BNPL lender Zilch has started reporting its 3 million customers’ borrowing data to UK credit bureaus, in a way that will impact credit scores of up to 3 million customers. Until now Zilch has had partnerships with individual credit bureaus like Experian, but has only used this data as part of its affordability assessments to perform “soft” credit checks…
Proposed changes to responsible lending regulations hit the Australian federal Senate the week before last. Since the 2008 – 2009 Global Financial Crisis, Financial regulation and responsible lending laws have been largely combative, with inflamed tensions between bankers and lawyers. The reforms were first announced in September 2020, in the hopes of boosting Australia’s credit…
Our previous post on Buy Now Pay Later’s (BNPL’s) focussed on the possible transparency issues that can arise when utilising them, particularly regarding the silent accumulation of debt that has become increasingly concerning. The use of BNPL’s can further fuel a culture in which ‘fast fashion’ and excess consumption are viewed as both advantageous and…
British expats living in the EU have faced a block on borrowing from some British lenders following the UK’s exit from the European Union. Lenders including Newbury and Marsden Building Societies have adopted the policy however have signalled that the restrictions may only be temporary measures, depending on ongoing negotiations between the UK and EU. …
Buy now Pay later (‘BNPL’) providers like Klarna and Clearpay allow customers to purchase goods in a series of instalments, without the fear of crippling interest rates or a late payment fee. Yet, the appeal of such an offer can often mask the reality that it is in fact, a form of credit. An unintended…
For much of 2020 the focus for lending regulators has been the coronavirus pandemic and assisting borrowers through the crisis. As we move into the new year that focus is set to continue however there is likely to be the chance for new developments that have been put on hold thanks to the restrictions. The…
2020 was a tumultuous year for the UK property market with lockdown initially bringing house sales to a grinding halt before new legislation such as the stamp duty holiday caused it to soar again. As we head into 2021 with the country yet again in a strict lockdown and restrictions across various sectors, it’s no…
Business borrowing increased drastically throughout 2020 as businesses fought to survive the coronavirus pandemic. More than £68 billion was partly or fully guaranteed by the treasury according to the Bank of England, with business borrowing increasing four-fold throughout the year. The UK government announced various support and loan schemes back at the start of the…
With just a week to spare before the Brexit transition period between the UK and European Union (EU) comes to an end, the UK government has agreed a trade deal with the EU. While much has been made of the repercussions of Brexit, how will it really impact your finances? It’s too early to predict…
With more and more lenders turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) software, lenders and customers alike are discovering that technology and humans both come with their own unique sets of pros and cons. Using AI software as a way of deciding how lenders can borrow money and who is approved for a loan can help to…