Library

A common operational European definition of over-indebtedness

145kb This paper sets out to identify the nature and causes of over-indebtedness, to review the definitions and measurement of over-indebtedness and to propose common definitions and indicators. (European Commission, 2008)

a nation living on the never-never:policy solutions to reduce Britain’s personal debt mountain

881kb UK personal debt has doubled over the past decade to £1.6 trillion, and is forecast to rise to £2.1 trillion by 2015 (taking the average household debt to £84,365). Total lending is now more than the country’s total output, with “stressed” unsecured borrowing reaching record highs. Do such high levels of indebtedness matter? Which groups are most at risk? How serious will the problem get? Do we have the right regulatory systems and agencies in place to cope with a personal debt crisis? And what alternative policies are on offer to deal with the wider impacts of the UK’s debt legacy? The contributors to this report have expertly grappled with these questions, collectively helping to push the issue of personal debt higher up the political agenda. (The Smith Insititute, December 2011)

A vicious cycle

771kb This report shows how problem debt can have a persistent and invasive impact on the lives of families struggling to live on low incomes. It argues that eradicating child poverty in the UK is likely to be unattainable if the poorest families are trapped in a cycle of debt by the high cost credit sector. (Barnardo's, 2011)

An independent review of the fee-charging debt management industry

532kb The broad context for this research is the significant upsurge of consumer credit use in the UK over the past 10 years, with a parallel increase in the debt remedy industry. In that period, individual insolvencies increased significantly, with particularly strong growth in individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs). This research was undertaken between July 2008 and February 2009, at a time when the UK was experiencing a deepening economic recession and had seen a significant tightening of the consumer credit market. (Personal Finance Research Centre, 2009)

Any Questions: Information about the Insolvency Enquiry Line

120kb A guide to the insolvency enquiry line (the insolvency service, 2011)

CCCS statistical yearbook 2006

615kb Statistical information about Consumer Credit Counselling Service's clients. (CCCS, 2007)

CCCS statistical yearbook 2011

1483kb This data is drawn from a warehouse containing the details of more than 13 million phone calls, 1.5 million clients and cumulative debts of around £28 billion. The analysis contained in this Yearbook is drawn from the records of people who have received a full counselling session. (CCCS, 2012)

Characteristics of households in debt and the nature of indebtedness

576kb This study examined the nature and extent of debt in families compared with other groups, and looked at changes over time. The focus was especially on low-income groups and debt was defined as financial difficulties and arrears. (Corporate Document Services, 2004)

Consumer Debt and Money Report Q4 2011

827kb This is the first in a series of quarterly reports from Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) which will provide a useful tool for policy-makers and those grappling to understand and confront the rising problem of household debt. (CCCS, 2012)

Counting on credit

1393kb This report calls for stricter scrutiny of the pressure put on people to take out punitively high interest loans. It follows a year-long study into child poverty which found families plunged into worrying levels of debt by loan companies that prey on the poor. (Barndo's, 2009)