My pick of last week’s news is the proposed Scheme from Provident.
Good news of the week is High Court rules DWP’s universal credit deductions policy unlawful.
Debt news
Amigo’s Scheme:
- FCA urged to act as lender bids to cap payouts to poorest borrowers Guardian: Critics say lender’s plan could enrich directors while poor borrowers miss out over mis-selling claims.
- Regulatory update the investigation by the FCA into Amigo’s affordability assessments has now been extended to cover their complaint handling.
Provident announces a Scheme:
- Provident proposes a Scheme to cap refunds my article
- Provident’s Scheme – will customers get less than 2% ? my article
- Provident plan to cap doorstep lending compensation BBC: One 52-year-old, who borrowed with Provident for 30 years, said he had taken loans totalling £60,000 but it was a “vicious circle” and he had made a claim for mis-selling, but had been rejected.
- Provident boss is playing hardball Times (paywall): Responsible lending involves facing up to past liabilities, not finding a wheeze to wriggle out of them, especially when the casualties are the poorest borrowers around… If Provident’s not set on trashing its reputation, it should pay up. This sort of carry-on is as subprime as the business.
- Provident’s scheme spells the end of the local doorstep lender FT (paywall): Subprime group tries to cap liabilities as regulatory tide turns against model.
High Court rules DWP’s universal credit deductions policy unlawful Shelter: The court ruled that by setting a fixed rate for deductions from UC for fines, and the DWP’s inflexible approach in making decisions on these cases, removes the discretion provided for in the relevant legislation. This is unlawful.
Greensill collapse sparks fears for pay scheme used by cash-strapped NHS nurses Standard: There is some doubt over who would take on that [NHS] contract given the financial sector’s post-Greensill wariness of such activities.
Covid Debt Rescue StepChange report: We are calling on the Government to provide an emergency support package to help renters.
‘Oversight failure’: Over 14,000 get £10m compensation over collapse of SIX Scots community banks The Herald (maybe behind paywall): Mr Keenan said there needed to be urgent action taken to ensure credit unions are properly scrutinised, but also supported to allow them to stay afloat.
Benefits & other news
Energy credit to be automatically returned under new plans – and it could be worth £65/household MSE: Energy suppliers will be forced to automatically refund in-credit balances each year and will have limits placed on the size of customers’ balances under new [Ofgem] proposals.
Nine in 10 councils in England see rise in people using food banks Guardian: Local authorities reveal devastating toll of coronavirus on households who have struggled to keep a roof over their heads
Online investing and gambling – an increasingly blurred line? Bristol University blog: The blurring of investing and gambling poses challenges for regulators and businesses that are responsible for protecting consumers from harm.
Luke says
To me it’s simple. If they don’t have the money to pay out on refunds, then propose a plan that their annual profit for future years goes towards paying the refunds.
They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it, it’s disgusting.
Paul says
Why are we All not petitioning our MP’s to get a fair resolution just like PPI
Sara (Debt Camel) says
You can indeed write to your MP.
And also to Mel Stride who chairs the Treasury Committee (https://members.parliament.uk/member/3935/contact)
Simply signing a petition will have a lot less effect than MPs getting individually written letters from their constituents.
If you do this, it’s good to be clear about what you think should be done…
With PPI, if a firm went under, the people owed refunds could get them in full from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
But the FCA decided not to extend the FSCS to cover refunds from lenders. (PPI was covered because that was a form of insurance.)
So you should ask for the FSCS to be extended to cover refunds for mis-selling of loans, or for a similar scheme to set up for loans. You can point out that literally millions of people have been affected by this problem.
Angela says
Does anyone have email address for Mel stride let’s get started it is no good waiting to let provident have it all there own way we are letting them walk all over us we have all been affected by provident it’s time to fight back Angela
Sara (Debt Camel) says
https://members.parliament.uk/member/3935/contact
Henry says
I have an ongoing complaint with Amigo regarding three loans which was escalated to FOS last year.
Amigo made me an offer last week comprising a write off of my current loan together with a cash surplus which I accepted via FOS, I am now waiting to see how genuine the offer was and wonder whether it will be actioned with the first hearing for the scheme looming in 9 days time.
What would your guess be…… ?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I think if they have recently accepted it they will pay. Fingers crossed for you…
Henry says
Fingers and toes all crossed.
I’ll let you know how I get on.
Many thanks.