Debt Matters

About Debt Matters

Debt Matters is the straight-talking podcast from Taurus Collections (UK) Ltd. Get practical steps to prevent overdue accounts, expert insights on debt recovery, and simple habits that keep your cash flow healthy.

Publisher

Taurus Collections (UK) Ltd

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Oct 2025

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

80 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Oct 2026

   UK Households Increasingly Turn to Borrowing to Pay Everyday Bills

   A growing number of UK consumers are turning to borrowing and credit to keep up with regular bills, raising concerns about household financial resilience. Findings from Intrum’s European Consumer Payment Report suggest that many people are still meeting their commitments, but an increasing number are doing so with borrowed money. The report found that 72% of UK consumers had borrowed money or used credit to pay bills at least once during the previous six months, excluding mortgages. This is up from 51% in 2025 and above the European average of 56%. The UK recorded the highest level among the 20 countries included in the research. In this episode of Debt Matters, we look at what this sharp increase means for consumers, creditors and the UK debt collection sector. Bills are being paid, but pressure is growing Around 27% of UK consumers said they had paid at least one bill late during the previous 12 months, compared with 28% a year earlier. At the same time, 81% said they were confident they could afford everyday essentials, while 79% believed they could pay all of their bills each month. However, growing reliance on credit shows that some consumers may be keeping payments up to date only by taking on more debt. A household can appear stable while its underlying debt burden and vulnerability continue to increase. This suggests financial resilience may be becoming increasingly dependent on access to credit. Consumers are becoming more cautious Three quarters of UK consumers said the economic environment had made them more nervous about making a major purchase, compared with 49% last year. Meanwhile, 64% said they were more cautious about taking financial risks, up from 50%. Consumers are also trying to build stronger financial buffers. Some 74% now put money aside each month for unexpected expenses, up from 59% in 2025, while 42% say they are prioritising saving over spending. At the same time, more households are cautious about large purchases even as credit is increasingly used to manage everyday cash flow. Flexible credit and AI are changing money management Across Europe, four in ten consumers used buy now, pay later services during the past year. For financially resilient users it may mainly be about convenience, while more financially fragile consumers can use it to manage cash flow or buy essentials. The report also found that 44% of UK consumers use AI tools for personal finance. Some 52% said they would be comfortable using an AI assistant to resolve a payment issue or arrange a payment plan. What does this mean for debt collection? For creditors and collections teams, the key question is whether a customer’s payments are sustainable. If consumers increasingly use borrowing to meet financial obligations, creditors may need to identify vulnerability earlier. Realistic repayment plans, appropriate communication and access to human support could become more important. In this episode of Debt Matters, we discuss: • Why borrowing to pay household bills has increased so sharply. • Why stable late-payment figures may hide deeper financial difficulties. • How reliance on credit could affect future arrears. • The role of BNPL and flexible payment options. • Why early engagement between consumers and creditors matters. • How AI could support payment arrangements while retaining human assistance. #DebtMatters #DebtCollection #UKDebt #ConsumerDebt #HouseholdBills #CostOfLiving #Borrowing #ConsumerCredit #Arrears #DebtRecovery

2. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Britain’s Rising Borrowing Raises Fresh Debt Concerns

   Consumer borrowing in Britain accelerated sharply in August 2026, with net unsecured lending rising by £2.464 billion in a single month. That was well above economists’ forecast of around £1.9 billion and marked the biggest monthly increase since records began in 1993. Stronger borrowing can reflect confidence and a willingness to spend, but it can also suggest that some households are using credit cards, personal loans and other borrowing to manage everyday costs while inflation continues to squeeze disposable incomes. What is behind the rise in borrowing? Consumer confidence has improved, but affordability pressures remain. For creditors, that makes the direction of household finances especially important. When budgets are stretched, unsecured credit can become a financial bridge. Households may borrow to cover food, energy, transport, unexpected bills or other essential spending. Credit can provide flexibility, but repeated reliance on borrowing can create difficulties if repayments become harder to maintain. Key points from the latest data include: • Net unsecured consumer lending rose by £2.464 billion in August. • Economists had expected an increase of about £1.9 billion. • It was the largest monthly rise since the series began in 1993. • The lending figures are not adjusted for inflation. • Mortgage approvals fell to their lowest level since December 2023. What could this mean for household debt? A rise in borrowing does not mean every borrower is in financial difficulty. Many consumers will comfortably manage repayments. However, rapid growth in unsecured credit deserves attention because these debts can become harder to service if circumstances change. For consumers already balancing credit cards, loans, overdrafts and living costs, an unexpected expense, fall in income or higher borrowing costs can quickly put pressure on repayments. The challenge for debt collection If more households depend on unsecured borrowing, creditors could see greater demand for repayment plans, affordability assessments and debt advice referrals. Responsible collections can make a difference when a customer first misses a payment or explains that their circumstances have changed. Early engagement may help stop manageable arrears developing into deeper financial difficulty. For collection teams, priorities include: • Identifying early signs of financial stress. • Agreeing realistic repayments based on affordability. • Communicating before arrears become unmanageable. • Recognising when customers may need independent debt advice. • Supporting vulnerable customers appropriately. Mortgage approvals move in the opposite direction Lenders approved 54,918 mortgages for house purchases in August, down from 55,928 in July and below the 56,100 forecast by economists. This was the lowest level since December 2023. The contrast is notable. Unsecured borrowing is increasing while mortgage activity has weakened. Higher borrowing costs and uncertainty over future interest rates may be making households more cautious about long-term commitments. What happens next? Strong borrowing could reflect resilient consumer demand, but it may also increase repayment pressure if household incomes struggle to keep pace with costs. For the UK debt collection industry, the focus should remain on sustainable recovery. Growing credit balances make early intervention, fair treatment, affordability and clear communication increasingly important. #DebtMatters #DebtCollection #UKDebt #ConsumerCredit #ConsumerDebt #DebtRecovery #CreditControl #FinancialServices #CostOfLiving #HouseholdDebt #DebtAdvice

3. 

   23 Sept 2026

   FCA Warns of High-Pressure Tactics and Unsuitable Debt Advice

   When someone is struggling to pay, the advice they receive can shape what happens next. In this episode of Debt Matters, we discuss the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) new warning about poor or untrustworthy debt advice and the signs that a proposed solution may not fit someone's circumstances. What has the FCA warned about? Free, impartial debt advice is available to everyone, the FCA says. Yet some people may be steered towards unsuitable, fee-paying solutions through pressure, misleading information or advice from firms without the right permissions. For someone already worried about missed payments, a quick fix can sound tempting. Four red flags to recognise • Pressure to act immediately. Repeated calls after an online enquiry, an unexpected approach, or demands to agree to a plan over the phone or WhatsApp should prompt a pause. • Coaching on your finances. If anyone suggests changing your income or spending figures, or tells you what to say on an assessment, the resulting advice may be based on a false picture. • One option presented as the answer. A fee-charging Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) or debt management plan should not be pushed without a clear explanation of other available routes, including free alternatives. • Unclear identity. You should know who is contacting you. Details that do not match a firm's official information are another reason to check before sharing personal or financial information. Why the choice of debt solution matters An IVA and a debt management plan work differently, and neither suits everyone. Affordability, the type of debt and other available options all matter. Being rushed towards one product can make it harder to understand the commitment or consider another approach. People should have time to ask questions and hear an honest explanation of the alternatives. It matters to the debt collection sector too. Creditors can direct customers under pressure towards impartial advice and give them room to explain what they can realistically afford. Online debt adverts raise another question. After entering their details to seek help, people may not know which firm will contact them or whether it is authorised to give advice. People need to know who is calling and what options they have. What action has the regulator taken? The FCA says it stopped Curtis Faraday from providing debt advice to new customers after finding serious concerns, including customers being led towards answers that made a fee-charging IVA appear suitable. It has also banned a senior manager at Beauforce Corporation Limited for a lack of honesty and integrity. These cases underline the value of checking a firm's status before agreeing to a plan. What can someone do before committing? • Look for free, impartial help through MoneyHelper's debt advice information and locator. • Use the FCA Firm Checker to confirm that an adviser is authorised and that their contact details match. • Ask which other solutions were considered, what any fees would be and why the proposed plan suits your circumstances. • If you feel pressured or think you received poor advice, contact the FCA. If you have a complaint about an authorised firm, you can raise it with the firm and then take an unresolved complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. In this episode, we look at the warning signs behind seemingly simple promises to clear debt. How can someone tell the difference between useful guidance and a sales pitch? What should creditors do when a customer needs independent help? And how can the industry support arrangements that people can realistically maintain? #DebtMatters #DebtAdvice #UKDebt #DebtCollection #ConsumerProtection #FinancialWellbeing #IVA #DebtManagement #FCA

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