Monthly Debt News looks at debts and the causes of debts in Britain from sources selected for professionals to make the debt sector simple.
This month’s Debt News will look at Scottish councils raising bankruptcy threats, lack of income can increase council tax for Birmingham, a mother’s universal credit stopped after giving an appointment at a closed office, an attacker tried murdering over a debt, a council was fined for taking a man to court for council tax. Labour pushes for regulating Buy Now Pay Later. You can find national data to look at the causes of debts in the UK.
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NEWS
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Scottish councils raise bankruptcy threat over SNP demand to maintain teacher numbers
Scottish council chiefs have warned the SNP’s determination to maintain teacher numbers could help push local authorities to the brink of bankruptcy.
More here: Link
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Lack of confidence council can balance books
Commissioners overseeing Birmingham City Council's financial crisis are "not confident" in its current plans to balance the budget, a report has revealed.
The authority effectively declared itself bankrupt last September, and signed off widespread cuts and a planned council tax rise of 21% over two years in March.
More here: Link
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Mum had 'Universal Credit stopped' after being given appointment at closed job centre
Tanya Williams was given an appointment at the Job Centre, despite the centre being permanently shut, and says she was forced to live on £100 a week. A mum has shared her ordeal of being forced to scrape by on £100 a week with her two children after her Universal Credit payments were suspended.
More here: Link
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H&F hits rogue landlords with more than £140,000 fine
Two rogue landlords renting out a property without a licence in West Kensington have lost their appeal at the Crown Court
More here: Link
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Axe attacker tried to murder man over debt
A "brutal" attacker who forced his way into a caravan armed with an axe and a knife before beating a man and threatening to bite his ear off has been jailed.
More here: Link
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Slough Borough Council fined after taking man to court for council tax
The man – named in a watchdog’s report as Mr X – was slapped with a court summons and a liability order by the authority, after he believed he’d arranged to pay his arrears.
An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman says the council caused Mr X ‘stress’ and ‘injustice’
More here: Link
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Crackdown on Buy-Now Pay-Later firms as Labour pushes ahead with plans to regulate the industry
Buy-now-pay-later firms such as Klarna and Clearpay are braced for tough new rules as Labour pushes ahead with plans to regulate the industry.
The Treasury is set to announce reforms by the end of next month – three years after rule changes were first considered in 2021.
More here: Link
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(Aug 2024) - Debt Talk: Carers & benefit overpayment (podcast)
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Bite Size stats
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The average level of debt for customers with a debt repayment in place rose by 4% for electricity customers (to £703) and rose by 7% (to £588) for gas customers in Q1 2024 compared to Q4 2023. (Ofgem)
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The proportion of domestic customers repaying debt to their supplier using a PPM has ranged around 30 and 40% between 2018 and 2022. Since Q4 2022 the number of customers repaying electricity debt through a PPM rose to record levels. In Q1 2024, for electricity customers, this dropped back slightly to 57% from 58% in Q4 2023. (Ofgem)
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There were 7.0 million people on Universal Credit in July 2024. 76.9% of people on Universal Credit in July 2024 were from the white ethnic group All other high-level ethnic groups combined totalled 23.1% of Universal Credit claimants in July 2024. Universal Credit households with children accounted for over half (51%) of all households with payment in May 2024 (Gov UK)
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(Jul 2024) - Debt Talk: Leasehold & charges (Podcast)
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