In debt? The doctor (might) see you soon…

Published 01 August 2025

Weighing in at 168 pages, the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England is a somewhat intimidating document. But among its 71,000 words, are a couple of sentences which will interest anyone in the consumer credit industry. The plan proposes the establishment of a Neighbourhood Health Centre (NHC) in every community. The first will be established “in the places where healthy life expectancy is lowest” – these are of course most likely to be poorer communities – and will be a “one stop shop”, open at least twelve hours a day and six days a week, offering a range of co-located NHS, local authority and voluntary sector services.

Human conversations, digital scale: The role of conversational AI in consumer credit

Published 01 August 2025

Now more than ever, there is an increase in regulatory scrutiny and a shift in consumer expectations, leading to a transformation in communication within the credit and collections sector. Central to this is conversational AI, which is transforming the way creditors interact with customers, particularly those experiencing financial difficulties.

Supporting people with every step: StepChange – more than debt advice

Published 01 August 2025

We’re excited to join this year’s CCTA conference, offering us the opportunity to share more about how StepChange helps members and customers through financial challenges. While over 171,000 people received debt advice from us in 2024, that’s only one part of our broader, more comprehensive support system. We’re not just about one-time fixes, our focus is long-term help, built on meaningful relationships and sustained outcomes.

Regulatory News:
29 July 2025

Published 29 July 2025

This week, the FCA confirmed that they are launching a market study in Premium Finance due to concerns over fair value. The Bank of England and The Money Charity also both published their monthly statistics.

Regulatory News:
22 July 2025

Published 22 July 2025

This week, there is an end of term feel to this week’s roundup and news and publications. We have seen a flurry a consultations and guidance released from the Treasury, FCA and Ombudsman ahead of the summer break.

Regulatory News:
15 July 2025

Published 15 July 2025

This week, we have seen a flurry of corporate publications from the FCA that will be of interest to members. These cover several areas, including AI and innovation, growth, and enforcement.

Regulatory News:
8 July 2025

Published 08 July 2025

This week, the FCA published its final guidance on the treatment of politically exposed persons. The regulator also clarified expectations on bullying, harassment and violence in financial firms. The FOS published its annual complaints data, which detailed a significant rise across most of the main product complaint areas.

Regulatory News:
1 July 2025

Published 01 July 2025

This week, the FCA published a speech by Chief Executive Nikhil Rathi. The speech focussed on the strengths of the sector and discussed the collective action required in order to stay ahead. The Bank of England also released its Money and Credit statistics for May 2025.

Regulatory News:
24 June 2025

Published 24 June 2025

This week, the FCA celebrated the winners of its inaugural economic research competition. The Money Charity also published its Money Statistics for June 2025.

Regulatory News:
17 June 2025

Published 17 June 2025

This week, the FCA released a statement saying they are fully committed to supporting economic growth in the UK and a thriving financial services sector. The regulator also published speeches on the digital sandbox and why the UK is the place to invest. The House of Lords has also published its Financial Services Regulation committee report.

Regulatory News:
10 June 2025

Published 10 June 2025

This week, the FCA announced a new collaboration with NVIDIA that will allow firms to experiment with AI. The regulator is also looking for feedback on proposed AI testing. In other news from the regulator, the FCA are leading an international crackdown on illegal finfluencers.

Regulatory News:
4 June 2025

Published 04 June 2025

This week, the FCA have published an updated version of their Enforcement Guide, in addition to announcing the new chair of the Financial Services Consumer Panel. In regards to industry statistics, both the Bank of England and The Money Charity have provided their latest figures.