To use or not to use: Deductions when cars are rejected

Published 23 April 2026

A recent Scottish court case involved whether or not any deduction in sums to be returned to customers should be made for use of a car where the car is ultimately rejected by the customer.

Staying in the loop: How AI could improve customer communication in consumer credit

Published 20 April 2026

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used across financial services to manage customer interactions and streamline internal processes. In consumer credit, where firms communicate with customers about borrowing, repayments, and financial difficulty, AI tools have the potential to improve both efficiency and clarity. As AI adoption increases, firms must ensure these technologies are used responsibly within a regulatory environment shaped by the FCAs Consumer Duty and its emphasis on delivering good outcomes for customers.

Regulatory News:
15 April 2026

Published 15 April 2026

The FCA has set out its vision for open finance, aiming to give consumers and businesses more control over their data to access better deals. It has also banned misleading adverts from a claims management company that used edited Martin Lewis footage and the FCA logo without permission. Finally, the FCA has warned firms about fake communications, sharing examples to help identify scams

Consumer Duty 2026: The FCA’s next phase of supervision has begun

Published 15 April 2026

The implementation phase of Consumer Duty is over. What we are seeing now is something more probing, more data-driven and significantly more outcomes-focused. For consumer credit firms, the message from the Financial Conduct Authority is clear: the FCA is no longer asking whether firms have implemented the Duty, it is asking whether customers are genuinely better off as a result. This shift marks the beginning of the next supervisory phase which is critical.

The rise of finfluencers: Democratised knowledge, amplified risk

Published 13 April 2026

The rise of financial influencers, or “finfluencers”, is widening access to financial education but can also expose consumers to bad advice, fraud and financial harm. Finfluencers can be a powerful force for good. They bring financial education to a mass audience with a reach that traditional programmes may not have achieved. Content on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube have made financial guidance more accessible than ever, particularly for younger consumers.

Regulatory News:
9 April 2026

Published 09 April 2026

The FCA has published findings from a 2025 multi-firm review of Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), and ongoing monitoring controls, highlighting examples of both good and poor practice and setting clear expectations for firms to strengthen compliance frameworks. Separately, the FCA outlined how it assesses the expected impact of regulatory interventions through Cost Benefit Analyses (CBAs), which accompany consultations on proposed rule changes. In addition, the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) explored how advances in AI are transforming the nature of consumer complaints and shaping how cases are handled.

Paving the way: Credit information reform and the CIGB

Published 08 April 2026

The UK credit system relies heavily on the effective sharing of information. Every lending decision – whether for a credit card, motor finance agreement or small-sum instalment loan – depends on data flowing through a network of credit reference agencies, lenders and technology providers. That system has evolved over decades and, in many ways, it works well. But the governance arrangements behind it have struggled to keep pace with a modern, data-driven credit market. That is the backdrop to the creation of the Credit Information Governance Body (CIGB). For many lenders, the appearance of another new governance structure may feel like just another acronym in an already complex regulatory landscape. However, the CIGB has the potential to shape how credit data is governed, shared and developed across the UK for years to come.

Time for a health check? Preparing for the FCA’s motor finance redress scheme

Published 06 April 2026

Following the publication of the FCA’s motor finance consultation paper (CP25/27) in October 2025 and the consultation closing on 12 December 2025, the regulator has confirmed that it will set out its approach on motor finance redress shortly after markets close on Monday 30 March 2026. In a previous update on 4 March 2026, the FCA also outlined planned changes intended to streamline the customer journey and simplify implementation of a redress scheme.

Regulatory News:
1 April 2026

Published 01 April 2026

The FCA has published its long-awaited motor finance redress scheme along with a raft of other announcements and publications. The Bank of England and Money Charity have both released their latest set of monthly statistics.

Back to basics: What do the unfair relationship provisions actually say?

Published 31 March 2026

So it’s the middle of March 2026. Were we expecting the policy statement from the Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA) on a motor finance consumer redress scheme by now? Yes. Do we have it? No. The FCA’s latest murmurings are that it will publish the scheme by the end of March 2026. So, for now, we wait. But given the proposed scheme is entirely based on the unfair relationship provisions in Sections 140A to 140C of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (the CCA) (the unfair relationship provisions), what do they actually say?

Motor finance DCA redress: What ‘ready’ really looks like

Published 30 March 2026

The debate around discretionary commission arrangements (DCAs) in motor finance has developed rapidly over the past year, with regulatory scrutiny, legal developments and the FCA’s ongoing work on a potential redress scheme bringing increased focus to the sector. Final decisions on any compensation scheme have not yet been made. However, the regulator has begun outlining how a redress scheme could operate if it goes ahead. For many firms, the question now is simple: what does it mean to be “ready”?

Mind the (data) gap: Are motor finance firms prepared for the challenge ahead

Published 30 March 2026

The regulatory landscape for motor finance is shifting rapidly. Following the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) latest update on 4 March 2026, the industry now has a much clearer view of the road ahead. With final rules expected in late March, the focus has shifted from hypothetical planning to urgent operational implementation.