My pick of last week's news is the article on "Buy Now Pay Later" deals - a growing problem. Tweet of the week 1.Just back from ESA appeal hearing for victim of horrific acid attack with 50% burns all over her face and body, is in constant pain and 'burning sensation', cannot move, sit or stand for long without pain and of course, there is the trauma. DWP awarded 0 points & fit for … [Read more...]

My pick of last week's news is one you may not have read: Why do we believe Americans spend too much money on coffee and avocado toast?  Tweets of the week Let’s hope this is the end of commercial advertising on postnatal wards - Time to wave bye bye to Bounty and all marketing to pregnant women and new mothers .@babyfriendly @MidwivesRCM BBC News - Bounty pregnancy club fined £400,000 … [Read more...]

My pick of last week's news is the BBC article Payday lender's collapse to hit borrowers. This is about a payday lender many people will not have heard of... yet 330,000 people may have been given unaffordable loans, out of a total customer base of 650,000. Tweet of the week 1st Debt Relief Order application submitted 10 years ago today - a significant landmark for @insolvencygovuk … [Read more...]

My pick of last week's news are the two articles on debt and mental health. For economists, the New Statesman article on the UK has never been less prepared for recession is interesting. Graph of the week Thread on household net borrowing UK households were 'net borrowers' for an 'unprecedented' ninth quarter in a row in Q4 2018, according to @ONS data released this morning... … [Read more...]

My pick of last week's news is  CAP report Stacked Against. Tweet of the week We are officially a year old! In the next couple of months we have details to share/announce as we get ready to #EndHighCostCredit through a new fund, Fair Credit mark, staff team focussed on policy and movement building and new collaborations to extend our impact. pic.twitter.com/v4fk862nk1 — End High Cost … [Read more...]

My pick of last week's news is the FCA's review of the debt management sector. Every debt adviser should read it. Tweet of the week The nightmare of welfare cuts and debt. My last 48 hours has been spent helping a lone parent with mental health issues in terrible debt crisis. Council tax debt and visit from enforcement agent was straw that broke the camels back. Customer hasn’t opened … [Read more...]

My pick of last week's news is the rent-to-own price cap comes in from April. As Martin Lewis commented: The rent-to-own sector is perhaps the most visceral example of the poverty premium in the UK. The fact that the most vulnerable with the least pay four times as much for their electrical and white goods as everyone else is simply unjust, and it's rightfully about time that the FCA cracks down … [Read more...]

My pick of last week's news is the demise of another big payday lender: Wageday Advance. Tweet of the week We are outraged by this. Yet another client subject to wholly unnecessary reassessment for their #Disability #benefits . In '16 the tribunal awarded our v disabled client 65 points WITH recommendation never to be reassessed. Last month, she was reassessed + awarded ZERO points. … [Read more...]

My pick of last week's news is the bid for Provident - and respect to the Times sub who came up with the headline  Provident doorstepped by surprise £1.3bn offer.  It's nice to have some good news with ending charging for DMHEFs moving a step closer: The BMA agrees to #StopTheCharge  Tweet of the week Disabled mum who killed herself failed by benefits agency https://t.co/SFXWJWmpo2 — … [Read more...]

My pick of last week's news is the evidence on bailiffs submitted to the Ministry of Justice consultation. Tweet of the week A reader gets a refund of more than £20,000 from Provident - https://t.co/fg1YpwClyH pic.twitter.com/bOBohw8RXE — Debt Camel (@DebtCamel) February 14, 2019 Debt news Bailiffs: This is the moment to reform the bailiff industry for good MAT blog what … [Read more...]