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.

The wind of change: Harnessing data to support financially vulnerable consumers

Published 24 May 2025

Amid continued economic uncertainty and an unexpected inflation rise to 3.9% in January, many UK residents are turning to borrowing to help manage their money and make ends meet.

AI versus human expertise: Why authentic content wins in consumer credit

Published 24 May 2025

The digital space is where consumer credit providers win or lose. In the race to optimise websites, many turn to AI-powered content tools. These promise quick SEO gains and effortless content creation, but relying solely on AI can be a costly mistake. Here’s why human expertise remains crucial for building trust and engagement.

Technology and ethics: Delivering stability in a rising tide of unsecured debt

Published 24 May 2025

Unsecured debt in the UK reached an average of £4,287 per adult in 2024, marking a troubling trend as household debt has steadily risen over the past two decades. With household debt now exceeding £2 trillion, its impact extends beyond finances, deeply entwining with mental health challenges.

An ongoing commitment to ESG: Equifax publishes 2024 ESG Report

Published 24 May 2025

Equifax launched its second annual Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) report in February, highlighting the continued importance as part of its business strategy.

Firing on all cylinders: Embrace open banking for operational efficiency

Published 23 May 2025

For many lenders, the affordability assessment process is still weighed down by long application forms and manual reviews from underwriters, leading to long processing times. Brandon Wallace, Product Manager at Bud, explains how enriched transaction data can help lenders to cut costs and scale efficiently, in addition to increasing approval rates and reducing risk.

Moving with the times: The future of responsible lending in a digital-first world

Published 23 May 2025

As the financial services industry transitions to a digital-first world, responsible lending must evolve to meet new expectations for fairness, transparency, and customer-centricity. Digital transformation is reshaping how lenders engage with customers and manage their portfolios, enabling more effective, data-driven lending practices that enhance both the lending and collections processes, promoting better customer outcomes while upholding financial responsibility.

Enhancing outcomes for vulnerable customers: Key considerations

Published 23 May 2025

As firms continue to assess the findings from the FCA’s review of the fair treatment of customers in vulnerable circumstances, we explore a critical challenge many firms face: effectively monitoring outcomes for vulnerable customers.

Consumer Duty board reports: Top tips from Auxillias

Published 22 May 2025

Last summer we helped several clients with their Consumer Duty board reports (required under PRIN 2A.8). Since the creation of the first suite of reports, the FCA has reviewed a sample and published findings, highlighting good practices and areas for improvement. We have set out six top tips based on the FCA’s output and our own observations.

A long road ahead: Actions firms can take following the Supreme Court hearing

Published 22 May 2025

The FCA’s review into discretionary commission arrangements, together with the outcome of the Supreme Court’s review of a landmark Court of Appeal ruling regarding motor finance commissions could have widespread consequences for the motor finance sector.

The rise of alternative data: Enabling financial inclusion and catalysing growth

Published 22 May 2025

The landscape of consumer lending is undergoing a significant transformation. Traditionally, lenders have relied on credit scores and historical financial data to assess a borrower’s creditworthiness. However, as financial behaviours evolve and the limitations of conventional credit assessments become apparent, the role of alternative data in lending decisions is gaining prominence.

Fraud: A growing threat to the credit industry, customers and communities

Published 21 May 2025

Fraud is more widespread than ever, causing significant harm to businesses, individuals, and communities. It erodes trust in the digital economy, hampers economic growth, and destabilises vulnerable economies worldwide. As criminals adapt and evolve, the impact extends far beyond financial losses, threatening the integrity of financial systems and consumer confidence.