2023 December High interest rates will bring more hardship for households in 2024 -14 December 2023 Improving communications is key to more people accessing debt advice - 7 December 2023 November More than one in three households with children will struggle to afford Christmas - 28 November 2023 StepChange responds to rise in energy price cap - 23 November 2023 StepChange reacts to Autumn Statement - 22 November 2023 StepChange begins recruitment for new Chair - 16 November 2023 Women are bearing the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis in Scotland, says StepChange - 8 November 2023 Surge in women seeking debt advice who do not have enough to live on - 8 November 2023 October StepChange responds to new FCA Buy Now, Pay Later research - 31 October 2023 StepChange responds to Bank of England Money and Credit statistics - 30 October 2023 Council tax and rent arrears on the rise among StepChange Scotland clients - 25 October 2023 StepChange responds to further rise in private rental prices - 18 October 2023 StepChange responds to proposed price cap rise to cover energy debts - 12 October 2023 September StepChange responds to Bank of England Money and Credit statistics - 29 September 2023 Two in five people uncomfortable speaking to their mortgage lender or landlord about budget pressures - 25 September 2023 Pause in rate rises will bring relief, but housing costs most significant ‘pressure point’ for people’s finances, says StepChange - 21 September 2023 More than 1 in 3 private renters using credit to pay for rent - 20 September 2023 StepChange responds to outcome of Government consultation on insolvency regulation - 12 September 2023 August StepChange responds to Bank of England’s Money and Credit figures- 30 August 2023 Drop in energy price cap will do little to alleviate pressure on households, says StepChange - 25 August 2023 StepChange responds to mortgage and landlord repossession statistics - 10 August 2023 StepChange responds to personal insolvency framework review - 4 August 2023 StepChange responds to base rate rise- 3 August 2023 StepChange responds to proposed Government ban on financial cold callers- 2 August 2023 July StepChange responds to Bank of England’s Money and Credit figures - 31 July 2023 StepChange responds to FCA Financial Lives Survey - 26 July 2023 Debt charities warn of harmful misleading debt advice ads - 24 July 2023 Proportion of StepChange Scotland clients with mortgage arrears on the rise - 18 July 2023 StepChange responds to reports BNPL regulation could be delayed - 15 July 2023 StepChange sees increase in clients needing help with car finance debts - 11 July 2023 June StepChange appoints three new members to its Board of Trustees - 29 June 2023 StepChange responds to Bank of England Money and Credit stats - 29 June 2023 Seven million mortgage holders struggling to keep up with household bills and credit commitments - 22 June 2023 Record rent levels leaving more tenants at risk of problem debt, says StepChange - 21 June 2023 StepChange wins two awards at the Credit Strategy Awards - 2 June 2023 StepChange responds to FCA’s Debt Packager referral fee ban - 2 June 2023 Cost of living remains biggest driver of problem debt, says StepChange Debt Charity - 1 June 2023 May StepChange responds to FCA’s proposals to make permanent requirements on lenders to support borrowers in financial difficulty - 25 May 2023 StepChange responds to new inflation data - 24 May 2023 Private renters twice as likely to be in problem debt as general population - 23 May 2023 Some progress, but financially vulnerable tenants overlooked by Renters’ Reform Bill, says StepChange - 17 May 2023 StepChange responds to new FCA figures on struggling borrowers - 17 May 2023 Further interest rate rise ramps up pressure on mortgage holders and renters, says StepChange - 11 May 2023 New StepChange data: Demand for debt advice continues to rise - 4 May 2023 April StepChange appoints Alex Pitcher as new Chief Risk Officer - 24 April 2023 Progress, but cost of living crisis ‘far from over’, says StepChange - 19 April 2023 Debt and arrears levels rocket among StepChange Scotland clients in 2022 - 19 April 2023 StepChange supports half a million people in 2022 - 18 April 2023 March StepChange client debt levels up by 25% in 2022 - 29 March 2023 StepChange responds to rate rise - 23 March 2023 Debt Awareness Week: Five things you should know about debt advice - 22 March 2023 StepChange appoints Vikki Brownridge as new Chief Executive - 21 March 2023 One in six people has £20 or less to live on after paying for essentials each month - 20 March 2023 One in seven Scottish adults has £20 or less to live on after paying for essentials each month - 20 March 2023 StepChange responds to Budget - 15 March 2023 StepChange sees “startling” rise in demand for debt advice - 1 March 2023 February StepChange comments on new IVA outcomes and providers statistics - 28 February 2023 Two in five people rationing essentials to keep up with credit repayments - 16 February 2023 Half of Scottish adults are struggling to keep up with essential bills - 16 February 2023 StepChange responds to launch of new Buy Now, Pay Later regulation proposals - 14 February 2023 StepChange backs FCA’s proposed Debt Packager referral fee ban - 2 February 2023 StepChange reacts to rate rise - 2 February 2023 January Cost of living leaving more new clients struggling with essential bills - 31 January 2023 Almost a quarter of StepChange Scotland clients report the cost of living as the driver of their debt problems - 26 January 2023 StepChange Debt Charity marks 30 years of providing free debt advice - 25 January 2023 Cost of living pressures continue to weigh heavily on new StepChange clients - 4 January 2023
December 2022 StepChange CEO announces decision to leave in 2023 - 19 December 2022 StepChange reacts to rate rise - 15 December 2022 Government must step up to secure important bailiff reforms - 13 December 2022 Proportion of those who say they can afford Christmas has nearly halved since last year - 7 December 2022 Charlotte Chambers, currently Senior Director - Ecommerce Technology at supermarket chain Asda, is to join StepChange Debt Charity as Chief Technology and Information Officer on 20 March 2023 after a thorough and competitive recruitment process - 1 December 2022 November 2022 Proportion of clients with energy arrears falls, but cost of living still driving new clients to StepChange - 29 November 2022 StepChange reacts to Autumn Statement - 17 November 2022 StepChange responds to FCA’s report outlining treatment of borrowers in financial difficulty following pandemic - 3 November 2022 StepChange comments on rate rise - 3 November 2022 October 2022 Cost of living remains most commonly cited cause of debt among StepChange clients in September - 31 October 2022 Cost of living now number one cause of debt for StepChange Scotland clients - 20 October 2022 Gambling needs more holistic management to reduce harm when it causes debt, new research suggests - 18 October 2022 StepChange welcomes Google crackdown on advertisers, but root cause IVA problems remain - 10 October 2022 One in two people struggling to keep up with essential bills – triple the pre-pandemic number - 6 October 2022 September 2022 Cost of living remains most common reason for debt among new StepChange clients - 30 September 2022 Effective creditor communication key to helping consumers in financial difficulty, says StepChange - 29 September 2022 StepChange reacts to mini-budget - 23 September 2022 StepChange reaction to rate rise - 22 September 2022 StepChange reaction to energy support package - 8 September 2022 August 2022 Cost of living pressures continue to drive new clients to StepChange - 30 August 2022 StepChange reacts to new energy price cap - 26 August 2022 StepChange responds to new inflation data - 17 August 2022 StepChange says rate rise adds to cost of living woes for people experiencing debt - 4 August 2022 July 2022 For the first time, rising cost of living cited as most common reason for debt in June - 29 July 2022 StepChange says FCA consumer duty will create valuable cultural shift - 27 July 2022 StepChange reports positive client outcomes during first year of Breathing Space - 21 July 2022 Over a third of parents worried their finances will suffer during summer holidays - 19 July 2022 Half a million people supported by StepChange in 2021 - 13 July 2022 StepChange responds to new FCA and MoneyHelper research - 6 July 2022 StepChange wins Debt Advice Provider of the Year at the Credit Strategy Awards - 1 July 2022 June 2022 StepChange calls for pause on Universal Credit deductions for Government debt during Cost of Living crisis - 30 June 2022 StepChange welcomes Committee of Advertising Practice enforcement on misleading IVA and PTD ads - 23 June 2022 StepChange comments on inflation data - 22 June 2022 StepChange comments on rate rise and FCA cost of living reminder to firms - 16 June 2022 May 2022 Cost of living pressures continue to drive new clients to StepChange - 31 May 2022 StepChange reaction to Chancellor’s cost of living support package - 26 May 2022 StepChange Financial Solutions wins Best Equity Release Broker at Mortgage Strategy Awards - 26 May 2022 StepChange comments on inflation: “a driver of debt” - 18 May 2022 StepChange Scotland reports client average arrears on essential bills increased by 29% in one year - 12 May 2021 Further base rate rise ramps up pressure on low income households, says StepChange - 5 May 2022 Cost of living pressure rising as a cause of debt, as borrowing increases in March - 4 May 2022 April 2022 StepChange responds to new FCA strategy - 7 April 2022 Client statistics: Times were already hard for many before the latest cost of living crisis - 7 April 2022 March 2022 More clients cite cost of living as reason for debt, says StepChange - 29 March 2022 StepChange reacts to Spring Statement - 23 March 2022 StepChange reveals 2022-25 strategy against background of changes in debt advice - 22 March One in five people expects to be driven into problem debt this year - 21 March How the pandemic affected outcomes from debt advice - 3 March Cost of living now in top 5 reasons for debt, reports StepChange Debt Charity - 1 March February 2022 StepChange responds on FCA BNPL interventions - 14 February StepChange and OVO Energy announce £2 million package of additional support - 7 February Price cap rise to push more StepChange clients into negative budgets – even after support - 3 February January 2022 One in three people struggling to keep up with bills and credit commitments – double the pre-pandemic number - 20 January Consumers using BNPL are much more likely to be struggling, finds StepChange - 6 January New November data already shows worrying trends reflecting cost of living - even before Christmas pressures - 4 January
December 2021 We respond to new Government consultation on the future of insolvency regulation - 21 December Double whammy of rising inflation and rising interest rates means households experiencing debt need help, says StepChange - 16 December One in four people who celebrate Christmas will struggle to afford it this year - 9 December 2021 New consumer duty proposals are a game changer, says StepChange - 7 December November 2021 StepChange strongly supports debt packager firm referral fee ban proposal from FCA - 17 November StepChange comments on new landlord possession statistics - 11 November October 2021 StepChange reveals September client insights, comments on latest consumer credit data from Bank of England - 29 October StepChange responds to Budget - 27 October StepChange responds to new £65m support for rent arrears - 23 October StepChange reaction to HM Treasury BNPL consultation - 21 October StepChange urges Government to think again on £20 a week cut to Universal Credit - 6 October September 2021 StepChange responds to Government’s new £500m support fund - 30 September StepChange comments on Bank of England lending data, and reveals rise in those seeking debt advice in full-time employment - 29 September StepChange supports London Councils call for increased local authority resources - 24 September StepChange urges DWP to improve historic Tax Credit overpayment deductions practices that leave 98% struggling - 23 September £360million Covid rent debt crisis will escalate unless Universal Credit cut is reversed, we warn - 17 September August 2021 StepChange releases July client trends and comments on new Bank of England money and credit data - 31 August Government-backed Debt Advice Guide launched to support Scots in financial difficulty - 31 August July 2021 We release June client trends and comment on new Bank of England money and credit data - 29 July We respond to FCA action on debt packager firms - 20 July Our response to new FCA Business Plan - 15 July Yvonne MacDermid joins StepChange board of trustees - 1 July June 2021 Bank of England credit data mask serious debt problems, says StepChange - 29 June StepChange responds to Government’s Council Tax collection figures - 23 June StepChange reports nearly 1 in 10 clients in Scotland in debt due to Covid - 3 June May 2021 StepChange urges Government to pledge further support for renters as eviction ban ends - 28 May StepChange welcomes FCA's stronger consumer protections - 14 May StepChange welcomes DRO changes but emphasises importance of further change - 10 May April 2021 We welcome the launch of Breathing Space - 27 April Statistics Yearbook 2020: Changes in debt advice client profiles in the year of Covid - 14 April Millions facing ‘financial long covid’ need urgent support - 8 April March 2021 We respond to MHCLG Committee's calls for support for private renters - 31 March We mark Debt Awareness Week after year of lockdowns - 22 March Covid debt putting 150,000 renters at risk of eviction - 17 March We respond to continued rental eviction suspension - 10 March We respond to Budget: more will still be needed to help those hit hardest - 3 March February 2021 We comment on new insolvency data and proposals - 26 February We respond to the FCA's new vulnerability guidance - 23 February Our response to six-month extension of £20 Universal Credit uplift - 19 February Chancellor must act to tackle rent debt crisis - 18 February We react to the FCA’s Financial Lives Survey findings - 11 February We welcome Work & Pensions Committee recommendations on £20 Uplift - 9 February Single parents more likely to experience problem debt and to live in persistent poverty - 8 February 2021 We welcome new Insolvency Service guidance on misleading advertising - 5 February 2021 Woolard report sets encouraging agenda to reduce debt problems - 2 February 2021 Chris Wood joins our Board of Trustees - 1 February 2021 January 2021 Pressure grows to deal with online debt advice scammers as ASA upholds complaints - 27 January 2021 Continued bailiff activity is a risk to public health - 14 January 2021 We comment on the FCA’s proposed amendments to Mortgages and Consumer Repossession Guidance - 13 January 2021 We welcome the eviction ban extension - 8 January 2021
December 2020 Our clients explain in their own words what being in debt in the pandemic feels like - 16 December 2020 November 2020 We welcome Baroness Morgan of Cotes as our new Strategic Adviser - 26 November 2020 Covid Payment Plans go live as we urge people who need debt help to explore options - 24 November 2020 Our response to the FCA’s updated support for mortgage borrowers - 17 November 2020 New long-term household debt crisis inevitable without urgent intervention - 12 November 2020 Our reaction to the FCA’s further consumer credit support - 2 November 2020 October 2020 Our September client data analysis and comments on new Bank of England data - 29 October 2020 New 12-month reduced payment plan for households temporarily affected by covid - 22 October 2020 We comment on Work and Pensions Committee calls for Universal Credit reform - 19 October 2020 September 2020 We comment on August's Bank of England data - 29 September 2020 93 per cent struggle to afford essentials after government collections - 21 September 2020 We comment on the lifting of the eviction ban - 18 September 2020 We react to FCA’s further consumer credit & overdraft guidance - 16 September 2020 We respond to FCA mortgage advice update - 14 September 2020 We comment on Which? Report showing how the debt advice scammers are still at it - 14 September 2020 Our July debt analysis and comments on Bank of England data - 1 September 2020 August 2020 We comment on the FCA’s new guidance for mortgage lenders - 26 August 2020 We comment on the return of bailiff visits - 24 August 2020 Government extends eviction ban - 21 August 2020 We respond to the FCA's repeat borrowing findings - 06 August 2020 July 2020 We welcome FCA call for input on coronavirus lender payment difficulties - 31 July 2020 We publish new June debt analysis and comments on Bank of England data - 29 July 2020 We comment on the Financial Conduct Authority’s new vulnerability guidance - 29 July 2020 We join forces with Generation Rent to urge Government to protect renters from eviction - 21 July 2020 We call for action to protect consumers from bad practice by IVA providers - 20 July 2020 Breathing Space regulations herald welcome relief ahead to help people resolve debt problems - 15 July 2020 Government must act to prevent council tax loading £158m in bailiff and court fees - 14 July 2020 We comment on FCA extension of high cost credit and motor finance payment freeze - 3 July 2020 We comment on further emergency funding for councils - 2 July 2020 We comment on further support for consumer credit customers - 1 July 2020 June 2020 We welcome Government intention to get its debt management house in order - 29 June 2020 Bank of England credit data doesn’t tell the whole story - 29 June 2020 Joint letter to Simon Clarke MP re: Council tax debt enforcement during the Covid-19 pandemic - 25 June 2020 We comment on the reimposition of bailiff visits - 23 June 2020 Evidence and consensus grows on need for overhaul of Universal Credit - 22 June 2020 We welcome FCA’s extension of consumer credit payment freeze - 19 June 2020 We welcome free school meals extension - 16 June 2020 We back cross-Party call for Debt Management Bill - 11 June 2020 We welcome £38m debt advice funding announcement - 9 June 2020 Post-Covid personal debt tsunami inevitable unless radical relief is given - 9 June 2020 The return of bailiffs is unfair and unsafe without additional Government action - 4 June 2020 May We welcome mortgage holiday extension and ask “what about tenants?” - 22 May 2020 Dangerously high levels of financial vulnerability in Scotland revealed - 14 May 2020 April We welcome IVA coronavirus flexibility - 17 April 2020 We welcome FCA forbearance guidance on motor finance and payday loans - 17 April 2020 We welcome FCA temporary relief package - 9 April 2020 We welcome FCA emergency financial relief proposals - 2 April 2020 UK personal debt statistics reveal thousands of households’ finances already at breaking point - 1 April 2020 March Bailiff action ‘must be suspended’ during Covid-19 outbreak - 25 March 2020 Coronavirus support package is a welcome step - 20 March 2020 ‘Rescue package’ needed to help household finances cope with COVID-19 - 19 March 2020 Our response to today's Budget - 11 March 2020 When does the light at the end of the tunnel appear for people in debt? - 4 March 2020 February We've partnered with OpenWrks to bring Money Coaching to our clients - 19 February 2020 Government urged to act on bailiff reform - 17 February 2020 New service to help people in “persistent debt” - 10 February 2020 We welcome FCA persistent debt reminder - 3 February 2020 January We comment on Insolvency Service data - 30 January 2020 We've appointed a new head of strategic relationships - 28 January 2020 FCA is right to ask banks to explain overdraft pricing - 28 January 2020 Flaws in social security are causing debt and destitution – Government must act - 23 January 2020
2019 December Banks must not shroud their repeat overdraft use strategies in mystery - 17 December 2019 Two thirds of people struggling to afford Christmas and a third expecting to borrow for it - 3 December 2019 November We call on all parties to use election manifestos to tackle UK problem debt crisis - 6 November 2019 We comment on High Court bailiff VAT error - 5 November 2019 October We welcome Google's crackdown on exploitative debt service ads - 23 October 2019 Twice as many Brits expect their financial situation to get worse rather than better in 2020 - 23 October 2019 One in four Welsh adults showing signs of financial distress - 22 October 2019 September Statistics Mid-Year Update 2019 - 18 September 2019 July Avoiding the debt advice scammers - 31 July 2019 Our response to Commons Work and Pensions Committee report on the welfare safety net - 31 July 2019 Our response to new draft FCA vulnerability guidance to firms - 23 July 2019 Our response to MOJ's announcement about curbing unlawful bailiff behaviour - 22 July Life happens but we’re not financially resilient - 17 July 2019 Time to blow the final whistle on the subprime card debt trap - 9 July 2019 June We respond to FCA consultation on mortgage prisoners - 26 June 2019 Our response to FCA’s "Buy Now, Pay Later" rule changes - 12 June 2019 Our response to FCA overdraft rules - 7 June 2019 May Vulnerable Energy Customers Still Being Let Down - 31 May 2019 “Persistent debt” credit card reminders now landing on doormats - 29 May 2019 We've won the Debt Advice Provider of the Year Award - 17 May 2019 How National Numeracy Day can help tackle problem debt - 15 May 2019 We commend Treasury Select Committee for keeping up pressure for debt reforms - 13 May 2019 We respond to Fairness Group Statement - 7 May 2019 Our response to the FCA’s discussion paper on Intergenerational Differences - 2 May 2019 April Our response to the FCA’s statement on Duty of Care Consultation - 23 April 2019 Our response to the Justice Committee’s Report on Bailiff Enforcement - 11 April 2019 Debt Charity Warns of Council Tax Emergency - 9 April 2019 Ten years of debt relief orders (DROs) - 6 April 2019 Record number of people contacting us in 2018 - 3 April 2019 March We comment on FCA's letter to firms on credit card fees and charges - 6 March 2019 We comment on FCA rent-to-own cap rules - 5 March 2019 February Majority of public back call for bailiff regulation as "government action is long overdue" - 15 February 2019 Progress on debt typically spiky not smooth - 13 February 2019 January Breathing Space response: Steps needed to ensure new protections work as intended - 29 January 2019 More than one in four people uneasy about finances this Blue Monday - 21 January 2019 John Griffith-Jones to chair StepChange Debt Charity - 7 January 2019 We comment on the latest Bank of England consumer lending figures - 4 January 2019
December FCA takes important steps to making overdrafts fairer - 18 December 2018 November We comment on latest Bank of England Money & Credit data - 29 November 2018 FCA double whammy crackdown on rent-to-own price caps is welcome - 22 November 2018 Locked out – how debt impacts housing - 13 November 2018 Talk Money Week 2018 - debt advice really helps - 12 November 2018 October We reveal our latest debt statistics for the first half of 2018 - 4 October 2018 We comment on latest Bank of England consumer lending figures - 1 October 2018 September We reveal new strategy to double the number of people helped by 2022 25 September Our comment on Help to Save 12 September We respond to National Audit Office report on how much debt costs the state 6 September Capital of debt: Londoners more likely to be in the red 4 September August Our comment on latest Bank of England lending figures 30 August Our comment on Bank of England interest rate rise 2 August July Our comment on latest Bank of England consumer credit data and FCA creditworthiness rules 30 July Our comment on the Office of National Statistics report 26 July Our comment on Treasury Select Committee report on household finances 26 July Our reaction to the FCA consumer approach 17 July June Our comment on latest Bank of England lending statistics 29 June Our comment on the FCA retail banking review for overdrafts 27 June Why should being vulnerable have to mean being worse off? Our new research 20 June May Sir Hector Sants to step down as our Chairman to chair the new Single Financial Guidance Body 31 May We respond to FCA high cost credit proposals 31 May Behind on the basics - three million people in arrears on essential bills in 2017 24 May Our comments on Which? letter to FCA on overdrafts 23 May Our comment on the latest Bank of England lending data 1 May April Our comment on loan shark crackdown 25 April We appoint a new director of external affairs 24 April We support the FCA's scam warning 24 April March Comment on Bank of England data: the burden of persistent debt 29 March Making credit affordable - new research 28 March We reveal trends in those seeking debt help in 2017 13 March Our response to the latest Bank of England Money and Credit statistics 1 March February New FCA credit card rules welcome - but action needed to break cycle of debt build up 27 February January Our response to FCA update on high-cost credit review 31 January Our latest response to the Bank of England Money and Credit statistics 30 January We respond to Bank of England Money and Credit statistics 5 January