Tackling Britain's High Cost Credit Problems

Monday, 25th February 2013, America Square Conference Centre, London

Britain's high cost consumer credit sector 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.

This conference will provide an opportunity to discuss the latest developments and consider what now needs to be done. It will be of particular relevance to consumer and debt advice agencies, credit unions and CDFIs, local authorities, social housing providers, welfare to work providers, and the labour movement.

Join us in London on 25th February to help develop the agenda for future campaigns to deliver a fair deal for Britain's low income borrowers.

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