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Pls DON'T let this be true. It reports @hmtreasury plans to shelve much needed, called for & worked on plans (by @WhichUK, @TheFCA, @CitizensAdvice & til now govt itself) to regulate Buy Now Pay Later
Why'd it not regulate the UKs fasted growing form of debt, with billions lent?
Yes, BNPL used right can help people borrow interest free to spread necessary costs, but it's still a debt. Protection's needed for when it's not right. Regulation doesn't curtail the industry, it'd just means that for both existing firms & new entrants:
- Fairness rules apply like with other debt
- If treated badly you can go to @financialombuds
- Firms must be honest that this is borrowing not market it as a lifestyle choice
Clearly amidst a cost of living crisis, when many are desperate and living on deficit budgets - all forms of major consumer debt need the protections embedded which regulation gives.
I'd urge @Jeremy_Hunt to continue with the plans, which we were promised years ago, and have huge support amongst consumer groups (and some BNPL firms) and ensure it's fully regulated like the debt it is.
https://t.co/rJy5YmFoEI
new post - my article on the Amigo announcement that the Scheme is going into Fallback and Amigo will be liquidated.
This looks at the implications for customers.
https://t.co/qpwu5XTBRf
Stark stats:
29% of kids are growing up in poverty
48% of kids in Black & minority ethnic families are in poverty
42% of kids in households with 3+ kids are in poverty
44% of kids in lone-parent families are in poverty
71% of kids growing up in poverty live in a working family
🚨 There are rising reports of text, email and phone scams impersonating energy firms.
For example, from thieves saying your energy supply has switched and asking for your payment details.
What to look out for and do if you think you're a victim ⤵️
https://t.co/00qHJDeu9V
Prepayment meter scandal - 3.2m households ran out of credit last year says @CitizensAdvice and two million sat in the dark and cold once a month. Charity calls for an end to power companies forcing them on customers. 600,000 forced onto them last year https://t.co/waj3XCOFZz
What does an unheated room do to your body?
10 degrees is the average temperature that people will be living in, if they can't afford to heat their homes
“as I was about to find out, 10C has a profound impact on the heart, lungs and brain.” https://t.co/utT2sDlDss
Energy bills are set to rise by over 80% this winter, compared to pre-crisis levels. Older generations will see the greatest squeeze on their incomes due to their larger and less energy-efficient homes, but younger people are most likely to struggle to pay rising bills. THREAD🧵
Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payments are no longer qualifying benefits for the Warm Home Discount. @adam_scorer says this is an ‘unwelcome and an unnecessary change’. @PeacheyK writes about the new criteria for the scheme here: https://t.co/Zt3Ybj9B8y
You can help.
Writing to your MP to ask them to support increasing all benefits by inflation as usual takes just 2 minutes.⬇️ [2/2]
https://t.co/exFPsBCCbJ
Peoples’ budgets were already at breaking point before soaring bills and prices. Together with @childrensociety, @jrf_uk, @CPAGUK and others we’re urging the government not to u-turn on their plan to increase all benefits in line with inflation. [1/2]