October, 2009

Green shoots of an economic recovery have raised UK consumer confidence to the highest level in 2 years, despite enquiries for debt management increasing. A European Commission index of consumer optimism leaped to its highest level since January 2008. The report produced by GfK NOP showed that consumers thought this was the best time to [...]

Celebrity judge of ITV1′s X Factor, Dannii Minogue has revealed that she settled her debt management problems in a rather unconventional way – by becoming a Playboy covergirl. Ms Minogue explained that she managed to get out of debt, in a way that few people experiencing debt problems would be able to emulate, by stripping [...]

Since the government introduced the car scrappage scheme, there has been a sharp increase in the number of consumers putting their future debt management at risk by taking on more debts. According to findings from Sainsbury’s Finance, the car scrappage scheme has been directly responsible for a 37 per cent increase in the value of [...]

In an effort to stop credit card debts spiralling out of control, card holders could be forced to double their monthly payments according to government recommendations. This week, consumer affairs minister Kevin Brennan is set to announce the results from his research into credit and store card practices, and it is predicted that the minimum [...]

The UK economy sparked a further debt management warning after it was revealed to be the longest in UK history. An unexpected contraction in the economy by 0.4% between July and September, makes this present recession the longest since records began. This is the first time ever that UK gross domestic product (GDP) has shrank [...]

Statistics released by the US government this week go a long way to confirm that people in certain states face significantly worse debt problems than those in other states simply due to a lack of solid employment opportunities. Millions of Americans are struggling to find work, the situation is tough especially for those in Navada, [...]

In an effort to generate more cash, £7 billion worth of bonds were put on sale today. The 50-year bonds are officially the longest-dated securities ever issued by a EU government. The recession has placed the UK in its worst financial situation since the end of World War II, as a result, we have become [...]

The number of people struggling to repay their energy bills looks set to grow even more, as more people struggle with their debt management issues, according to government figures. Figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change show that around 4.6 million households could be suffering from fuel poverty this year. This figure equates [...]

Water bills could rise faster than predicted, as the credit crunch is making it difficult for companies to secure the funding they need. Experts are warning that smaller water companies, and those with a lower credit rating, could find raising the capital needed for investment almost impossible if the markets don’t recover. The estimated ¬¨¬£27bn [...]

The number of people seeking debt advice over their mounting fuel debts has grown substantially, according to charity the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). Their figures show that between April and September this year, the number seeking debt advice regarding their energy bills in England and Wales had increased by 46 per cent, when compared to [...]

Financial watchdog the FSA (Financial Services Authority) have called for the introduction of stricter affordability tests, so their members can recognise potential debt management issues and prevent future debt problems from developing. Any applicants looking to get a home loan may have to divulge more about their spending habits, including how much is spent on [...]

During the last twelve months, more middle-class households have been affected by debt management problems, according to latest findings. The study by leading debt management specialists Chiltern, found that households from traditional middle-class areas had increased over the last year faster than other sectors of society. This could be due to the financial turmoil increasing [...]

For people living in London their debt management problems look set to be pushed even further to the limit, after bus and tube fares are to be increased. London Mayor Boris Johnson announced the price increases in an effort to plug the multimillion pound deficit in transport funding within London. Added to this was the [...]