The season to be jolly? How to avoid Christmas cheer turning into credit rear

Published 27 November 2025

As the festive season approaches, so too does the pressure to spend. From social media wish lists to endless retail promotions promising the ‘perfect’ Christmas, the expectation to buy, give and celebrate grows stronger each year. As a result consumers are choosing to spread the cost of festivities, leading to a surge in short-term credit, particularly through Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) schemes.

Regulatory News:
26 November 2025

Published 26 November 2025

This week, the FCA and PRA jointly launched CP25/33: Regulatory fees and levies: policy proposals for 2026/27 – a consultation on proposed changes to how regulatory fees and levies will be raised from 2026/27. The regulator also announced that three individuals have been arrested due to suspected unauthorised debt activities. 

Financial stress in the UK: What the latest data tells us

Published 26 November 2025

Financial wellbeing is a cornerstone of modern life, yet for millions of UK adults, it remains out of reach. New research on financial stress in the UK by LexisNexis® Risk Solutions reveals that the scale of financial exclusion and credit distress is still significant, despite some progress in recent years.

A good day to bury bad news? The FCA’s motor finance redress scheme consultation

Published 25 November 2025

So we finally have it. The FCA published its consultation, CP25/27, on its proposed motor redress scheme on 7 October 2025. All 360 pages of it. But there’s more: the FCA also published a press release and a statement to the market. And in the CP, there’s even more: a ‘diagnostic report’ covering 81 pages a ‘Technical Annex 1’ covering 153 pages a ‘Technical Annex 2’ covering 39 pages a ‘Technical Annex 3’ covering 26 pages.

VRPs versus card payments: The future of loan repayments and collections

Published 20 November 2025

For lenders and consumer credit firms, reliable and cost-effective payment collection is critical. As card payments face increasing costs, failures, and compliance pressures, Variable Recurring Payments (VRPs), powered by Open Banking, are emerging as a transformative alternative. For lending businesses managing recurring payments, understanding this comparison is crucial for optimising revenue collection and reducing operational overheads.

AI that listens: Intelligent automation is changing the way we support borrowers

Published 19 November 2025

Lenders are continuously facing increased regulatory pressure, rising customer expectations, and ongoing economic uncertainty. The ability to provide timely, relevant, and sensitive support is more important than ever. Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly powerful enabler in this area, not just in assessing affordability or making lending decisions, but in how organisations engage with borrowers throughout the credit lifecycle.

Regulatory News:
19 November 2025

Published 19 November 2025

This week, the FCA published two speeches, its October board minutes and the Statement of Policy on statutory investigations into regulatory failure and producing reports.

The future of credit reporting governance: Challenges and priorities

Published 18 November 2025

The development of the new Credit Information Governance Body (CIGB) has reached a critical stage, with details now in place for how the model may operate. Over recent weeks, lenders have begun receiving initial information from the Credit Reference Agencies outlining the proposed governance structures, decision-making processes and the path towards subscription contracts.

CATO unlocked: The data revolution driving fairer lending

Published 18 November 2025

In an era defined by economic shifts and heightened regulatory scrutiny, the UK lending landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation over the last two decades. From the Credit Crunch in 2007 to the introduction of the FCA in 2013 and the subsequent rollout of the CONC sourcebook and creditworthiness rules, the focus has consistently sharpened on responsible lending and tackling consumer indebtedness

CCTA 2025 Annual Conference: A day of insight, innovation, and industry collaboration

Published 13 November 2025

The 2025 CCTA Annual Conference brought together leaders from across the consumer credit sector for a dynamic day of discussion, learning, and forward-thinking collaboration. Held in Manchester, the event showcased the industry’s response to regulatory change, technological advancement, and the evolving needs of consumers.

Regulatory News:
12 November 2025

Published 12 November 2025

This week, the FCA stated that certain types of credit builder products show little evidence of being effective for most consumers. New research from Fair4All Finance shows up to 1.9 million adults in Great Britain have turned to an unlicensed money lender or loan shark in the past twelve months.

Searching for the key? Unlock competitive advantage with Square 4’s Consumer Duty board report expertise

Published 12 November 2025

At Square 4, our flagship Consumer Duty thought leadership programme has given us unparalleled insight into a wide range of Consumer Duty board reports across wealth management, CASS, consumer credit, insurance, and banking. We’ve identified not just common themes and pitfalls, but also the strategies that set market leaders apart.