25th February 2013, London
The Centre for Responsible Credit is holding a conference to discuss the latest developments in the high cost credit sector and consider what now needs to be done. The event will be of particular relevance to debt advice agencies, credit unions, local church, community and consumer campaigning organisations, and the labour movement. CDFIs are invited to join the event to help set out the agenda for future campaigns to deliver a fair deal for Britain’s low income borrowers.
About the event
The high cost credit sector in Britain has been booming in recent years. Demand has been driven by a combination of higher unemployment, low wage growth, rising fuel, food and transport costs and cuts in welfare spending. There has been an exponential increase in the numbers of people reporting problems with payday lenders, and a recent Panorama programme highlighted ongoing problems with the door to door money lending industry. Welfare reforms, including the abolition of the national Social Fund scheme of grants and interest free crisis loans, threaten to create further problems.
Yet there are signs that regulation will be improved. The Financial Services Bill will give the new regulator – the Financial Conduct Authority – the power to cap the cost of credit and the New Year will also see the Office of Fair Trading complete its review of payday lender compliance with its Irresponsible Lending Guidance.
Efforts are also being made to improve access to affordable credit. The Department for Work and Pensions will make a £36 million investment in credit unions, and is also now consulting on lifting the rate cap for this sector. Finally, Government has also recently promised to ensure that banks disclose details of their lending patterns in low income communities and to provide the FCA with a responsibility to consider levels of financial exclusion in its future work.
What next?