 2026

The debt collection sector is undergoing a period of transition. Macro-economic conditions remain challenging and, although rising insolvencies and surging energy arrears are driving greater volumes of unpaid debt to agencies, recovery rates have slowed due to mounting regulatory pressures and concerns about arrears portfolio quality.

Navigating the seismic shift: A chief compliance officer’s perspective on CCA reform

Published 15 September 2026

Fifty-two years ago, Parliament handed the consumer credit industry a rulebook. The Consumer Credit Act 1974 was prescriptive, paper-based, and built for a world of hire-purchase agreements and high-street finance houses and it has governed our market ever since. On 18 May 2026, HM Treasury confirmed what many of us have anticipated for years: that rulebook is being fundamentally rewritten.

Hidden in plain sight: why are millions of renters still being treated as financially invisible?

Published 10 September 2026

For most people, rent is the single biggest bill they pay every month. It is the payment that keeps a roof over their head. It is the commitment they prioritise above almost everything else. It is often larger than a mortgage payment would be.

100% interaction oversight: How it’s reshaping compliance

Published 08 September 2026

For as long as most of us can remember, quality assurance in collections and customer service has been a numbers game, and not a flattering one. A typical team reviews somewhere between 2 to 5% of its calls. The other 95% go unheard, filed away in case something goes wrong.

Moving the goalposts: FCA new credit broker guide: A change with big consequences

Published 03 September 2026

The FCA’s new regulatory guide for credit brokers may look, at first glance, like a simple practical guide for smaller firms. It is aimed mainly at brokers with fewer than ten employees and does not create any new rules.

Fair treatment of customers: Rebuilding confidence following discretionary commissions

Published 01 September 2026

The scrutiny surrounding discretionary commissions has had a profound effect on the motor finance industry. Beyond the financial repercussions, it has undeniably impacted consumer trust. In light of these challenges, restoring confidence within the sector must be a shared priority.

Standing the test of time: 135 years of growth and adaptation

Published 27 August 2026

When I joined CCTA, both the Association and the market it represented were emerging from one of the most difficult periods in recent history. Our 135th anniversary has made me reflect on how much has changed and what we have learned.

Regulatory News:
26 August 2026

Published 26 August 2026

This week’s industry news covers the FCA’s feedback on firms’ motor finance redress implementation plans, highlighting the need for greater detail around practical delivery. We also highlight new data showing record credit card balances alongside falling repayments and rising missed payments, as well as Energy UK’s warning that household energy debt and arrears could have reached £6 billion.