Risk

Laurent Mignon appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Coface

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:19:36 +0100

The Board of Directors of Coface have appointed Laurent Mignon Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company. Laurent Mignon is the Chief Executive Officer of Natixis, shareholder of Coface. He takes over from François David, whose mandate has ended.

Experian speeds up insurance decision making with new data service

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:16:38 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced the launch of Data Request Service, a robust and secure service providing immediate access to high volumes of home and motor insurance claims data from the Claims and Underwriting Exchange (CUE) in order to validate insurance history.

SFP gives New Millennium Group a fresh start

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:05:07 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has completed a sale of recruitment firm the New Millennium Group Limited, saving the jobs of all 12 members of staff in the process.

Billing Error and Fraud could cost Operators nearly $300bn annually by 2016, Juniper Report Finds

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:59:03 +0100

A new report from Juniper Research has found that mobile network operators face losing nearly one-quarter of revenues – nearly $300 billion – to a combination of fraud and billing error by 2016. However, it argues that through the implementation of revenue assurance and fraud management solutions, network operators will be able to substantially reduce the scale of potential global leakage by more than $250 billion by that time.

Harrisons appointed administrators to Castle Personal Insurance Brokers Limited

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:28:31 +0100

Tony Murphy, Director, and Paul Boyle, Head of National Practice, at recovery and insolvency specialist Harrisons have been appointed Joint Administrators of Castle Personal Insurance Brokers Limited, an insurance broker based in Hertfordshire.

Full data sharing by payday lenders is the right way forward for consumer financial inclusion

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:05:51 +0100

Following the Office of Fair Trading’s announcement in March of plans to investigate the payday loan industry, and the subsequent report on the sector released by the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, leading credit reference agency, Equifax, is urging all parts of the market to continue to work together to share data.

CIFAS Staff Fraud report reveals complex set of dangers

Thu, 10 May 2012 13:28:18 +0100

CIFAS – the UK's Fraud Prevention Service, today releases Staff Fraudscape: a 40-page report analysing the insider frauds, and the reasons behind the 14.5% increase in such frauds, recorded by Members of the CIFAS Staff Fraud Database during 2011.

Debt problems divide London

Thu, 10 May 2012 13:13:51 +0100

London has the most complex personal debt problem in the UK, according to a new report from national debt charity Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS). London in the red analyzes the financial circumstances of the more than 11,000 Londoners who contacted CCCS’s free debt advice helpline in 2011, and shows wide variations in financial difficulty across the city.

CRIF Partner with Tracesmart to enhance fraud prevention solutions

Thu, 10 May 2012 12:17:29 +0100

Leading providers of consumer data intelligence, Tracesmart have announced a long term cooperation agreement with CRIF Decision Solutions Ltd, a company specialising in the provision of decision support, fraud detection and fraud prevention solutions. Based in the UK, it is part of the CRIF Group, which operates across Europe, America, Asia and Africa. CRIF Decision Solutions Ltd has been supporting the UK insurance industry for over 15 years and is a provider of the Claims and Underwr ...

FICO Map Reveals Winners and Losers in Fight Against European Card Fraud

Wed, 09 May 2012 21:44:12 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, today published an interactive “fraud map” of Europe that shows how technology has changed the card fraud landscape. The map — accessible at www.fico.com/fraudeurope — reveals that card fraud has migrated from the UK to other countries, notably France and Germany, over the last few years, due to the UK’s adoption of chip and PIN technology, and issuers’ use of analytics-based fra ...

Equifax Helps ReAssure Connect With 'Lost' Customers

Wed, 09 May 2012 21:36:38 +0100

Leading consumer credit information and analytics expert, Equifax, is working with life and pensions company, ReAssure, to help them trace gone away policyholders in order to repatriate them with their investments. The innovative Equifax Positive Locate service is playing a crucial role in ReAssure’s campaign to find customers who have moved, but forgotten to inform ReAssure of their changed address. Since the new service was implemented in March 2012, over £250,000 ...

Coface Media Alert - 'And if Greece were to quit the eurozone?'

Wed, 09 May 2012 16:25:42 +0100

Greece quitting the eurozone would be disastrous. But this long unthinkable scenario cannot be discounted. Even though its likelihood remains below 50% policymakers cannot afford to sweep it under the rug considering the severity of the Greek financial and economic crisis and the difficulty of implementing unavoidable reforms.

Wonga launches business loans â comment from insolvency trade body R3

Wed, 09 May 2012 12:37:53 +0100

Lee Manning, president of insolvency trade body R3, comments on Wonga launching business loans.

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Tue, 08 May 2012 18:00:38 +0100

Duff and Phelps, the administrators of Rangers Football Club, today issued the following statement.

Experian unveils next generation decision management software

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:39:44 +0100

Experian® today announced the UK availability of PowerCurve, its new decision management software portfolio, which helps organisations manage and grow their portfolios by improving the way they use information to make customer decisions.

Atradius publishes ten-point plan for exporting to China

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:32:45 +0100

Whilst business sentiment and consumer confidence continue to decline in many western markets, China - with its thriving jobs market, rising incomes and burgeoning consumer demand – has become an attractive prospect for many foreign exporters. However, trading with China also involves risk, which is why, to help exporters avoid the logistical and financial pitfalls, credit insurer Atradius has published its ten-point guide ‘Trade successfully with China’.

Insolvencies rise amongst wealthy, rural dwellers and pensioners

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:08:42 +0100

New analysis from Experian®, the global information services company, today revealed that – while insolvencies in the UK continue to be most prevalent amongst welfare dependent groups – there was an increase in the levels of wealthy individuals, rural residents and pensioners being declared insolvent in the last quarter.

SFP appointed administrator of two food production companies

Thu, 03 May 2012 15:29:58 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has been appointed Administrator of Sher Halal Foods Limited and United Halal Foods Limited after both firms encountered financial difficulties, leading to combined debts of almost £650,000.

Duff and Phelps, joint administrators of Rangers Football Club, issued the following statement today

Thu, 03 May 2012 14:50:38 +0100

Paul Clark, joint administrator, said: "We would like to thank all parties for their efforts in seeking to submit bids which preserve the long history and success of the Club.

World growth: resilient in 2012 before rebounding in 2013 in a context of uncertainty

Wed, 02 May 2012 17:44:53 +0100

In 2011, world GDP grew by 2.9%, representing a significant loss of momentum relative to the previous year (4.3% in 2010). Most of the principal contributors to world growth have returned to their pre-crisis expansion rates, with the exception of Japan, the UK and, within the euro zone, Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy.

Slough overtakes London as identity fraud capital of UK, reveals Experian

Wed, 02 May 2012 00:01:00 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today revealed that Slough has overtaken London to become the identity fraud capital of the UK. The Berkshire town recorded 25 identity fraud attempts for every 10,000 households, with residents targeted at around four times the UK national average (seven households in every 10,000). Residents of London, Gravesend, Birmingham, Luton, Manchester and Leicester were also targeted at twice the national average rate.

SFP appointed administrators to Pallet Distribution Services Limited

Tue, 01 May 2012 17:46:40 +0100

The nationwide insolvency practitioners SFP has been appointed Administrators to Brentwood-based haulage and distribution firm Pallet Distribution Services Limited.

Halving prices doubles demand for judgment information

Tue, 01 May 2012 17:43:35 +0100

The number of public enquiries made about county court debt judgments doubled in the first quarter of 2012, compared with the same period of the previous year. This was a direct result of Registry Trust’s more than halving the cost of searches last autumn.

Jet flies in at Laser UK

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:05:29 +0100

LaSer UK, a UK leader in card, loyalty and retail finance programmes, has appointed Jet Uppal as Risk Director. Jet, who has worked with GE Capital, MBNA and SAV Credit, impressed LaSer UK management with his passion for development and people, supported by an impressive portfolio of industry experience.

SFP completes sale of Else Northern Limited

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:00:12 +0100

SFP – the nationwide insolvency practitioners – has completed a sale of the assets of Else Northern Limited (ENL) after the company accrued substantial debts, almost £300,000, with a significant sum owed to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Equifax Focuses on Data Needs of Utilities

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:51:44 +0100

Leading consumer credit and business information expert, Equifax, is focusing considerable resources and investment into the utilities sector as it appoints a new Business Development Director. Ben Ecroyd brings a wealth of expertise in the utilities and public sectors, with a sales career spanning 12 years. Reporting to Johanna Edwards, Sales Director, Equifax, Ben will play a key role in enhancing Equifax’s relationship with companies operating across all areas of utilitie ...

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:08:54 +0100

Duff and Phelps, the administrators of Rangers Football Club, today issued the following statement.

Kick-off for Lee Manningâs presidency of insolvency trade body

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:22:08 +0100

Lee Manning, who has run a number of high-profile retail administrations including Oddbins and Land of Leather, becomes president of insolvency trade body R3 today. A Partner in Restructuring Services at Deloitte LLP, Lee has also been involved with at least a dozen football clubs over as many years as administrator of Millwall, Bradford City and Swindon Town, as well as Richmond Professional rugby club when it was in the Rugby Premiership.

Statement: Port Vale (Valiant 2001) Football Club Limited

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:21:58 +0100

Statement from Bob Young, Gerald Krasner and Steve Currie of Begbies Traynor, joint administrators of Port Vale (Valiant 2001) Football Club Limited:

Equifax Reports First Quarter 2012 Results

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:15:32 +0100

Equifax Inc. today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The company reported revenue of $522.7 million in the first quarter of 2012, an 11 percent increase from the first quarter of 2011. On a non-GAAP basis, first quarter revenue was up 15 percent in U.S. dollars and 16 percent in local currency, excluding Brazilian operating results due to the deconsolidation of Brazil in the second quarter of 2011.

Annual results - Callcredit Continues to âBuck the Trendâ in Difficult Market Conditions

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:05:46 +0100

Callcredit Information Group has continued to see excellent growth in 2011, with profits from operations increasing 11.2% on the previous year to show full year profits of £12.4 million. Despite continued uncertain market conditions throughout 2011, the company saw revenues increase by 50% year on year. The Group also continued to expand its workforce increasing staff numbers from 800 to 900.

Atradius - Economic outlook

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:54:40 +0100

Atradius, one of the leading global trade credit insurance companies anticipates an increase in insolvencies across most developed markets. The Eurozone led slowdown in global growth and the tight financing conditions make it more difficult for businesses to grow.

Comment on ONS figures and double-dip recession from Begbies Traynor

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:44:47 +0100

This morning’s figures from the Office for National Statistics, showing that the UK is now officially back in recession, bear out the findings of last week’s Red Flag Alert survey from business rescue and recovery specialist Begbies Traynor.

Halved prices double demand for judgment information

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:10:01 +0100

Registry Trust recorded a record number of searches of its registers last quarter. In all 67,119 searches were received by the Trust across all the jurisdictions where it collects judgment information. This is double the number it received in the first quarter of last year, thanks to a price reduction for all customers announced in September 2011 when the cost of searching was more than halved.*

Rocketing fraud levels driven by data warns CIFAS

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:53:59 +0100

The frauds identified by the cross sector Members of CIFAS – the UK's Fraud Prevention Service during the first quarter of 2012, confirm that the age of data-enabled fraud has truly arrived.

Banking industry police unit tops Â£400 million in estimated fraud savings since launch

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:43:37 +0100

Latest figures show that the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU) – the specialist police unit that tackles UK card and cheque fraud crime – has passed the £400 million mark in reduced fraud activity since its launch ten years ago. The work of the Unit has undoubtedly contributed to the current downward trend in card fraud losses’.

Financial crimes and fraud investigations faster, more streamlined with SAS

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:26:19 +0100

Battling financial crime got easier today with the release of the latest version of SAS Enterprise Case Management. Using SAS, the leader in business analytics software and services, for case management, industries such as banking, insurance, government and health care can document, track and manage financial crime and fraud investigations with more speed and efficiency. Enhancements include a centralised reporting hub, improved event notifications and faster Web service capabilities. ...

Risk Management wins seat at boardroom table in financial institutions across EMEA

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:14:06 +0100

Risk managers in financial institutions across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) are seizing the opportunity created by the financial crisis to demonstrate how they create value and are rapidly gaining new-found kudos in the boardroom as a result.

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:40:39 +0100

Duff and Phelps, the administrators of Rangers Football Club, issued the following statement today:

FICO Launches New Solution to Combat $50+ Billion Insurance Claims Fraud Problem

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:04:39 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, today announced the availability of a new solution aimed at helping insurers curb the growing problem of insurance claims fraud. The FICO® Claims Fraud Solution uses three integrated technologies to identify more fraudulent insurance claims faster, in order to help insurers cut general insurance fraud losses that last year reached an estimated $52 billion worldwide, according to research and advisory firm C ...

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:41:38 +0100

Duff & Phelps, the administrators of Rangers Football Club, issued the following statement today:

Duff & Phelps Ltd. appointed Administrators to Allied Floors Limited

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:48:15 +0100

Geoff Bouchier and Matt Bond, both of leading global financial advisory and investment banking firm Duff & Phelps, were appointed Joint Administrators of Allied Floors Limited (“the Company”) on 20th April 2012.

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:04:03 +0100

Duff & Phelps, the administrators of Rangers Football Club, issued the following statement tonight. 

Outbox and FICO bring advanced analytics and decision management technology to Polish market

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:33:20 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, and Outbox, one of the leading consulting companies specializing in the implementation of CRM solutions, today announced that they have signed an agreement to bring next generation analytics and decision management technology to Polish banks and financial institutions. The partnership, announced today at the 8th Annual CEE Credit Risk Management conference in Warsaw, will focus on helping Polish businesses use FIC ...

FSA statistics show boiler room fraudsters are making greater efforts to con consumers

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:49:39 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has published statistics that show there were more reports of share fraud activity in 2011 than 2010, but fewer people lost money.

Noddle launches campaign to get Britain in better financial & physical shape

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:53:07 +0100

Noddle, the pioneering free-for-life credit report service from Callcredit Information Group, has launched the next phase of its roll-out as it seeks to drive the next phase of its growth.

Mortgage fraud increases for fifth successive year, reveals Experian

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:01:00 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today revealed that fraudulent applications for mortgages increased by eight per cent in 2011. This was the fifth year in a row in which the rate of mortgage fraud has increased. 34 in every 10,000 applications for mortgages were found to be fraudulent in 2011, compared to just 15 in every 10,000 in 2006.

Equifax leads the market by providing full access to credit report services on smart phones

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 23:38:19 +0100

Equifax, the first credit reference agency to provide instant online access to consumer credit information, is again leading the market in helping to protect consumers from ID fraud as well as empowering them to manage their finances. Equifax is the first credit information provider to launch a mobile app that provides full access for consumers to their credit data via a variety of smart phone devices, anywhere and at any time.

Thomson Reuters launches new forward-looking model to assess credit risk

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:08:23 +0100

Thomson Reuters, the world’s leading supplier of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, today announced that it has introduced the StarMine SmartRatios Credit Risk Model to assess the credit risk of publicly traded companies. The SmartRatios model is an intuitive and robust default prediction model that provides a clearer view of a firm’s credit condition and financial health by analyzing a wide array of accounting ratios that are predictive of credit risk ...

Plumber jailed for tax fraud

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:41:38 +0100

West Midlands plumber David Williams, 53, was today jailed for 12 months for evading £91,000 of income tax and national insurance during 10 years of trading as a self-employed plumber.

Provisional liquidator for Tullett Brown Limited and three related companies

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:20:42 +0100

Tullett Brown Limited and three connected companies - Tamar (London) Limited, Johnnystone Limited and Brad Baker Limited - have been ordered into provisional liquidation by the High Court on public interest grounds, following an investigation by Company Investigations, part of The Insolvency Service.

Another âSupport publishingâ company closed down after Government investigation

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:15:50 +0100

Alderleys Limited, a company claiming to sell business-to-business advertising in an online directory and safety and emergency services booklets has been wound-up in the public interest by the High Court in Manchester following an investigation by Company Investigations of the Insolvency Service.

Protecting against illegal trading activity

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:53:15 +0100

With the FSA in the UK and the SEC in the USA clamping down hard on illegal trading, organisations are facing a difficult battle to make sure that they are not going to be the next institution to fall foul of the authorities. Michael Rhodes, senior fraud consultant at SAS UK & Ireland discusses what the recent punishments mean for the industry and what measures need to be put in place to protect themselves.

41% of people believe online banking and shopping is akin to playing Russian Roulette

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:01:00 +0100

Figures released today from a survey examining “attitudes towards online shopping and banking” conducted by Entersekt – a mobile security company and carried out by OnePoll, reveals that four out of ten consumers suspect they are playing with fire conducting financial transactions online. The study of 1,000 people, found that while the individuals questioned love it, rely on it, and aren’t willing to give it up, 41% are convinced their accounts will be breached in ...

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:23:17 +0100

Duff & Phelps, administrators of Rangers Football Club, issued the following statement today.

UK rental market booming with rental properties up by 10% annually

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:33:27 +0100

Experian analysis has revealed the rental market in the UK is flourishing with an additional 58,000 properties being marketed to rent in 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. By contrast the number of properties for sale dropped by approximately 12,000 in 2011.

European consumers and small businesses 'will fall further behind in credit payments'

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:28:37 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, and Efma today announced further results of the fourth European Credit Risk Survey, indicating that consumers and small businesses’ struggle with credit payments will intensify over the next few months. In addition, bank profitability will be hurt by government austerity measures aimed at balancing national budgets.

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:55:40 +0100

Duff & Phelps, the administrators of Rangers Football Club, issued the following statement today.

Duff & Phelps conclude going concern sale of Automat American Brasserie

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:34:57 +0100

The Joint Administrators of the Automat American Brasserie (“Automat”), Geoff Bouchier and Jason Godefroy of leading global financial advisory and investment banking firm Duff & Phelps, have announced that they have successfully sold the business. The sale sees Giuseppe Cipriani and Carlos Almada looking to develop the Automat brand and also to open a new restaurant in the adjacent building on Berkeley Street.

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:47:53 +0100

Duff & Phelps, the administrators of Rangers Football Club, issued the following statement today.

Equifax launches Tenancy Verification solution

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:10:07 +0100

Tenancy fraud is easy to commit and hard to uncover. That is the view of many local authorities trying to tackle what is considered by the Audit Commission to be the largest category of fraud across local government, with an estimated 50,000 homes currently occupied fraudulently. Yet, although Housing Tenancy Fraud is estimated by the National Fraud Authority to cost the public purse at least £900 million each year, many local authorities do not allocate dedicated resou ...

One arrested as FSA continues to clamp down on unauthorised business

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:42:01 +0100

With the assistance of the City of London Police, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has executed a search warrant at one address in East London in connection with an investigation into a suspected unauthorised foreign exchange trading scheme. A 23 year old man was arrested on suspicion of committing offences under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and the Fraud Act 2006.

One arrested as FSA continues to clamp down on unauthorised business

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:29:19 +0100

With the assistance of the City of London Police, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) today executed a search warrant at one address in East London in connection with an investigation into a suspected unauthorised foreign exchange trading scheme. A 23 year old man was arrested on suspicion of committing offences under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and the Fraud Act 2006.

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:05:41 +0100

Duff & Phelps, administrators of Rangers Football Club, issued the following statement today.

Bank account fraud highlights need for security reviews

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:30:11 +0100

As revealed in the recently published Fraudscape report, nearly 30% of the record number of frauds recorded by the Members of CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service in 2011 targeted bank accounts.

SFP keeps window open to potential buyers for JDW Systems Limited

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:27:41 +0100

The nationwide insolvency practitioners SFP has been appointed Administrators to Gosport-based PVC window and door supplier firm JDW Systems Limited, after it accrued significant debts.

Survey issues financial health warning to one in five English Football League clubs

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:24:25 +0100

A new survey into the corporate health of the English Football League by Begbies Traynor the corporate recovery specialists, reveals that signs of financial distress are alarmingly widespread among professional football clubs in the Football League.

OFT launches on-line register of supervised businesses

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:53:09 +0100

A searchable register of the businesses supervised by the OFT under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 has been made public for the first time today.

44 jobs secured as buyer is found for AMI Blaymires Limited

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:51:41 +0100

Joint Administrators, John Whitfield and Matt Ingram, both of leading global financial advisory and investment banking firm Duff & Phelps, have confirmed that they have successfully sold the business and assets of AMI Blaymires Limited (‘the Company’).

FSA review into anti-bribery and corruption systems and controls in investment banks

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:03:32 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) today publishes the findings of its thematic review into anti-bribery and corruption (ABC) systems and controls in investment banks. In response to those findings, the FSA will consult on proposed amendments to the FSA’s regulatory guidance, ‘Financial crime: a guide for firms’. This proposed new guidance applies to all firms within scope of our financial crime rules, not just investment banks.

Experian comments on today's cost of fraud findings from the NFA

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:27:33 +0100

Following today’s findings from the National Fraud Authority (NFA) which highlight the cost of fraud is now estimated at £73billion, Nick Mothershaw, Director of Identity & Fraud Services at Experian UK & Ireland comments:

Annual Fraud Indicator - SAS comment

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:15:07 +0100

The National Fraud Authority today has released the 2012 Annual Fraud Indicator, which estimates the cost of fraud to the UK economy by sector. The report puts losses from the financial services and insurance sector at £3.5bn.

David Wilson, senior partner for Begbies Traynor comments on Bradford Bulls

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:47:03 +0100

David Wilson, senior partner for Begbies Traynor in Yorkshire and the North East, said: “The problems now being experienced by the Bradford Bulls reflect the more pronounced trend we’ve already seen among football clubs.

European Bankers Project 2012 Economic Recession in FICO-Efma Survey

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:50:02 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, and Efma today announced the results of the fourth European Credit Risk Survey, which shows a grim outlook for 2012. In the survey, which queried credit risk management professionals in January and February, 79% of respondents forecast a new European recession for 2012.

Coutts fined Â£8.75 million for anti-money laundering control failings

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:40:48 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has fined Coutts & Company (Coutts) £8.75 million for failing to take reasonable care to establish and maintain effective anti-money laundering (AML) systems and controls relating to high risk customers, including Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).

As retail quarter comes to a close, insolvencies 'show no signs of dissipating'

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 17:25:06 +0100

A downturn in footfall, the shift to online shopping and trade and rising overheads are creating a recipe for insolvency on the UK’s high streets, according to leading trade credit insurer Atradius.

Medium sized firms demonstrate greater resilience during February

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:01:00 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today revealed that businesses with 51 to 100 employees saw a significant fall in insolvency rates year-on-year, from 0.20 per cent in February 2011 to 0.12 per cent in February this year.

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:42:06 +0100

Duff and Phelps, the administrators of Rangers Football Club, issued the following statement today.

Time: the biggest loss to victims of fraud, reports CIFAS

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:07:38 +0100

The results of a poll on the website of CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service has revealed that it is the time taken to sort out the mess caused by becoming a victim of fraud that has the most devastating impact on victims.

Atradius response to Budget 2012 announcement

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:33:49 +0100

Alun Sweeney, UK & Ireland Director of leading trade credit insurer Atradius said:

Administration of Port Vale (Valiant 2001) Football Club Ltd

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:59:04 +0100

Administrators of Port Vale Football Club are reporting strong interest in acquiring the club which went into administration earlier this month.

Pre Budget Comment - Impact on SMEs and access to finance

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:59:23 +0100

Gordon Skaljak, external spokesperson, Graydon UK, said: “George Osborne is coming under real pressure to deliver affordable finance to businesses. The National Loan Guarantee Scheme is admirable in its thinking but it won’t be successful unless the Government communicate effectively with banks and businesses so that all parties understand how it works and how to take advantage of it.

White Paper: Generating Value from Decision Automation

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:38:13 +0100

A Creditinfo White Paper, Generating Value from Decision Automation, has been written by Paul Randall, who has over 24 years experience in credit risk management, leading the Creditinfo Decision company to deliver high quality consultancy and model development.

Better access to public sector information moves a step closer

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:27:26 +0100

The private sector and the open data community are to have greater influence over the release of public sector data to encourage the creation of high-value businesses and promote economic growth, the Government announced today.

Decrease in the number of UK company failures in the first quarter of 2012

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:57:33 +0100

Company failure rates during the first three months of 2012 were nearly 20 percent (19.9 per cent) lower than the same time period two years ago (2010) according to the latest Graydon UK Insolvency Predictor.

SFP appointed administrator for Chevron Autohire Limited

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:19:44 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has been appointed Administrator of Chevron Autohire Limited after the firm encountered financial difficulties, leading to debts of more than £60,000 with a sum owed to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Thomson Reuters Launches Accelus Compliance Manager

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:47:58 +0100

Thomson Reuters Governance, Risk & Compliance today announced the launch of Accelus Compliance Manager, a single platform that allows firms to track, monitor and understand regulatory changes and connect them to their internal compliance process and workflow. The platform combines Thomson Reuters trusted global regulatory intelligence with its leading software platform for governance, risk and compliance.

Registry Trust strengthens consumer panel

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:34:46 +0100

Trading standards chief Ron Gainsford is joining the consumer panel of Registry Trust as chairman designate. Ron is a former director of the Trust.

Â£3m VAT stealing butcher gets the chop

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:56:58 +0100

A butcher who stole £3.3m from the taxman to lead a luxury lifestyle after his business collapsed has been jailed today following an investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

New Experian service provides significant boost to credit risk insight

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:25:17 +0100

A new service from Experian®, the global information services company, will enable landlords to better understand the propensity of tenants to meet their rent payments and significantly improve the level of insight available to help credit providers assess risk and affordability.

Admiral Increases Motor Claims Fraud Protection with FICO Technology

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:20:33 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, today announced that the UK motor insurance specialist Admiral has deployed a new claims fraud system based on FICO analytics, business rules and link analysis technology. This system, which went live earlier this month, has already improved the ability of Admiral’s fraud team to detect suspicious claims and prioritise cases.

Business Continuity Leaders Address 2012 Olympics Threats at FICO-Hosted Meeting

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:41:45 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, today hosted a Business Continuity Institute (BCI) Forum event in FICO’s London offices, focused on helping UK companies prepare their risk assessment, resilience and continuity planning for the upcoming London Olympics.

Cyber crime team to tackle organised tax fraud

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:31:39 +0100

A new cyber crime team to tackle tax fraud by organised criminals more proactively was launched yesterday by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Court appoints provisional liquidator for landbanking company

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:20:28 +0100

Manor Rose Limited has been ordered into provisional liquidation by the High Court, following a petition by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to close down it and a related company.

14 arrested in multi-million pound tax frauds investigation

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:10:44 +0100

Early morning operations in London and Northern Ireland by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) investigating a suspected £15 million money laundering, income tax and VAT fraud linked to the construction industry have resulted in the arrests of 13 men and one woman.

Compliance Teams Stretched to their Limits, Says Thomson Reuters Survey

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:27:23 +0100

Compliance professionals around the world report they are often struggling to keep up with the growing demands of global regulation, according to a new survey by Thomson Reuters Governance, Risk & Compliance. A combination of rapidly growing regulations and increasing responsibilities for compliance professionals, coupled with limited resources and constrained budgets, are raising concerns that compliance teams have reached saturation point in their ability to successfully manage comp ...

SFP appointed administrator for Woven Carpets Limited

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:11:34 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has been appointed Administrator of Woven Carpets of Kidderminster Limited after the firm encountered financial difficulties, leading to debts of £700,000.

Industry Leading Collection and Analytic Services Now Available to the UK Market

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:16:39 +0100

ASA Solutions a leading provider of innovative software products, applications and business processes and LiquidEdge Solutions the foremost provider of analytical and operational services to the ARM industry today announced a strategic partnership to market their proprietary collection scoring and analytic services in the UK.

Household budgets still being squeezed

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:59:41 +0100

Escalating food costs, mortgage repayments and the price of fuel are the biggest financial fears for consumers according to the latest research from online credit information expert, Equifax. In its survey of over 600 consumers, conducted at the end of February 2012, over a quarter (25.6%) said their biggest financial fear for this year is the rising cost of food. This was closely followed by worry about not being able to make their mortgage repayments (24%) and the increase ...

Carphone Warehouse calls on Experian for data and analytical services

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:47:48 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced it is to provide Carphone Warehouse with a range of services to enable more effective debt management across the business.

Administration of Port Vale (Valiant 2001) Football Club Ltd

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:17:35 +0100

Bob Young, Gerald Krasner and Steve Currie of Begbies Traynor were appointed joint administrators of Port Vale (Valiant 2001) Football Club Ltd on Friday, March 9, 2012, following an order made by the High Court in Birmingham.

Coface accelerates its profitable growth in 2011â¨

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:44:16 +0100

 Coface Group's financial performance in 2011 proves the pertinence of the strategic refocusing on credit insurance initiated at the beginning of last year. Despite the degrading economic context, the commitments aiming for profitable and autonomous development, made at the time of the strategic reorientation, were kept and are bearing their fruit:  

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:49:08 +0100

Duff and Phelps, administrators of Rangers Football Club, issued the following statement today.

Euler Hermes management appointments: Nicolas Delzant and James Daly

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:42:06 +0100

The Euler Hermes group has appointed Nicolas Delzant CEO of Euler Hermes World Agency and James Daly has been nominated Group Sales and Distribution Director.

Euler Hermes management appointments:

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:30:52 +0100

The Euler Hermes group has appointed Fabrice Desnos head of the Asia Pacific region, while Gerard van Kaathoven has been nominated CEO of Euler Hermes UK and Milo Bogaerts CEO of Euler Hermes Netherlands.

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:46:49 +0100

Duff & Phelps, the Administrators of Rangers Football Club, today issued the following statement.

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:35:04 +0100

Duff & Phelps, the Administrators of Rangers Football Club, today issued the following statement.

Experian comments on findings from the UK Cards Association on decreased card fraud

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:04:09 +0100

Following today’s findings from the UK Cards Association on decreased card fraud, Nick Mothershaw, Director of Identity & Fraud Services at Experian UK & Ireland comments:

Majority of tenancy fraud cases ânot caughtâ, according to Callcredit research

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 10:53:41 +0100

A shocking 90 per cent of all tenancy fraud cases are going undetected – while nearly three-quarters of all UK local authorities did not uncover a single case of housing fraud in 2011.

2011 fraud losses continue downward trend

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:01:00 +0100

The latest payment fraud losses for 2011, released today by the banking and card payments industry show that credit card, debit card and online banking fraud levels have fallen again. This continued success is thanks to efforts by the industry, partners, and importantly, customers. Fraudsters’ activities in other areas have caused a minor increase in cheque and telephone banking losses.

Thomson Reuters Launches CLEAR for Enhanced Due Diligence

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:02:43 +0100

Thomson Reuters, the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, is launching a new version of CLEAR, its market-leading public and proprietary records search product, for corporate enhanced due diligence and security markets.

Experian sheds further light on fraud patterns in the UK

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:48:12 +0100

Further to publication of CIFAS’s Fraudscape report today, please see below further insight into the rate of frauds attempted against UK banks and other financial services providers, as well as comment from Nick Mothershaw, Director of Identity & Fraud Services at Experian UK & Ireland.

Fraudscape: CIFAS report lays bare the UKâs fraud problems

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:43:14 +0100

CIFAS – the UK's Fraud Prevention Service, today releases Fraudscape: a 48-page report that lays bare the frauds recorded by the 260 cross-sector CIFAS Members during 2011, in the context of previous years. Divided into several easy-to-read sections, Fraudscape gives an overview, and examines identity related crime (frauds related to the misuse and hijack of an innocent party’s identity details), geography and location, first party fraud (frauds committed by the genuine account ...

Buyer Sought for Lincolnshire Marine Power Firm

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:07:12 +0100

Administrators for Lincolnshire power firm Industrial and Marine Power Services Ltd (IMPS) have appointed Winterhill Largo, the specialist asset recovery and insolvency support group, to find a buyer for the firm that went into administration last month.

Eversheds comment: Majority of 2011 FSA fines due to weak risk management

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:03:06 +0100

Sixty percent of the fines handed down by the FSA in 2011 were a result of weak risk management systems, totalling £38.5 million. Lee O’Connell, Group Risk Manager at Eversheds Consulting, a division of international law firm Eversheds, comments:

Private detectives jailed for blagging: ICO statement

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:02:47 +0100

The Information Commissioner has published a statement in response to today's convictions under the Fraud Act.

Euler Hermes appoints new Head of UK Risk Underwriting

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 09:33:51 +0100

Euler Hermes, the world’s largest credit insurer and part of Allianz, has promoted Dirk Kotzé from Risk Underwriting Manager to Head of UK Risk Underwriting following the departure of Mike Feldwick who retires after more than 30 years with the business.

Experian completes acquisition of 192business

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:21:39 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of 192business Limited, a leading UK based provider of online identity verification services. 192business will form part of Experian’s Decision Analytics business line.

Banks Can Give Customers A Helping Hand With PPI Claims, Reports Equifax

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:52:41 +0100

As the latest data from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) suggests that around £50m of compensation for mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI) will go to claims management companies and not the individuals making the claims, leading consumer credit and analytics expert, Equifax is offering banks a solution to enable them to help their customers. The latest data analytics tools from Equifax can give banks a clear picture of PPI claims entitlement amongst their customers. ...

Atradius report - An update of country and industry risks and opportunities - Greece

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:15:27 +0100

On 21 February 2012, the Eurozone Finance Ministers finally agreed on a second bailout package for Greece, worth EUR 130 billion. It was also agreed between Greece and the Institute of International Finance (IIF) that private bondholders will take a ‘haircut’ of up to 53.5% of the value of their bonds (with all the elements of the exchange accounted for, this ‘haircut’ will be as much as 70%). The aim is for Greece to reduce its government debt to 120.5% of GDP by 2 ...

Creditsafe named one of the top 100 best companies to work for

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:31:06 +0100

Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, has been named as one of the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For in the 2012 Sunday Times publication. The company has been identified as one of leading medium-sized employers, based on employee feedback and a comprehensive analysis of employee relations and engagement.

Experian enhances Hunter fraud prevention system

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:57:00 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced the launch of a new version of Hunter, its industry-leading data-sharing fraud prevention system, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of anti-fraud operations.

SFP secures sale of Go Creative Products Ltd

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:20:05 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has completed the sale of Go Creative Products Limited after the firm went into Administration, saving 13 jobs.

Business insolvencies fall according to latest data from Experian

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:36:49 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today revealed that the rate of insolvencies fell from 0.11 per cent in December 2012 to 0.07 per cent in January this year – the same rate as in January 2011.

Graydon UK appoints Alexander Schwendtner as managing director

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:33:43 +0100

Graydon UK, the commercial credit reference agency, today announces the appointment of Alexander Schwendtner as its new Managing Director.

GB Group and TransUnion Continue to Drive Global Cross Border Trading

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:02:48 +0100

GB Group announced today that it has further expanded its strategic alliance with TransUnion to provide full age, identity and anti-money laundering verification to businesses wishing to trade with South African citizens. This follows the launch of GB Group’s verification service for Canadian citizens with TransUnion in June 2011.

Are you ready to welcome Italian consumers with safe, legal and responsible Identity Verification?

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:46:56 +0100

With the exponential growth in cross border eCommerce, GB Group continues to develop the capability to identify Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime. Enabled by GB Group’s award winning global ID3 technology, part of our global suite of Identity Management tools, we have launched a solution that can provide an in-depth Identity Verification on Italian citizens and residents.

Top tips for UK businesses exporting to Turkey

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:18:10 +0100

Trade credit insurer Atradius has published a report highlighting the top ten factors that could improve a business’s chances of trading successfully with Turkish companies.

FICO and Equifax Warn Banks That âHidden Fraudâ Is on the Rise

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:26:48 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, and global information solutions leader Equifax today warned UK credit grantors that such threats as first-party fraud are growing, despite the reduction in UK card fraud. The two companies hosted an anti-fraud roundtable today in London with a group of card issuers and processors to explore changing patterns, and discuss how FICO and Equifax are working together to improve fraud detection.

Hydra affords HSBC a more strategic approach to Search Marketing

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:00:26 +0100

Hydra, a provider of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) marketing technology, today announces that HSBC has selected Hydra’s One Platform to help it become more closely aligned to Greenlight, the agency HSBC uses for various elements of its search marketing activity. This recent development has provided the bank with a new level of strategic guidance and direction.

SFP appointed administrator for First Call Diamond Drilling Ltd

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:46:44 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has been appointed Administrator of First Call Diamond Drilling Limited after the firm encountered financial difficulties, leading to debts of more than £100,000.

Council fined for serious email disclosure

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:47:33 +0100

Cheshire East Council has been ordered to pay a monetary penalty of £80,000 for failing to take appropriate measures to ensure the security and appropriateness of disclosure when emailing personal information, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said today.

MyTouchstone Set To Demonstrate New Look Reports For IFAs At The Fund5live Roadshows

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:53:45 +0100

MyTouchstone, the market leading IFA database which is operated by the wealth and investment intelligence services division of Equifax, will be showcasing its offering and benefits to IFAs at this year’s highly informative fund5live roadshows hosted by Professional Adviser.

Car group's anti-scam drive avoids Â£3.2M fraud

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:51:53 +0100

Airport-style scanners to catch out identity thieves were among the measures which helped a major car finance group to save over £3 million in potential fraud losses last year.

"Eurobonds and Eurobills should be part of the recovery" says British Euro MP Sharon ...

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:28:24 +0100

Sharon Bowles MEP, who chairs the European Parliament’s powerful Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, has today called on the European Commission to clarify its position on Common Stability Bonds, known commonly as ‘Eurobonds’.

Introducing A More Natural Approach To Payment

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:16:58 +0100

Natural security, a pioneering provider of powerful authentication technology, and member of the Biometrics Alliance Initiative, today announces its international launch plans for 2012.

Councils must take data protection seriously, Information Commissioner warns

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:26:41 +0100

Five councils breached the Data Protection Act by failing to keep people’s personal information secure, Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, said today.

Councils fined for serious data breaches

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:24:10 +0100

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has served monetary penalties totalling £180,000 to two councils for failing to keep highly sensitive information about the welfare of children secure. These latest penalties bring the total amount served by the ICO to organisations found in serious breach of the Data Protection Act to over one million pounds.

Comment on Cyberattack of Dutch Telecoms Company KPN

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:50:24 +0100

In today’s Financial Times, we see that Dutch Telecoms company KPN has offered two million apologies in an advertising campaign to pacify subscribers unable to access emails over the weekend as it overhauled its systems after a cyberattack.

Equifax Reports Fourth Quarter 2011 Results

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:28:09 +0100

Equifax Inc. today announced financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2011. The company reported revenue from continuing operations of $509.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, a 6 percent increase from the fourth quarter of 2010. On a non-GAAP basis, fourth quarter revenue was up 10 percent, excluding Brazilian operating results due to the deconsolidation of Brazil in the second quarter of 2011.

Top tips for UK businesses exporting to Turkey

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:41:42 +0100

Trade credit insurer Atradius has published a report highlighting the top ten factors that could improve a business’s chances of trading successfully with Turkish companies.

Fall in judgments against business

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:16:23 +0100

Statistics released today by Registry Trust show that the total value of judgments faced by businesses in county courts (CCJs) in England and Wales has fallen for the second consecutive year.

âCalm before the stormâ, warns The Debt Advisor as repossessions continue to fall

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:57:22 +0100

Figures published today by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) show that the number of repossessions in the final quarter of 2011 reached 8,500 down nearly 9% from 9,300 in the third quarter of 2011. For the whole of 2011, a total of 36,200 properties were taken into possession – slightly less than the 36,300 that were repossessed in 2010 and the lowest level since 2007. Levels of mortgage arrears also dropped slightly in 2011, compared with 2010.

Fewer debt judgments in 2011 but high significance

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:36:36 +0100

According to Registry Trust’s annual statistics, the value of county court judgments (CCJs) against consumers in England & Wales fell by 15 percent last year from £2.036bn to £1.726bn. This fall of £309m continues a decline in the total value of CCJs stretching back several years.

Futureâs looking bright for conservatory firm

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:33:47 +0100

Manchester-based corporate debt advisory, The Business Debt Advisor has helped rescue 25 jobs by selling troubled conservatory specialist, NTC Limited to new company, Jessica Trading Limited.

Secure Trust Bank signs deal with Callcredit

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:51:44 +0100

Secure Trust Bank, who specialise in offering lending and banking solutions to UK customers who may not be adequately served by other banks, has selected Callcredit Information Group to provide a tailored identity verification service to assist them in fulfilling ‘anti-money laundering’ (AML) requirements.

MAT comments on personal insolvency statistics

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:27:02 +0100

Commenting on today’s insolvency statistics Joanna Elson OBE, Chief Executive of the Money Advice Trust (MAT), said:

Comment from ClearDebt: IVAs plateau while bankruptcies plummet

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:44:13 +0100

Today's personal insolvency figures, released by the Insolvency Service, show that bankruptcies fell, year on year, by nearly a third (28%) whilst Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVA) remained stable, growing by 4.5% between Q4 2010 and Q4 2011.

âWinter of discontentâ for retailers with continued rise in insolvency

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:33:21 +0100

Figures published today by the Insolvency Service show that personal insolvencies reached 119,867 - an 11.3% decrease on 2010’s levels.

MarketInvoice comments on todayâs business insolvency figures

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:10:38 +0100

Anil Stocker, Director and Co-founder of MarketInvoice comments on today’s business insolvency figures:

Insolvency share increases for middle class suburbanites in 2011

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:59:53 +0100

New analysis from Experian®, the global information services company, today revealed that although insolvency continues to be most frequent amongst welfare dependent groups, some middle class families saw their share of insolvencies increase in 2011. Meanwhile, the rate of insolvencies amongst young professionals fell over the last 12 months.

2011 â Insider fraud increases

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:33:13 +0100

Analysis of frauds recorded on the CIFAS Staff Fraud Database reveals an alarming increase in the level of fraud being committed by employees during 2011 (when compared with 2010), most notably:

Zenith selects Callcredit as its Credit Reference Agency

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:15:08 +0100

Specialist fleet solutions provider Zenith has selected Callcredit Information Group as its preferred Credit Reference Agency (CRA), to help assess applications for car salary sacrifice funding.

Trusteer Helps Huntington Bank Protect Customers from Cybercrime

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:40:27 +0100

Trusteer, the leading provider of cybercrime prevention solutions, today announced that Huntington Bank is using Trusteer Rapport and Trusteer Pinpoint to protect its commercial and retail banking customers against online fraud. Trusteer’s vast cybercrime prevention network, which spans hundreds of organizations and tens of millions of endpoints, automatically protects banks like Huntington against threats that first target other, often larger, Trusteer customers.

Business Information Providers Association (BIPA) launches website

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:17:44 +0100

The Business Information Providers Association (BIPA), an association of the five principal Commercial Credit Reference Agencies in the UK, has today launched a new website (http://www.bipa.uk.com/index.html)

Debt picture clearer in 2011

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:49:37 +0100

The picture of debt in Northern Ireland is now clearer thanks to two initiatives by Registry Trust, the non-profit organisation that collects judgment information in Northern Ireland and other jurisdictions in the British Isles.

Analysis of 2012 Electoral Roll identifies overall opt-out rate decrease but shows worst hit areas

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:50:33 +0100

Direct marketing services and credit data agency Callcredit Information Group has today published its ‘2012 Regional Electoral Opt-Out Report’ for the 2012 canvas.

The construction sector: persistent credit risk in most countries

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:45:24 +0100

The situation of companies in the construction sector closely reflects the world, regional and national economic trends. At a time when the world economy is characterized by divergences between countries, with a recession in the euro zone, there are significant disparities between countries and subsectors. The construction sector was badly hit by the 2009 crisis, and a large number of payment incidents were still occurring in 2011.

âLimited Liabilityâ has a price tag

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:55:57 +0100

Josef Busuttil, director general of the Malta Association of Credit Management, says that exempting companies from having to file audited accounts will hamper the economic recovery rather then assist it. He writes:

MyTouchstone offers free annual license to FE Analytics

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:44:01 +0100

MyTouchstone, the market leading IFA database which is operated by the wealth and investment intelligence services division of Equifax, is launching a competition for independent financial advisers in partnership with FE Analytics, the award-winning online fund research and monitoring tool. Anyone registering or updating their details on MyTouchstone in February 2012 will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win an annual license to FE Analytics.

New Experian research categorises small firms according to their financial needs

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:21:57 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today published the results of new analysis that categorises UK small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by their financial characteristics and borrowing habits.

Fraud levels surge upwards

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:03:19 +0100

The analysis of fraud trends during 2011 by CIFAS – the UK's Fraud Prevention Service reveals a disturbing 9% increase in the overall level of fraud, when compared with the previous year, with further key findings presenting a stark picture of the economic crime landscape in the UK:

The RPS overhauls its sign up process for members with ID Verification from GB Group

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:29:00 +0100

With Direct Debit Scheme rules stating that those service users who want to collect Paperless Direct Debits must verify the identity of the payer and their address, prior to the origination of any Direct Debits, The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has enlisted the help of leading Identity Management business, GB Group.

Callcredit whitepaper looks at turning data into insight

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:22:13 +0100

Callcredit Information Group has today published its latest whitepaper, ‘Making the Most of Your Data’, looking at how effective use of credit data can deliver improved customer insight and smarter strategies in a challenging market.

Survey: Customers Punish Brands for Poor Online Transaction Review

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:47:33 +0100

Accertify, a leading fraud prevention and risk management provider, recently commissioned a study of “connected” UK adults – those with access to both a smartphone and a web-enabled computer – to learn more about how consumers perceive and are affected by online fraud. With consumers continuing to focus on the security of online transactions, the bottom line is that an ineffective fraud prevention programme is not only bad business, it is bad for business.

NICE Actimize selected by Otkritie Capital for cloud-based market abuse surveillance and AML

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:28:10 +0100

NICE Actimize, a NICE Systems company and the largest and broadest provider of a single financial crime, risk and compliance software platform for the financial services industry, today announced that Otkritie Capital has selected NICE Actimize to provide cloud-based Market Abuse Surveillance and Anti-Money Laundering solutions in support of its cross-asset Direct Market Access (DMA) platform and broker dealer activities. Services will be hosted by NICE Actimize from the company’s ...

Atradius believes Eurozone breakup unlikely

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:27:07 +0100

In its latest economic report, ‘Sticking together – The future of the Eurozone’, international credit insurer Atradius warns that the consequences of a breakup of the Eurozone would be highly damaging for a country that leaves the euro as well for those that remain within the currency union.

Equifax Signs New 5-Year Contract with Registry Trust

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:23:09 +0100

The contract is a new top-level agreement and license designed for businesses aiming to make wider use of the data. It replaces the original contract devised by credit reference agencies and the Trust in 1985. It provides certainty of pricing and use to both parties.

Coface Country Risk: Companiesâ solidity already impacted by the systemic crisis in Europe

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:15:43 +0100

  On the occasion of its 16th Country Risk Conference, Coface is principally issuing a warning about the systemic nature of the current crisis, of which the Euro zone is the epicentre. In 2012, the European economy will be marked by a recession rate of -0.1%, while growth will stabilise in the USA at +1.6% and recover in Japan at +1.8%. This should prevent a return to the worst of the 2008-2009 crisis, characterised by a synchronised recession in all three advanced economic a ...

The West Bromwich Validates Corporate Customers with Equifax SCI

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:24:37 +0100

West Bromwich Building Society has chosen leading consumer and business information expert, Equifax, to give it a greater insight into its commercial customer relationships. The new deal, which sees the West Brom accessing the Equifax Single Customer Insight (SCI) service, further strengthens the 10 year partnership between the two organisations and ensures that eligible commercial customers have protection under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

Experian retains seamless customer service thanks to Phoenix

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:28:18 +0100

Challenge  - Experian, the leading global information services company, needed to quickly relocate 365 members of staff from six sites within Nottingham, and return to normal service within four hours. In order to do this it turned to Phoenix, one of the UK’s leading providers of hosting, cloud and managed IT services.

Retail crime costs up by a third as organised criminals target shops

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:24:50 +0100

The overall cost of retail crime has soared by 31 per cent to £1.4 billion as the sector is increasingly targeted by serious, organised criminals. This figure includes the value of goods stolen and damage done combined with the money retailers spend on preventing and tackling crime.

Experian enhances Motor Insurersâ Bureau database to boost the fight against uninsured driving

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:02:51 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, has announced that the Motor Insurers’ Bureau has extended its contract to host and manage the Motor Insurance Database (MID).

FICO data analysis shows counterfeit card fraud has fallen sharply in Europe

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:40:57 +0100

LONDON—January 12, 2011—FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, today released its analysis of data showing that major shifts have occurred in European card fraud patterns. Analysis done on 55 million active credit cards represented in the FICO® Falcon® Fraud Consortium for Europe showed that counterfeit fraud fell 60 percent between March 2009 and March 2011.

Equifax urges businesses to share knowledge and tackle fraud

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:12:23 +0100

In 2010, the cost of corporate fraud hit £1.4 billion with claims that 50% of it was committed by senior managers. Whilst numbers haven’t been released yet for 2011, leading business information expert, Equifax, believes the cost of corporate fraud is only likely to increase as a result of the economic downturn. It is, therefore, urging businesses to be more stringent about the checks they make on existing and new customers.

SFP appointed administrator of ailing abattoir

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:52:09 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has been appointed Administrator of Lincolnshire Prime Meat Company after the firm encountered financial difficulties, leading to debts of almost £1.4 million.

Equifax reports increase in people registering to vote for 2012

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:39:01 +0100

Analysis of electoral registrations for 2012, by leading credit and marketing data expert, Equifax, reveals a 0.8% increase in people registering to vote. There has also been a 5% decline, year on year, in those choosing to opt out of the Edited Electoral Roll. This is the version of the electoral roll used by a wide variety of businesses to verify people’s identity for purposes other than extending credit.

Equifax continues to invest in its UK wealth data business

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:28:55 +0100

Equifax, already a leading provider of consumer credit and business risk management services, is further investing in its wealth and investment intelligence services in the UK. As well as capitalising on the experience and resources of Equifax Inc wealth data company, IXI Corporation, a senior wealth & investment industry expert has joined the UK management team to support the strategic development of the business.

Callcredit Appoints New Managing Director

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:24:23 +0100

Peter Mansfield has been appointed to the role of Managing Director Callcredit Ltd. The appointment, which takes immediate effect, has been made to ensure that as a business Callcredit Ltd has the necessary ‘management bandwidth’ to be able to deliver the planned levels of growth.

2012 BSI Standards News

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:16:35 +0100

This month’s media alert from the British Standards Institution (BSI) provides information on a newly published standards for the Risk sector.

Callcredit and miiCard announce strategic partnership

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:53:52 +0100

Callcredit and miiCard announce a strategic relationship to provide the UK’s first true consumer focused identity verification service, combining robust credit bureau verification checks and strong impersonation protection which will change the way financial products are sold on-line.

The business link: Tesco, The Only Way is Essex and Carole Middleton?

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:21:11 +0100

New analysis* released by Creditsafe reveals Tesco was the most searched for company in the last 12 months, with Alan Sugar named the most searched for company director. As one of the UK’s largest enterprises and a global brand it is little wonder Tesco has been named as one of the most searched companies in the UK. However, it is not just successful multi-nationals that are being researched: two of the top 10 most searched companies were Holloway White Allom Limited and ...

BRC warns of more retail administrations

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:01 +0100

An increase in retail administrations – from 165 in 2010 to 183 in 2011 - shows how trading conditions have toughened and how important it is that the UK’s governments support the sector by reducing new taxes and regulatory burdens.

GB Group plugs people verification gap with ConsentID

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:26:53 +0100

GB Group, a leading global identity management specialist, has unveiled an enhanced version of its people verification solution that will allow businesses to identify the otherwise ‘invisible’ members of the population.

SFP completes sale of Roundrule Limited

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:00:02 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has completed the sale of Roundrule Limited’s assets after the firm went into administration.

Final quarter rent day (Christmas Day) and retail insolvency, comment from insolvency trade body R3

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:29:14 +0100

Frances Coulson, R3 President, commented: “While Christmas retail sales may have rallied slightly, the question remains as to whether this improvement can be sustained long-term, being so reliant on heavy discounting. Coupled with Christmas Day’s ‘rent day’, these factors could produce another wave of administrations in early 2012, as happened at the end of 2008 with Woolworths.

Analysis of 2012 electoral opt-out shows fall in numbers

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:49:31 +0100

Leading the market in the collection, capture and consolidation of the Electoral Roll, Callcredit Information Group has today released early opt-out figures which illustrate a significant reduction in the number of individuals deciding to opt out from the Electoral Roll. Interim analysis of opt-out rates by councils across the UK has highlighted an average opt out rate of 41%.

Troubled football clubs could close in 2012 warns insolvency expert

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:30:48 +0100

As several football clubs start the New Year in dire financial straits, a football insolvency expert warns that failing clubs could be shut down in 2012.

Company failures continue to slide as economic storm clouds gather

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:13:49 +0100

Company failure rates during the final three months of 2011 are set to slow further to a level 16 per cent below the same time period two years ago (2009), with the fall between October and December this year being 1.4 per cent compared with the previous three month period. This is according to the latest Graydon Insolvency Predictor.

Experian comments on FSA mortgage proposals

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:03:07 +0100

Jonathan Westley, Managing Director of Experian’s UK Consumer Information Services business, comments on the FSA mortgage proposals announced today.

Severe winter weather will have adverse affects on 84% of businesses

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:13:45 +0100

Should last winter’s severe weather return, 84% of businesses said they would be adversely affected – according to recent research by insolvency trade body, R3. Nearly two thirds (61%) of businesses said that staff would be unable to attend work and nearly half (48%) said they would experience reduced profits.

Linedata announces the results of its 1st Lending and Asset Finance industry survey

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:22:17 +0100

Linedata, the global solutions provider dedicated to the investment management and lending & asset finance industries, today announced the results of its first survey on the challenges and priorities of the Lending & Asset Finance community.

Noddle pushes full steam ahead, partners with MoneySupermarket and brings in founder of Freeserve

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:04:15 +0100

Noddle, the pioneering ‘free for life’ credit report service from Callcredit has launched following a successful trial this summer with over 20,000 people.

Callcredit announces new profiling report in improvemydata.com

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:51:58 +0100

Callcredit Marketing Solutions has unveiled a new data profiling report within its self-service data cleaning and enhancement tool improvemydata.com

Credit managers urge Government to do more to tackle late payments

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:49:37 +0100

Late payments are a persistent problem for small and medium sized businesses in the UK. More than three quarters of credit managers polled in a new Graydon UK survey do not believe that the Government is doing enough to protect businesses from the burden of late payments and the potential damage it can do to their finances.

Teleperformance UK achieves certification for highest levels of card data security

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:15:00 +0100

Teleperformance UK, part of the global Teleperformance Group, has been awarded Payment Card Industry (PCI) DDS Level 1 certification for all of its sites in Scotland, where it has a high ratio of retail clients, following a week of intense audit. Teleperformance has pushed the boundaries further by being one of the first major organisations in the UK to be accredited to version 2 of the standard, and remains one of the largest ‘scopes’ in the UK.

StratexSystems Partners with Cyber Security Experts to Develop Strategic Cyber Security Solution

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:12:43 +0100

StratexSystems, a provider of integrated strategy execution and risk management solutions is pleased to announce the launch of CYSPEX (Cyber Strategic Programme Execution), a unique, comprehensive cyber security solution designed to provide boards and senior executives with a holistic view of their organisational cyber security status.

Personal insolvencies drop across the UK

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:38:43 +0100

New analysis from Experian®, the global information services company, paints a revealing picture of how personal insolvencies affected the UK’s main consumer groups during July to September 2011.

SFP secures sale of Westward Group Limited

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:27:24 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has completed the sale of Westward Group Limited after the firm went into Administration, saving 23 jobs.

Arrow Global extends relationship with Experian

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:55:21 +0100

Experian, the global information services company, today announced that Arrow Global, a leading provider of debt purchase and receivables management solutions, has extended its long-term contract with Experian for the provision of specialist data and analytical services.

Payments Council and Government join forces to promote positive steps to tackle e-crime

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:46:15 +0100

The Payments Council and the Government joined forces at an e-security seminar yesterday to discuss how positive, coordinated and collaborative action can minimise the threat of cyber crime. The seminar brought together representatives from a variety of sectors including computing, security, finance, government and law enforcement.  

Preying upon the innocent: money mule fraud increasingly common

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:16:12 +0100

Money mule activity is on the rise, as revealed by the latest figures from CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service. Of all the fraud types during the first ten months of 2011, the most disconcerting rise is in misuse of facility fraud, which has seen a 12% increased compared with the same period in 2010. Although misuse of facility fraud is where an account, policy or other facility has been legitimately obtained but is later used fraudulently, a large proportion of the fraud ...

Surge in UK mortgage fraud, Experian data reveals

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:10:00 +0100

The latest Fraud Index from Experian®, the global information services company, has revealed that attempted mortgage fraud increased dramatically in the three months to the end of September 2011. 49 in every 10,000 mortgage applications were found to be fraudulent, 77 per cent up on the same period in 2010 and 53 per cent more than in Q2 2011.

Five minute limit before online banking abandonment

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:27:05 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today revealed that customers are prepared to spend five minutes on average undergoing identity verification and other security checks before they abandon an attempt to open a new banking facility online. This tolerance time is extended by two minutes for in-branch banking, where customers are prepared to wait for an average of six minutes before giving up.

aqua card releases new infographic to demystify the UK credit rating system

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:43:07 +0100

aqua card, provider of credit cards for bad credit, has released a new infographic today which will help the UK public understand personal credit rating better.

Tracesmart first to upload 2012 Electoral Roll data

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:35:28 +0100

Leading consumer data specialists, Tracesmart, is pleased to integrate and make available the first tranche of the 2012 Electoral Roll. The information offers the largest and most accurate summary of the UK population, and ensures Tracesmart’s customers benefit from the most current and authoritative residency data available in the country.

Adeptra and Santander scoop âBest Security Initiativeâ at 2011 Banking Technology Awards

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:17:04 +0100

Adeptra, the market leader in auto-resolution, has been awarded a Banking Technology award for its recent security initiative at Santander. The industry award celebrates excellence in the deployment of technology in the banking and financial services arena and acknowledges individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the industry.

Credit Action UK Debt Statistics

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:17:44 +0100

Total UK personal debt at the end of October 2011 stood at £1,451bn. Individuals owe nearly as much as the entire country produced in the four quarters between Q4 2010 and Q3 2011.   

Annual trade credit insurance industry dinner raises Â£15,000 for education charity

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:10:42 +0100

The annual Trade Credit, Bond and Political Risk Insurance Dinner – hosted by leading credit insurer Coface – has raised over £15,000 for education charity SkillForce.

Euler Hermes UK Creates Business Development Role in Northern Ireland

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:03:35 +0100

Euler Hermes UK, the world’s leading trade credit insurer, continues to build its team in Northern Ireland with the appointment of Ivan McFarlane as the new Business Development Executive.

SFP called in as administrator to JJT Logistics

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:24:21 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has completed the sale of JJT Logistics’ assets after the firm went into administration.

Leonard Curtis Business Solutions Group appointed Administrators to Wedding TV

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:03:30 +0100

Insolvency specialists at Leonard Curtis Business Solutions Group have been appointed Administrators to Wedding TV, a wedding and lifestyle TV channel broadcast out of the UK on the Sky and Freesat platforms.

SFP completes sale of ARC Fleet Solutions

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:44:04 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has completed the sale of ARC Fleet Solutions Limited and saved 29 jobs, after the firm encountered financial difficulties.

Experian helps lenders assess consumer indebtedness and affordability with even greater accuracy

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:51:58 +0100

Experian® the global information services company, today announced the launch of a new service designed to provide creditors in the UK with even more accuracy when assessing consumer indebtedness and determining the affordability of credit commitments.

Business intelligence experts Rosslyn Analytics selects ClickThrough Marketing to continue growth

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:41:27 +0100

Cloud-based data management specialists Rosslyn Analytics have asked ClickThrough Marketing to assist with their internet marketing activities.

FICO Data Shows - UK credit card repayment lowest in two years

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:15:00 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, today released data showing that most UK cardholders are paying less of their outstanding credit card balance than at any point in the last two years. The latest data from the FICO® Benchmark Reporting Service showed that this decline in payment-to-balance ratios took place among “classic” card accounts established within the last five years. Classic cards exclude student cards, premium cards ...

Experian outlines European credit risk agenda for 2012

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:39:41 +0100

At its Credit Risk Forum in Berlin, Experian today outlined to Europe’s most senior financial sector credit risk professionals, the major credit risk trends for 2012.

Research shows that female Christmas shoppers face higher online fraud risk

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 11:21:37 +0100

In the lead-up to Christmas, The UK Cards Association is running its successful Be Card Smart Online campaign again. The focus this year is on younger female shoppers, as research shows they are at greater risk of online fraud as many of them are failing to take simple steps to stay safe when they shop over the internet.

New fraud challenges as economic pressures hit home

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:59:38 +0100

Analysis of frauds recorded by Members of CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service during the first nine months of 2011, reveals some sobering trends taking place:

Equifax helps swiftcover.com streamline insurance application processes

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:37:28 +0100

Swiftcover.com has signed a significant three year contract with leading consumer risk and ID fraud expert, Equifax, to help this highly successful insurer reduce loss ratios and increase profitability, as well as give it greater protection against the threat of insurance fraud. swiftcover.com is utilising the unique Equifax Insurance Connections database, which is designed to be held within an insurer’s environment, to help verify and assess the risk of new and exi ...

Pro-Active Limit Alerts from Euler Hermes give Â£117 million Additional Cover

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:21:14 +0100

Euler Hermes UK, the UK leading credit insurer, part of the Allianz Group, has enhanced the availability of cover through a Pro-Active Limit Alerts initiative, which has seen 23,572 alerts generated which resulted in clients benefitting from £117 million additional cover in the first six months since its launch.

Know Your Candidate teams up with Callcredit

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:39:11 +0100

Employee vetting firm Know Your Candidate Ltd has enlisted the help of Callcredit Information Group to deliver its candidate verification service.

Effects of unemployment will be felt in 2012, warns debt charity

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:04:21 +0100

Over 70,000 of the more than one million unemployed 16-24 year olds likely to be struggling with debt

Autonet signs deal with Callcredit

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:17:21 +0100

Leading van insurance broker Autonet has signed up to use Callcredit Information Group’s identity verification software to help combat the rising problem of insurance fraud.

Communications fraud rockets as economy bites

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:52:49 +0100

Analysis of the frauds recorded by the 260 Member organisations of CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service during the first nine months of 2011 reveals a 34% increase in fraud related to communications products, when compared with the same period in 2010.

Comment on SME tax arrears from Hilton-Baird Financial Solutions

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:10:21 +0100

Evette Orams, Managing Director of Hilton-Baird Financial Solutions, comments on the difficulties SMEs are facing with regards to tax arrears, as had been highlighted recently by McGrigors’ research.

The food industry in the world: companies under pressure faced with price volatility

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:09:24 +0100

Having weathered the 2009 crisis well, the food industry has been faced with surging markets since June 2010 which are affecting food prices throughout the world and particularly in emerging economies. The phenomenon has been exacerbated by rising risk aversion among investors and abundant global liquidity. This trend is weighing on industry margins in the sector. The economic slowdown in the US and the euro zone, coupled with the effects of the nuclear disaster in Japan, has strai ...

Aldermore Bank chooses Experian to support lending decisions

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:28:32 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced it has signed a three year contract to provide Aldermore Bank with a range of credit information, software and analytical services from its consumer and commercial banking portfolio.

The pressure wonât âlet upâ as tenants push to renegotiate commercial leases

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:55:58 +0100

New research published by Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, reveals that over half (53%) of commercial property management specialists have seen tenants attempt to renegotiate the terms of their original leases in the last 12 months. Where companies have seen tenants attempt to renegotiate the terms of the lease agreement, they recorded almost one-in-five (18%) clients trying to change the terms of their agreements. As a result of this widespread renegotiation, l ...

65% of credit professionals want Government to protect SMEs from late payments

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:45:57 +0100

The latest survey of credit management professionals, conducted jointly by the Institute of Credit Management (ICM) and leading business information provider, Equifax, reveals a huge increase in the use of credit data compared to 2010, as businesses look to reduce their risk of bad debt. In the survey of ICM members, 86% said they use credit and business data checks for new customers and suppliers, compared to just 37% last year. And 85% use data for ongoing monitoring, but only 41% said ...

SFP appointed as administrators to Keep It Kool Shade Sails

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:51:02 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has completed the sale of Eastcote based Keep it Kool Shade Sails Limited (Keep it Kool) after the firm went into administration, saving 10 jobs in the process.

CIFAS confirms link between staff fraud and organised crime

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:44:30 +0100

Research carried out by CIFAS and SOCA has shown that serious organised criminals are infiltrating legitimate organisations deliberately to commit fraud.

New FICO Analytic Solution Helps Banks Ensure Compliance & Improve Performance of ...

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:10:31 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, today announced the general availability of FICO® Model Central Solution – a comprehensive offering to help banks and other organizations, including insurance, retail and health care companies, maximize the power of their predictive models and meet stricter regulations for model management.

R3 President Frances Coulson comments on latest insolvency figures (England and Wales)

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:47:33 +0100

Personal insolvency decreases
“It can only be an encouraging sign that personal insolvency has decreased, but this is likely to come as a surprise for many, given the current economic uncertainty. These figures indicate the peak in personal insolvency occurred in early 2010 but it would be unwise to rule out further increases to come. Interestingly IVA and DRO numbers have increased slightly, as alternatives to bankruptcy.

Insolvency climbs the social ladder

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:43:07 +0100

Figures published today by the Insolvency Service show that personal insolvencies were down to 30,219 in the third quarter of 2011 a decrease of 11% on the same period a year ago.

Pressure mounts for âProp Up Proprietorsâ

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:12:32 +0100

Debt solution provider and DEMSA member, Atlantic Financial Management, has seen a steady increase in the number of small business owners and sole traders seeking professional debt advice because they have used their personal finances to support their business. In the absence of support from their bank, these ‘Prop up Proprietors’ have used personal credit cards to pay business debt, creating a debt spiral with interest accruing each month. The findings come as the ...

UK firms seek safety in cash based sales

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:34:54 +0100

Enterprises across the UK are showing a relative preference for the safety of cash-based sales as their preferred credit management tool, reveals the Autumn 2011 Payment Practices Barometer from leading trade credit insurer Atradius.

GB Group fuels expansion with Â£11.2m Capscan acquisition

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:28:10 +0100

GB Group plc, the leading Identity Management specialist, has today acquired the highly regarded customer registration and address management company, Capscan Parent Ltd (Capscan). The acquisition adds 54 people, robust technology and a client portfolio of more than 1,800 customers, which includes ASOS, Ocado, and Virgin Wines.

Banking industry warns of growing card fraud phone scam targeting the over-60s

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:30:48 +0100

The UK Cards Association today advises about an old-style phone scam that is increasingly being used by fraudsters across the UK. The scam involves unsuspecting cardholders being called and duped into handing over their debit or credit card, and revealing their PIN, by a fraudster pretending to be from their bank, card company or the police. Just this year more than £750,000 has been lost to this type of fraud, with the criminals responsible stealing an average of £10,000 per i ...

Banking industry warns of growing card fraud phone scam targeting the over-60s

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:30:41 +0100

Duff & Phelps expands european presence with acquisition of MCR

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:43:32 +0100

Duff & Phelps Corporation, a leading independent financial advisory and investment banking services firm, today announced that it has acquired MCR. Comprised of approximately 150 employees, MCR is a UK-based corporate restructuring and turnaround firm focused on insolvency administration and independent business reviews.

Interest rises in debt records

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:13:03 +0100

Public interest in checking debt history through judgment records reached new levels last quarter in Northern Ireland according to the latest statistics from Registry Trust.

Consumers turn to judgment information

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:40:52 +0100

In the face of the current financial difficulties people are turning to the certainty of judgment information before making decisions, according to the latest quarterly statistics from Registry Trust.

Equifax Reports Third Quarter 2011 Results

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:55:56 +0100

Equifax Inc. have announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2011. The company reported revenue from continuing operations of $490.4 million in the third quarter of 2011, a 4 percent increase from the third quarter of 2010. Excluding Brazilian operating results, a non-GAAP measure, due to the deconsolidation of Brazil in the second quarter of 2011, third quarter revenue was up 8 percent.

Experian promotes Nick Evans and Simon Waller

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:33:52 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announces two promotions within its UK & Ireland business. Nick Evans, formerly Head of Customer Management is promoted to the new role of Product & Propositions Director for Experian Decision Analytics in the UK & Ireland, while Simon Waller, who previously held the role of Head of Collections, broadens his remit to Head of Customer Management & Collections.

SFP appointed Administrator of ailing engineering firm

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:53:10 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has been appointed Administrator of JGP Engineering Limited (in Administration) (“JGP”) after the firm encountered financial difficulties, leading to debts of almost £800,000.

Equifax Helps Consumer Credit Providers Stay Compliant

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:25:45 +0100

Consumer credit providers are facing greater pressure than ever from Government and consumer bodies to demonstrate that they have applied the most robust processes to their lending decisions. However decisions can only be as accurate as the information on which they are based and maintaining data accuracy is an on-going challenge. Leading consumer credit information expert, Equifax, is therefore helping lenders ensure their data is as accurate and up-to-date as possible through Equ ...

Fraudscreen Appoints Two Industry Leaders to Strengthen its Expertise and Accelerate Growth

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:11:17 +0100

First party fraud prevention company, Fraudscreen, has appointed new directors Matthew Elsom and Caroline Worboys to reinforce its expertise, develop new sales strategies and accelerate growth.

Forensix will help businesses across the UK tackle fraud

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:52:03 +0100

Advanced Business Solutions (Advanced), a leading integrated business applications and services provider, is launching Forensix, a new cutting edge, software solution designed to detect fraud.

Callcredit Acquires TenantID

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:39:54 +0100

Callcredit Information Group has today announced that it has acquired TenantID, UK & Ireland’s unique database that stores tenant letting histories, an acquisition that will see both Callcredit and TenantID work together to reach a critical mass of tenant held data.

London signposted as UKâs ID fraud capital

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:55:27 +0100

From Woolwich to Westminster, Londoners are being warned to be wary as the city is revealed to be the identity fraud capital of the UK – home to seven of the 10 worst areas for this crime.

Fewer large companies fail in September

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:11:49 +0100

The latest Insolvency Index from Experian has revealed that the largest companies in the UK – those employing 501 or more employees – experienced a year on year fall in the number of insolvencies during September. Just 11 large firms failed in September 2011, 25 per cent fewer than the same period in 2010.

CIFAS calls for increase in sentences for boiler room fraudsters

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:56:19 +0100

CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service is calling for a review of the sentences handed down to those convicted of boiler room scams, in light of the recent announcement of the latest sentencing guidelines for burglary.

Equifax welcomes campaign to increase awareness of online threats

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:25:28 +0100

Internet search engine Google and The Citizens Advice Bureau are launching a campaign to increase awareness of online threats and to make users feel safer on the internet. The campaign will cover topics such as internet passwords and scam emails, and leading ID fraud expert Equifax is reminding consumers of the importance of protecting their personal details online.

Callcredit Launches Ownership Fraud Alert

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:13:19 +0100

Callcredit Information Group has today launched a new feature to its flagship fraud prevention product, CallValidate called Ownership Fraud Alert (OFA).

Lenders support joined-up initiative to combat fraud

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:07:37 +0100

Mortgage fraud has been estimated by the National Fraud Authority (NFA) to total £1 billion, accounting for around 2.5% of the £38 billion annual cost of financial crime in the UK. Fraud targeted against lenders encompasses a wide range of crimes – from submitting inflated claims of income in support of an individual mortgage application to much more systematic and often highly organised criminal behaviour. But lenders remain dedicated to detecting and deterring ...

96% of customers are not confident that UK businesses are doing enough to protect customer data

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:53:57 +0100

This week is National Identity Fraud Prevention Week (NIDFPW), which over the last seven years has helped consumers and businesses alike to fight identity fraud. NIDFPW brings together partners from both the public and private sector to contribute their resources and experiences to help UK businesses and consumers protect themselves against identity fraud.

Country risk assessments: Deterioration in Europe and in the United States

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:25:53 +0100

Coface notes a deterioration of the average strength of companies in Europe and in the United States and is placing on negative watch, or removing positive watch of, 8 developed countries. The country risk assessment for Greece and Cyprus is being dropped one notch. 

Identity and account takeover fraud constitute the majority of fraudulent activity

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:41:29 +0100

Analysis of the frauds recorded by Members of CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service during the first nine months of 2011 reveals that identity fraud remains the most virulent fraud currently being committed in the United Kingdom.

Chris Clark appointed as Managing Director, Experian EMEA

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:29:58 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced that Chris Clark has been appointed as Managing Director of Experian EMEA. Prior to his appointment, Chris was Managing Director of BT’s global Enterprises business.

Number of businesses failing continues to rise

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:15:53 +0100

According to the latest Business Failures figures from leading business information provider, Equifax, the hard economic conditions are continuing to take their toll on UK businesses.

Identity fraud attempts double in first half of 2011, Experian data shows

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:01:32 +0100

The latest Fraud Index from Experian®, the global information services company, has revealed that identity fraud attempts doubled in the first half of 2011, compared to Q4 in 2010. This pushed up the overall level of application fraud attempted against UK financial services firms for the third successive quarter.

Identity fraud continues to rise with 4 million victims in UK - Yet consumers remain complacent

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:21:10 +0100

National Identity Fraud Prevention Week (NIDFPW) starts today to alert consumers and businesses to the threat of identity fraud at home and at work. For the seventh year running, NIDFPW brings together partners from both the private and public sector, providing a broad range of expertise and resources to help consumers and businesses protect themselves against identity fraud.

SIA outlines âCommitment to Regulationâ at conference

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:06:45 +0100

The second Security Industry Authority conference of the year was opened and chaired by Dave Humphries, Director of Compliance, Intelligence and Communication, who welcomed delegates to the Sheffield venue. He stressed the importance of industry input as the SIA develops plans for the future of regulation for the private security industry.

Global Payments Inc. will Deploy Accertify Risk Management and Fraud Prevention Solutions

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:36:54 +0100

Accertify, a leading fraud prevention and risk management provider, announced today that Global Payments Inc., a leader in electronic transaction payment processing, will offer its e-commerce merchants a comprehensive and proven fraud screening solution based on Accertify’s leading risk management technology.

Neil Munroe of Equifax re-appointed as President of ACCIS

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:34:37 +0100

Neil Munroe, Director of External Affairs and Communications, Equifax, has been re-appointed as President of the Association of Consumer Credit Information Suppliers (ACCIS), the trade body that represents the interests of European consumer credit bureaux.

Small businesses could pay the price of online fraud as criminals hit back

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:51:28 +0100

With criminals hitting back against falling credit card fraud the Forum of Private Business is warning that small businesses are more vulnerable when taking online payments.

Andreas Tesch nominated Atradius Chief Markets Officer

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:27:50 +0100

Atradius N.V. nominated Andreas Tesch Chief Markets Officer (CMO). Mr Tesch will be responsible for the commercial development of Atradius Credit Insurance in North-western and Central Europe including Greece and Turkey, NAFTA, and Asia Pacific, and the units Dutch State Business, Global, and Special Products.

Coventry Building Society maintains Moodyâs âA3â rating.

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:24:54 +0100

Coventry Building Society can confirm that its “A3” long term rating from Moody’s Investor Services remains unchanged. It was reaffirmed by the rating agency in August and as a result Coventry was not included in this latest review.

Blind charity Winter Ball in memory of PwC partner

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:10:55 +0100

The exclusive and prestigious Dorton House Winter Ball, will be held on Saturday 19 November in aid of the Royal London Society for Blind People (RLSB). The event will be in memory of the late Howard Hughes, former Chair of the Society and a partner in leading accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Callcredit Whitepaper Provides Credit Risk Management Insight for Lenders Tackling Recession

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:20:57 +0100

Highly regarded credit experts Callcredit Information Group, have analysed the effect of the recession on lenders and documented their findings in a whitepaper – which reveals how automated data solutions can help lenders deal with the crisis.

Equifax market reports gives consumer credit providers a better âbig pictureâ

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:58:09 +0100

Leading consumer credit information and risk management company, Equifax, has launched a powerful new tool to give consumer credit providers the ability to benchmark the performance of their customer portfolios against both industry metrics and their competitors. Equifax Market Reports provide ‘real-world’ answers to the questions that all businesses struggle to answer - ‘How are we performing in relation to our competitors and the market?’ and ‘How cou ...

Experian upgrades pre-screening credit risk tool to help FS organisations market responsibly

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 19:21:12 +0100

Experian, the global information services company, has launched a new version of its credit marketing pre-screening tool allowing financial services organisations to more easily identify consumers under financial stress and market only to those most likely to be accepted for their products and services.

Cost of judgment searches more than halved

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:07:28 +0100

The cost of checking CCJs (county count judgments) is being more than halved this week, thanks to an initiative by Registry Trust.

FICO and Equifax Will Bring Forward-Looking Scores to UK Market

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:24:04 +0100

Global information solutions leader Equifax and FICO, the leading provider of predictive analytics and decision management technology, today announced their agreement to develop new analytics for the UK market. The first two of these analytics will assess the capacity of consumers to handle additional credit, and show how individuals' risk would change under different macroeconomic conditions. These analytics will complement Equifax's RN4 suite of risk scores, further helping credit grant ...

Trade credit insurers still approaching SMEs with caution

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:48:04 +0100

While trade credit insurers continue to do battle on pricing for large corporate accounts amid an influx of new players and additional capacity in the market, many are still exercising caution when evaluating proposals from small and medium-sized (SME) firms. In particular, many SMEs operating in the timber, construction and non-food retail sectors continue to be perceived as ‘high risk’ by trade credit insurers and are paying higher premiums as a result.

Flannels signs deal with Callcredit

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:44:39 +0100

Luxury fashion retailer Flannels has signed up to use Callcredit Information Group’s CallValidate verification tool to help process online payments and increase customer acceptance rates.

The value and accuracy of IFA contact data set to improve

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:45:30 +0100

Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs) are a key sales channel for investment firms, but the quality and value of an organisation’s contact database can degrade over time, leading to wasted sales and marketing resources. And with the onset of RDR the pace of change in the IFA landscape is accelerating giving product providers an even bigger challenge.

Tracesmart continues to be listed as one of the top businesses in Wales

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:23:47 +0100

Leading data specialists, Tracesmart are listed in the 2011 Fast Growth 50 Awards as the 25th fastest growing company in Wales. Joining a diverse range of businesses, Tracesmart took part in the award ceremony held in Cardiff on 16th September. Now in their 12th year, the awards, which champion companies in Wales and the positive effect they have on the economy, have grown in stature and are now considered a highlight in the business calendar. Tracesmart were nominated for the fastest gr ...

D&B Launches 200-Day Digital Tribute to Mark Reaching 200 Million Businesses

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:14:25 +0100

Dun & Bradstreet (D&B UK), the world’s leading source of commercial information and insight, has reached a significant milestone: 200 million businesses covered in its global database. To celebrate, D&B will take the next 200 days to say “thank you” through a digital tribute to businesses around the world. Businesses can submit their own stories and join D&B’s celebration at www.dnb.com/200million.

Harrisons Business Recovery and Insolvency appointed administrators to Res-Q Contact Services Ltd

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:01:26 +0100

National business recovery and insolvency specialist, Harrisons, has been appointed administrator to Res-Q Contact Services, an established outsourced contact centre operation based in Kingston Upon Hull.

Misuse of bank accounts on the rise warns CIFAS

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:55:01 +0100

Analysis of the frauds recorded by Members of CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service during the first eight months of 2011 reveals a serious rise in the number of cases of fraudulent misuse of a bank account.

Increased executive focus on money laundering swells workload for compliance staff

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:42:22 +0100

Compliance departments are coming under increased pressure to strengthen anti-money laundering compliance because of a growing focus from senior management, but they are hampered in their efforts by a lack of training and resources, according to a joint Dow Jones Risk & Compliance/Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) survey released today.

Lebanese CreditBank S.A.L. Will Grow Credit Portfolios Using FICO Origination Solutions

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:27:28 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, today announced that CreditBank S.A.L., one of the top lenders in Lebanon, is using FICO originations solutions to accelerate growth while controlling risk. Early results from the implementation include a 50% reduction in manual underwriting.

Express Gifts chooses Experian to improve customer management

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:45:15 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced that it has been selected by Express Gifts to provide credit and behavioral scoring services to help the retailer improve customer management.

Integralis Takes a Proportional Approach to Cybercrime

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:48:57 +0100

Integralis, the UK’s largest IT security solutions provider, today published an advisory paper to help organisations take a rational, practical, proportional approach to cybercrime.

FICO Study of UK Card Data Shows Weakness in Student, Irish Cards

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:54:51 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, today released Q2 card data showing that the steady performance of most UK cards is continuing, with a slight indication of increased risk. The data also shows the markedly weaker performance of student cards and of euro cards (issued in Ireland).

Rapid7 Nexpose 5.0 Introduces Pioneering Features Securing Virtual Environments-Reduced Malware Risk

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:49:07 +0100

Rapid7, the leading provider of security risk intelligence solutions, today announced that the new version of its vulnerability management solution, Rapid7® Nexpose 5.0, will address the complex security challenges presented by the wide scale adoption of virtualisation technologies and the rapid increase of malware. For the first time, organisations will be able to ensure that their virtual environments do not represent potential hidden security threats. Rapid7 already provides inte ...

Equifax director climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro for Alzheimers Society

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:56:55 +0100

Chris Sherlock, Director of Equifax Personal Solutions and Head of its Marketing Services Division, is facing a new challenge this month as he joins a team aiming to reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Bankrupt gets 12-month prison sentence for disposal of assets

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:14:12 +0100

Mukhesh Girdharlal Vagharia, a bankrupt, has been sentenced by Leicester Crown Court to 12 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to two counts of fraudulently removing property before and after his bankruptcy. Mr Vagharia’s conviction follows an investigation by The Insolvency Service and prosecution by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (‘BIS’).

Car sales company director sentenced to six years imprisonment

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:45:29 +0100

Scott Jason Kidd, the director of three car sales companies was last week sentenced to a total of six years imprisonment and was disqualified from acting as a director or in any way managing or acting as a director of limited companies for 10 years, following his sentencing at Leicester Crown Court.

Women hit hard by struggling labour market

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:12:55 +0100

This week’s unemployment statistics reveal the impact the tough economic environment is having on the self-employed and women in particular. Leading debt solution expert and DEMSA member, Atlantic Financial Management is warning of a deepening debt problem in the UK as lower income and part-time jobs traditionally taken by women juggling work with childcare, are now being taken by men and foreign workers as full time job opportunities become scarce. Loss of income is the ...

Reports to HMRC of fraudulent emails soar

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:52:34 +0100

It is essential that anyone receiving an email claiming to be from HMRC telling the taxpayer that they are due a tax repayment does not follow the email's instructions.

Shop Direct Group Will Use FICO Analytics to Forecast Economy's Impact on Consumer Risk

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:07:22 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, today announced that Shop Direct Group, the UK’s largest online and home shopping retailer, has extended its use of FICO analytics to include models that assess how economic changes would affect its portfolio risk. The FICO® Economic Impact Service will help the retailer maintain a consistent risk level through cycles of economic change.

Experian launches PPI claims management service

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:29:10 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced it has launched a set of new services designed to help financial services organisations manage Payment Protection Insurance claims efficiently and fairly, and to proactively reach out to likely claimants.

Increase in consumers checking their credit data

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:39:21 +0100

Leading instant online credit information provider, Equifax, reports another year-on-year increase in consumer demand for its credit report services. Increased awareness and easy access to Equifax’s credit report products, means more consumers are checking their credit data than ever.

Take the risk out of international trade with instant intelligence from around the globe

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:10:50 +0100

Leading business information expert, Equifax, is making it even easier to check the credit status of overseas businesses with the launch of its Instant Online International Business Reports. Export markets have been identified as key routes to bolster the UK economy and overseas suppliers are still vital to support UK services. But, now more than ever, it is crucial that businesses trading with overseas organisations do this with as little risk as possible.

Young adults see biggest improvement in personal insolvencies

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:50:42 +0100

New analysis from Experian®, the global information services company, reveals that young adults across a range of income groups have seen the most significant improvements in insolvency levels.

Coface continues its refocusing around credit insurance, after good first half year performance

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 22:17:02 +0100

 The results for the first half of 2011 confirm the recovery of Coface and the relevancy in the refocusing of credit insurance announced in March 2011. A complete strategic review of the business lines and activities carried out in the 66 countries where Coface is present allowed to distinguish the core activities from non-strategic financial stakes, on the basis of criteria such as synergies with credit insurance and profitability.    The 1st half of 2011 showed the fo ...

FICO Win Best Paper Award at Edinburgh Scoring Conference with Basel-Related Analytic Research

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 22:47:59 +0100

MINNEAPOLIS — FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, today announced that the company won the Paragon Award for the Best Paper at the Credit Scoring and Credit Control XII conference in Edinburgh, the leading worldwide conference on credit scoring and related topics. This marks FICO’s second consecutive Best Paper award at the conference, following the 2009 win by FICO Labs’ Gerald Fahner on causal modelling.

Fraudsters using false information to dupe car dealers

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:39:04 +0100

In the last 12 months, almost 30% of motor finance fraud was committed using false finance applications. This is according to the Finance & Leasing Association, which today published motor finance fraud figures for the second quarter of 2011.

1 September sees launch of mortgage verification scheme to combat fraud

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:34:59 +0100

Following a successful pilot, 1 September sees the formal launch of an important new scheme to combat mortgage application fraud.

Discussion paper on small business reporting brings more confusion than clarity

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:10:28 +0100

The Government’s Discussion Paper on simpler reporting for the smallest businesses appears once again to have missed the fundamental point: businesses rely on more information, not less, to extend credit, and without credit, the longed-for business recovery will not happen.

Consumer credit lending falls in Q2

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:12:45 +0100

Consumer finance figures published today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer credit lending fell by 3% in June, and by 1% in Q2, compared with the same periods last year.

'ICB is in danger of choking limited credit currently available to business'

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:07:50 +0100

As the banks voice concerns about tighter Independent Commission on Banking (ICB) rules which they predict will curb lending, Chris Coopey, Partner and Practice Director at Carpenter Box LLP has suggested the ICB is in danger of choking off the limited credit currently available to the business sector.

FICO Model Builder 7.2 Speeds Model Development and Improves Prediction

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:20:37 +0100

MINNEAPOLIS — FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, today announced the general availability of FICO™ Model Builder 7.2, which enables analytic developers to rapidly discover, design and deploy predictive analytics for high-volume decisions. Enhancements to the data mining workbench include new capabilities to develop and deploy optimised suites of segmented ensemble models, which marry decision trees and scorecards to capitalise on the ...

Lindsay Town appointed Chairman of the Board of The Asset Works

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:52:23 +0100

The Asset Works, a global leader in leased asset management and verification services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Lindsay Town as non-executive Chairman.

ICM urges urgent government re-think on micro-business plan

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:43:50 +0100

The Institute of Credit Management (ICM) has launched a petition with Graydon UK, the commercial credit referencing agency, to prompt a Government rethink on plans to exempt micro-businesses from having to ﬁle accounts at Companies House – plans it believes will seriously hamper the economic recovery rather than encourage it.

SFP called in as Rivers (Midlands) Limited dries up

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:37:51 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has been appointed Administrator to Rivers (Midlands) Limited after the printing company encountered financial difficulties.

Organisations can build a better business credit rating with a little help from Creditsafe

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:25:40 +0100

Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, has announced the publication of Building Your Business Credit Rating, the first in a series of Creditsafe Business Guides. The new guide outlines the key steps businesses should take to build and protect their credit rating, from filing full financial returns ahead of time to paying their bills regularly.

SFP manage sale of two more recruitment firms

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:25:55 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has secured the sale of another two recruitment firms: Teddington-based Thejobscompany.co.uk Limited, and Empire ML Limited in Chiswick after they both experienced financial difficulties. All jobs have been saved in the process.

Families are not saving for future university tuition fees

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:05:35 +0100

As A-level students await their results this Thursday, leading instant online credit information provider, Equifax, has investigated how families are preparing for the future costs of university education.

Atradius N.V. mourns death of Vice Chairman & CMO Dr Peter Ingenlath

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:59:43 +0100

On Saturday 13 August 2011 Dr Peter Ingenlath Vice Chairman and Chief Market Officer (CMO) of Atradius N.V. passed away while on vacation in Germany. Dr Ingenlath was 53 years of age.

New company, CxB Solutions, unveils innovative ideas for fraud and revenue protection software

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:24:40 +0100

CxB provides protection for telecom operators from SIM box fraud/bypass fraud, SIM card cloning, dealer fraud and revenue leakage. Risk management applications to protect operators˙ revenue, customers and reputation.

SFP secures swift sale of Speedy Contractors Limited

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:12:58 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has finalised the sale of Speedy Contractors Limited which was placed into Administration after accruing large debts. The company was bought by Speedy Specialists Limited.

Atlantic warns of caution over personal insolvency figures

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:28:04 +0100

While year on year, personal insolvencies have fallen, the 3 months to June 2011 have seen the first rise in a year according to the latest insolvency figures. DEMSA member Atlantic Financial Management is warning of an upward trend in personal insolvencies as the cost of living continues to increase and inflation is due to reach an estimated 5% later this year.

Over five million households not saving enough

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:28:03 +0100

Leading debt charity Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) has said it is concerned about the low levels of savings of over five million UK households. New research commissioned for the charity by the Financial Inclusion Centre has identified 4.3 million households with no savings and 1.1 million households with savings under £1,000.

Feeling The Squeeze- Consumers Admit Regular Savings Are The First Thing To Go

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:23:01 +0100

According to recent research carried out by online credit information expert, Equifax, an enormous 74% of consumers have had no pay rise in the last year. This, along with rising inflation rates, has forced many to economise and make cuts in order to budget effectively. And one of the main casualties appears to be savings.

Student Loans Company the latest and largest public body to fight fraud through CIFAS

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:15:07 +0100

The Student Loans Company (SLC) is the latest, and largest, public sector organisation to join CIFAS, the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service.

SFP on the mark with Target Appointments Ltd sale

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:22:52 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has undertaken the sale of London-based Target Appointments Limited after the company went into Administration, saving six jobs in the process.

Asiagate selects Creditsafe as principal provider of European company credit reports

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:58:20 +0100

Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, has announced that Asiagate, which provides widespread corporate credit information in Asia, will now provide European reports from Creditsafe as part of its aggregated service to clients.

International Criminal Court Selects World-Check

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:25:21 +0100

Following a successful trial of World-Check's Risk Screening Solution, World-Check Online, the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) joins over 300 regulatory and enforcement agencies world-wide in selecting World-Check. The Office of the Prosecutor acts independently as a separate function of the ICC, responsible for investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. ...

SFP secures sale of key personnel group

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:11:09 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has overseen the successful sale of the Key Personnel Group Ltd after the recruitment firm ran into financial difficulties and has secured 18 jobs in the process. This is the second managed sale of a recruitment agency by SFP in as many weeks.

R3 comments on latest insolvency figures

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:13:06 +0100

Personal insolvency increases. Frances Coulson, R3 President, said: “The quarter on quarter increase in personal insolvency is regrettable, yet expected, given job cuts and compulsory redundancies being announced in recent months, in both the public and private sector. Nearly a third of people (30%) do not have any savings at the moment according to R3’s latest personal debt snapshot, with many households failing to have a contingency plan for any fall in income or increased o ...

Insolvencies up slightly as austerity measures bite

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:02:48 +0100

Figures published today by the Insolvency Service show that personal insolvencies were up to 30,513 in the second quarter of 2011 reversing the recent decline but still a decrease of 12.2% on the same period a year ago.

Competition for Risk Professionals Rises As Fewer Seek New Jobs

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:11:27 +0100

Fewer risk professionals are looking for new jobs than at the start of the year despite receiving disappointing bonuses, according to the latest market update from recruiters Robert Walters. With the number of risk management jobs available remaining high, this is increasing competition among recruiting firms for the best people.

CIFAS warns of mix of old and new staff fraud methods

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:01:08 +0100

Analysis of staff frauds recorded by Members of CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service during the first six months of 2011, reveals the continued seriousness of the problem posed by dishonest, fraudulent staff operating within organisations.

Solvency 2 compliance and data protection implications

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:47:50 +0100

With just over a year to go before the Solvency 2 directives come into force for accounting companies across Europe, firms are having to face up to the data security risks resulting from its operational and systemic demands.

SFP appointed administrator of Midland Glass Supplies

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:25:14 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has been appointed Administrator of Midland Glass Supplies Notts Limited after the company accrued large debts and struggled with a lack of cash flow. The £500,000 debts include a large amount owed to Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

More firms look to protect themselves from bad debt

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:22:53 +0100

As asset-based finance continues to outperform all other forms of business lending, leading invoice finance specialist Bibby Financial Services is experiencing a huge surge in demand for bad debt protection from firms keen to insulate themselves against the impact of customers’ insolvency or inability to pay.

Equifax Reports Second Quarter 2011 Results

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:59:59 +0100

Equifax Inc. today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. The company reported revenue from continuing operations of $487.1 million in the second quarter of 2011, a 6 percent increase from the second quarter of 2010. On May 31, 2011, we completed the merger of our Brazilian business with Boa Vista Servicos S.A. ("BVS") in exchange for a 15 percent equity interest in BVS, which is now the second largest consumer and commercial credit information company ...

UK current account fraud surges in first quarter of 2011, according to Experian

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 09:58:19 +0100

The latest Fraud Index from Experian®, the global information services company, has revealed a sharp increase in fraudulent attempts to open current accounts in the UK during the first three months of 2011.

SFP completes sale of Arnashade Recruitment Ltd

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 19:12:01 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has overseen the sale of Arnashade Recruitment Ltd to the Staffline Group for an undisclosed amount. Arnashade Recruitment went into Administration after experiencing financial difficulties and a lack of cashflow.

Fraudscape Bulletin â CIFAS reveals the state of the fraud nation

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 19:02:29 +0100

Analysis of frauds recorded by Members of CIFAS, the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, during the first six months of 2011, has revealed some significant shifts in fraudulent activity. These are examined and explained in Fraudscape Bulletin – published today.

Harrisons appointed administrators to Gillâs Cruise Centre

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:04:43 +0100

Paul Boyle, Head of National Practice at recovery and insolvency specialists Harrisons, has been appointed administrator to Gill’s Cruise Centre, a longstanding family-owned cruise retailer specialised in luxury, family and themed cruises. The company also targeted cruise holidays to solo travellers as well as to the over-55s.

Tony Murphy joins Harrisons Business Recovery & Insolvency

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 23:30:22 +0100

National business recovery and insolvency specialists Harrisons has appointed Tony Murphy as Director of the London office.

Is credit file ignorance stopping first time buyers getting on the property ladder?

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:02:57 +0100

According to new research, the number of first-time buyer mortgage products has soared by 17% in the past month. There are now 312 products available for those with a 10% deposit – the highest number since November 2008, when the credit crunch first hit. And this is good news for first time buyers who, until recently, have had to source a deposit of 25% or more to get a good deal.

Summer Retail Limited in administration

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 22:41:45 +0100

Summer Retail Limited has gone into administration with the closure of its three motorcycle franchise dealerships in Leeds, Stockport and St Leger, Doncaster.

Experian partnership with CoreLogic enhances fraud protection for UK mortgage lenders

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:59:42 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, and CoreLogic, a leading provider of property information, analytics and business services, today announced a partnership to make the CoreLogic FraudMark scoring software available to UK mortgage providers through Experian’s Hunter II fraud detection system.

Be sure your holiday does not lead to greater expense warns CIFAS

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:56:42 +0100

The holiday season is, traditionally, one where spending will increase, as thousands leave for a much needed break. But, in among the usual expenses and unforeseen extras, CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service is warning holiday makers to take all steps to ensure that they return with their identity and financial details intact.

Coface reviews its business environment assessments

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:09:16 +0100

Coface reviews its business environment assessments with 7 emerging countries upgraded and 2 European countries downgraded

Callcredit Creates âKey Accountsâ Team to Deliver Exceptional Service and Innovation

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:00:26 +0100

Callcredit Information Group’s Credit Solutions business has created a ‘key accounts’ team with the specific aim to focus on a core set of key lenders within the UK market.

Mid-sized UK businesses see insolvency rate drop in June

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:38:45 +0100

The latest Insolvency Index from Experian®, the global information services company, has revealed that mid-sized and large businesses performed better in June this year.

Increase in number of business failures for first time in more than a year

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:06:02 +0100

According to the latest Business Failures figures from leading business information provider, Equifax, the continuing difficult economic climate appears to be hitting all companies harder. The Equifax Quarter 2 Business Failures Report shows the first Year on Year and Quarter on Quarter increase in companies failing for more than 12 months.

New car care plans are designed to go the distance

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 18:11:15 +0100

An end to "oversold and under-performing" car protection plans has been signalled by major national used car retailer ACF Car Finance.

SASâ âbig analyticsâ tackles big data, speeds problem solving

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 16:20:51 +0100

A powerful new release of SAS® software helps enable faster, better decision making by improving analysis of vast and growing amounts of data. Whether a retailer optimising pricing for thousands of items, a hospital identifying which treatment plans improve patient health, or a government agency fighting fraud, SAS, the leader in business analytics, helps organisations scour "big data" through "big analytics" and data management to reveal hidden insights ...

International trade âis key to reviving UK economyâ

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:53:13 +0100

Businesses still envisage international trade as one of the quickest paths to economic recovery, according to a new report by leading trade credit insurer Atradius.

Callcredit partners with BeatThatQuote.com for Noddle

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:50:23 +0100

Callcredit, the credit reference agency, has announced its partnership with Google-owned BeatThatQuote.com to support its free credit report service, Noddle, launched in June 2011.

ICB reforms should be proportionate to the risk posed by financial service providers

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:15:43 +0100

In its response to the Independent Commission on Banking (ICB), the Building Societies Association says it supports the ICB’s aim to make the banking system more stable and competitive, but any proposed reforms should be proportionate to the risk posed by different financial service providers. The BSA also believes that any retail ring-fence should incorporate mutuals’ entire business model.

Thomson Reuters Accelus to help manage cross-currency transactions for industrial manufacturer

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:39:27 +0100

Johnson Electric, the leader in micromotors, motion sub-systems, human machine interfaces and infrastructure control systems, has engaged Thomson Reuters Governance, Risk and Compliance to provide risk and audit management software.

BWise expands its UK Team with new Sales Director and Business Analyst

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 09:25:40 +0100

BWise announced today that Mike Mather and Tamara King have joined the UK BWise team, respectively as Sales Director and Business Analyst. Due to the increasing number of requests from UK industry leading companies and the need for insurers to be compliant in regards to the European Solvency II act, they will further develop the UK market for the BWise market leading GRC solution.

'Team Creditsafe' rides into Hell for charity

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:06:57 +0100

Four staff members at Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, have cycled the ‘Paris to Roubaix challenge’, an amateur version one of the most famous one-day bicycle races in the world. Covering a combined 400 miles and crossing 20 bone-jarring cobblestone sections, the team were raising money for Creditsafe’s house charity ‘Reaching Out’.

Competitor intelligence is the key to standing out in the financial services market

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:13:06 +0100

Independent financial research company Defaqto has today launched a new web-based product research application – DefaqtoMatrix – that will revolutionise the way providers manage products across all stages of the product life cycle.

Equifax grows public sector team

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:29:37 +0100

Leading consumer and business information expert, Equifax, has boosted the expertise in its Public Sector Team with the recruitment of four key individuals from one of its key competitors.

CIFS introduces new first limit service

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:27:38 +0100

Lloyds credit insurer Credit Indemnity & Financial Services (CIFS) has introduced a new service “First Limit" enabling policyholders to obtain instant on-line decisions on appropriate trading limits with their business partners.

'Landlords positive about future of buy-to-let', says CHL research

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 10:21:44 +0100

Specialist lender, CHL Mortgages, has today (4th July 2011) announced the results of its annual Landlord Survey and revealed growing positivity from sector participants about the outlook for buy-to-let.

Coface PR - Enhanced Premier Trader Policy for SMEs

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:53:08 +0100

Coface has enhanced its Premier Trader credit insurance policy for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs)enabling more to benefit from an export-led economic recovery.  

Largest companies in the UK demonstrate resilience in May 2011

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:45:08 +0100

Experian, the global information services company, published its latest Business Insolvency Index today, revealing that the UK’s largest companies performed well in May 2011, experiencing the biggest fall in insolvencies compared to any other business size. Those employing over 501 employees saw a fall in insolvencies from 0.16 per cent in May last year to 0.10 per cent in May this year and those companies employing 101-500 employees saw the insolvency rate decrease from 0.14 p ...

Creditsafe expands online credit reference service to North America

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:45:27 +0100

Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, has announced it is further expanding its international credit referencing solution to include online business information on 14 million businesses in the USA. Information includes summary details on the company, addresses, credit rating, credit limit, financials where available, key directors, parent company and legal filings (equivalent to CCJs in the UK).

Cheque Guarantee Card Scheme closure comment from Jonathan Williams at Experian

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:11:27 +0100

Jonathan Williams, director of strategic development, Experian Identity & Fraud, comments: “There has been reduced usage of the Scheme over the years as people switch to alternatives that are quicker and offer more protection such as credit and debit cards.

CML News & Views: Tackling mortgage fraud

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:10:55 +0100

The cost of mortgage fraud has been estimated at £1 billion. Fraud extends from individual borrowers inflating their income in support of their mortgage application, to systematic abuse by organised criminals. In theory, lender self-interest should provide protection. But changing market conditions and practices – and the relentless inventiveness of criminals – continues to present fresh challenges for firms. Today, we look at what the FSA says lenders should be doing to r ...

R3 comments on the high street blood bath

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:24:57 +0100

R3 President, Frances Coulson, said: “In the aftermath of the last quarter-day we have seen many retailers enter into administration or announce the closure of loss-making stores. However, for many the quarter-day was simply the catalyst for their collapse. The high-street and the way consumers shop is changing and the rate of change has been sped up by the protracted economic downturn. R3’s latest consumer survey found that over eighty percent of consumers have changed the wa ...

Callcredit Creates âPublic Sectorâ Team to Deliver Innovation Sector Solutions

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:28:57 +0100

Callcredit Information Group has created an experienced Public Sector team focused on delivering intelligent solutions to Local Authorities, Central Government, Communications and Partnerships, specifically designed to meet the specialist needs of the Public Sector.

FICO and Efma Survey Shows Changing Relationship Between European Banks and Consumers

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:40:53 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, and Efma today announced the results of the second European Credit Risk Survey. The survey, which queried credit risk management professionals on their outlook for the next six months, reveals changes in the relationship between banks and borrowers, and a growing optimism for credit performance that is muffled by continuing struggles in mortgage markets.

OFT acts to improve compliance with money laundering regulations

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:19:40 +0100

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) today issued a reminder to businesses it supervises under money laundering regulations to improve compliance or risk enforcement action.

Tracey McDermott addresses FSA Financial Crime Conference

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:34:06 +0100

Tracey McDermott, acting director of enforcement and financial crime at the Financial Services Authority (FSA), today highlighted the continuing importance of financial crime within the future UK regulatory landscape.

The P&A Partnership announces 78 jobs saved as buyer found for FW Mason & Sons Ltd

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:25:52 +0100

Administrators today announced that flooring specialists Atkinson & Kirby Ltd have bought Nottingham timber company F W Mason & Sons Ltd, saving 78 jobs.

CML Welcomes FSA mortgage fraud thematic review

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:18:59 +0100

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) welcomes today's recognition by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in its thematic review of mortgage fraud that "the industry has made progress in getting to grips with this problem over recent years. Defences are now stronger, and the value of cross-industry cooperation is better recognised."

Equifax aims to help SMEs improve their business decision making

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:15:30 +0100

Leading consumer credit and business risk management and marketing services provider, Equifax, is reinforcing its focus on its Commercial Information Services and the SME marketplace with the appointment of Mark Nuttall as Director, Commercial & SME. Mark reports directly to the company’s Managing Director, Shawn Holtzclaw.

Insolvencies increase for middle-aged in UKâs industrial heartlands

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:08:57 +0100

New analysis from Experian, the global information services company, reveals that elements of Britain’s married, middle-aged consumer classes saw their share of personal insolvencies increase in the first quarter of 2011, compared to the same period last year. At the opposite end of the scale, young professionals experienced the biggest improvement in personal insolvencies.

3 major trading risks identified at the 2011 Coface âOpportunities in Tradeâ Country ...

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:31:05 +0100

Against the recent backdrop of the most severe economic crisis of the past 60 years, Coface created this conference to help companies and their advisers be aware of both the opportunities and risks of trading at home and overseas.

Company failures begin to rise

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:23:30 +0100

The rate of company failures has gathered pace during Q2 of 2011 and is expected to rise by three per cent on Q1 according to the Graydon Insolvency Predictor.

Insolvencies increase for middle-aged in UKâs industrial heartlands

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:51:50 +0100

Company Watch receives Approved Source status from leading Trade Credit Insurers

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:06:37 +0100

Company Watch is delighted to announce that with effect from 1st May 2011 it is an Approved Source for Euler Hermes. Company Watch joins a select group of five agencies whose reports are approved for use in conjunction with Euler Hermes’ Trade Credit insurance policies.

Nick Hood joins Company Watch as head of external affairs

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:00:33 +0100

Nick Hood has joined Company Watch as Head of External Affairs. Nick, a Chartered Accountant, has for many years headed the BTG Global Network of business rescue firms and brings to Company Watch not only a wealth of experience from his corporate management and insolvency careers, but also from his role directing PR campaigns for the past twelve years at the Begbies Traynor Group. Nick continues to work at Begbies as Chairman of the BTG Global Network on a part-time basis.

Euler Hermes appoints new commercial director for UK and Ireland

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:53:02 +0100

Euler Hermes UK, the UK’s leading credit insurer and part of Allianz, has appointed Lukas Neckermann as Commercial Director for the UK and Ireland.

Hitachi Capital sign three year deal with Callcredit

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:15:44 +0100

Callcredit Information Group has agreed a three year deal with Hitachi Capital to provide a range of innovative credit risk, affordability and fraud products for use in the assessment of consumer credit applications.

Jaywing MD faces uphill struggle for cancer charity

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:21:53 +0100

Adrian Lingard, Managing Director at risk consultancy 20:20 Jaywing, is taking on an incredible challenge, cycling ‘La Marmotte’. On 2nd July, Adrian and two Jaywing colleagues will attempt four of the hardest mountain climbs of the Tour de France to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

This yearâs top tips for holidaymakers using their cards overseas

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:54:32 +0100

With the holiday season fast approaching, The UK Cards Association and ABTA, the travel association, have today published Using your card overseas to provide advice and information for holidaymakers and business travellers who are planning to use their cards abroad this summer.

R3 responds to falling retail figures

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 23:53:38 +0100

Against a backdrop of increased living costs and falling incomes (from inflationary pressures and frozen pay) it is unsurprising that retail has suffered a 1.4% drop in sales.

Thomson Reuters survey shows firms need greater board-level commitment to navigate the Bribery Act

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:54:04 +0100

A major survey by Thomson Reuters (www.accelus.thomsonreuters.com) has revealed that although the majority of UK firms are on track to meet the implementation deadline for the Bribery Act, many feel that they have not adequately prepared their most senior executives and board members for the challenges they face from the new legislation.

Neural Technologies and Turkcellâs Fraud & Credit Risk Management Project wins global award

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:52:14 +0100

Neural Technologies – a leading risk management software provider – and Turkcell – Turkey’s largest mobile telecoms operator – have been presented with a Global Telecoms Business Innovation Award in recognition of a large-scale fraud and credit risk management software implementation.

âFreeâ credit reports hit consumers with Â£22 million bill

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 01:18:17 +0100

Britons have spent more than £22 million on ‘rolling’ monthly subscriptions for credit reports that they didn’t realize they had to pay for.

National Bank of Abu Dhabi gains real-time analytics with SAS, Teradata

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:30:16 +0100

The Premier Business Leadership Series, ANTWERP, BELGIUM – 15th June, 2011 – The number one bank in the United Arab Emirates, the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), will leverage market-leading technologies from Teradata, (NYSE: TDC), the world's largest company focused on data warehousing, and SAS, the leader in business analytics software and services, to gain a single enterprise view across the organisation. This will help the bank maintain market leadership in corpor ...

FSA - the latest public body to fight fraud through CIFAS

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:25:13 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is the latest high-profile public sector organisation to join CIFAS, the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, to counteract fraudulent behaviours among regulated individuals.

SFP drives successful sale of Yellow Star Travel

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:21:56 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has successfully secured the sale of Yellow Star Travel, home of Burton Coaches of Haverhill, to Stephensons of Essex. The deal will see Stephensons take on the majority of Yellow Star Travel’s bus routes and tendered services and retain 24 members of staff.

Experian launches Dynamic Tracing to provide updated customer information

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:34:50 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced it has launched Dynamic Tracing, a new service that will provide lenders with up to date customer contact details and credit information. Dynamic Tracing greatly reduces the risk of lenders making incorrect decisions based on out of date data.

Equity Direct Broking selects Equifax for ID solutions

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:23:25 +0100

Equity Direct Broking (EDB), one of the UK’s leading affinity providers, has appointed leading consumer risk and ID fraud expert, Equifax to support its business with a range of ID verification and fraud prevention solutions.

SFP Oversees Two Signage Firms Administration

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:06:28 +0100

SFP secures sale of Starsigns Ltd

The nationwide insolvency practitioners SFP has overseen the successful sale of Kent-based signage firm Starsigns (UK) Ltd, after it was placed into Administration, securing 18 jobs in the process. The company will now trade as Shore Signs.

StarSigns Ltd manufactures and supplies signs and nameplates for the retail industry and has an annual turnover of approximately £1million.

Government publishes consultation on changes to Money Laundering Regulations 2007

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:43:54 +0100

The Government is publishing today its response to its review of the Money Laundering Regulations and proposals for improvement.

Callcredit trekkers raise more than Â£10,500 for charity

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:04:51 +0100

Employees and clients of Callcredit Information Group took on the colossal Oxfam Trailtrekker challenge, tackling a gruelling 30-hour, 100km trek across the Yorkshire Dales to raise a fantastic £10,500 for Oxfam on June 4th-5th with more donations on the way.

Equifax and Institute of Credit Management renew alliance for 2011

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:35:29 +0100

Following the success of their partnership in 2010, Equifax and the Institute of Credit Management (ICM) have renewed their sponsorship alliance for 2011. Under the new agreement, Equifax will work closely with the ICM to continue to support its regional road shows, as well as being a sponsor of the annual awards. This corporate partnership is part of Equifax’s ongoing focus on meeting the challenges facing the credit management industry.

C R Gibbs & Sons (Sheffield) Ltd in administration

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:36:21 +0100

Sheffield construction company C R Gibbs & Sons (Sheffield) Ltd has gone into administration with the loss of 49 jobs.

Equifax and FICO Launch Innovative Credit Management Solution Powered by Single Customer View

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:33:01 +0100

Global information solutions leader Equifax and FICO, the leading provider of predictive analytics and decision management technology, today announced an enhancement in the UK market to FICO™ TRIAD® Customer Manager that integrates Equifax’s Customer Insights® service. This solution, the first from the companies’ expanded partnership announced last month, will enable lenders and card issuers to improve predictions of customer risk and behaviour and make more pr ...

SFP concludes sale of Blueglow Ltd

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:39:39 +0100

SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, has completed a successful sale of Blueglow Ltd, a supplier of mother and baby accessories, after the company went into Administration.

SFP called in as Yellow Star Travel runs out of gas

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:54:17 +0100

The rising cost of fuel has claimed another victim in the transport sector after SFP, the nationwide insolvency practitioners, was appointed Administrator of Yellow Star Travel Services. The Suffolk-based coach hire company has run up large debts that are directly attributable to the current high cost of fuel.

CrÃ©dit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank and Experian to help clients with SEPA compliance

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:39:45 +0100

Experian, the global information services company, today announced that it has been selected by Crédit Agricole CIB as its preferred partner to help its corporate banking customers access Experian’s global payment validation and automated data conversion services.

Davey welcomes red tape cut for smallest companies

Tue, 31 May 2011 16:59:35 +0100

Business Minister Edward Davey yesterday welcomed an agreement on new, simpler accounting rules which will benefit up to 1.5 million small British companies, during a regular meeting of Business Ministers from across the EU in Brussels.

Faster Payments celebrates its third birthday by reaching the 1 billion payments milestone

Fri, 27 May 2011 16:30:25 +0100

The Faster Payments Service, which was launched on 27 May 2008 and enables immediate internet and phone payments, 24 hours a day, has now processed an astounding 1 billion payments, to a value of £375 bn.

MCR Secures Future of Clothing Brands

Fri, 27 May 2011 16:10:43 +0100

John Whitfield and Philip Duffy, Partners at MCR, and Joint Administrative Receivers of CDU Plc, have secured the future of some of the best-known brands in women’s clothing, following a successful trade sale to Roman Originals.

Needy Children International Foundation Ltd wound up in High Court

Thu, 26 May 2011 16:22:20 +0100

Needy Children International Foundation Limited, a charity fundraising company, with offices based in Wolverhampton and Manchester, was wound up in the High Court this week (23 May) following an investigation by The Insolvency Service on behalf of the Government.

The Payday Loan websites that expose you to identity theft danger

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:58:26 +0100

An increasing number of Britons are turning to payday loans to make ends meet. However, we have found that a number of payday loan websites are potentially exposing customers to the danger of identity theft.

Failure rates improve amongst UKâs small business community

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:40:56 +0100

The health of the UK’s micro and small business community improved in April, according to Experian®, the global information services company.

Groundbreaking new product set to revolutionise UK credit insurance market

Tue, 24 May 2011 11:59:08 +0100

A groundbreaking new credit insurance product looks set to revolutionise the way small accountancy and finance businesses protect themselves against bad debts.

New Thomson Reuters Research Service Speeds Up Business For M&A Lawyers

Mon, 23 May 2011 18:55:39 +0100

Thomson Reuters Governance, Risk and Compliance (www.accelus.thomsonreuters.com) has launched a major addition to its Accelus suite of products to help law firms grow their M&A business portfolios.

New Sales Team add further power to trade credit insurerâs dynamic offering

Fri, 20 May 2011 12:28:40 +0100

Leading trade credit insurer Atradius has not only taken advice from businesses in developing new products to meet their needs, but now goes on to strengthen its commercial team with a commitment to offering brokers and customers the best possible service throughout the sales process.

Howes Percival LLP appointed to assist investigation into the affairs of Portsmouth City FC Ltd

Thu, 19 May 2011 15:23:02 +0100

Howes Percival has been instructed by insolvency practitioners Geoff Carton-Kelly and David Hudson of Baker Tilly Restructuring and Recovery LLP, the joint liquidators of Portsmouth City Football Club Ltd, to assist with their investigations.

Staff Fraud report reveals rise in data theft among youngest staff fraudsters

Thu, 19 May 2011 15:11:49 +0100

CIFAS - the UK's Fraud Prevention Service, today releases Staff Fraudscape: a 28-page report analysing the insider frauds recorded by Members of the CIFAS Staff Fraud Database during 2010. Click here to download a copy: https://www.cifas.org.uk/secure/contentPORT/uploads/documents/reports/2._CIFAS_Staff_Fraudscape_2011.pdf
An interactive contents page will help you to pinpoint sections of particular interest.

New fraud contacts and intelligence - NICE Actimize

Wed, 18 May 2011 00:09:39 +0100

Actimize, a NICE Systems company and the largest and broadest provider of a single financial crime, risk and compliance software platform for the financial services industry, continues its commitment to broaden its industry subject matter expertise through a series of appointments designed to support and drive innovation, the future of its product development roadmap, and its focus on client service excellence and consulting support.

Callcreditâs Growth Continues Despite Difficult Economic Backdrop

Tue, 17 May 2011 23:48:34 +0100

Callcredit Information Group (CIG) reinforced the strength of its business by today releasing its annual results for 2010 – the first full financial year following its partnership with private equity firm Vitruvian.

Thomson Reuters acquires World-Check

Tue, 17 May 2011 14:57:00 +0100

Thomson Reuters, the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, has announced the acquisition of London-based World-Check, a leading global provider of financial crime and corruption prevention information. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Auditors not keeping pace with industry development, says NCC Group Escrow

Mon, 16 May 2011 17:38:40 +0100

NCC Group Escrow calls for internal audits to be mandatory, following a damming report from the House of Lords Economic Committee. The committee, which was investigating the role that the big four auditors played in the financial crisis, was critical of the audit industry and what it noted as “falling standards.” While the report looked at the ‘big four’s’ handling of external audits in the banking and financial sectors, it ignores internal audits that identif ...

Experian enhances unclaimed assets search service for locating lost millions

Mon, 16 May 2011 17:31:38 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced the launch of its new, improved Unclaimed Assets Register (UAR), a fully integrated website enabling consumers and other users to locate lost assets and reclaim money due.

More than just a mountain to climb for charity

Mon, 16 May 2011 17:26:03 +0100

Employees and clients of Callcredit Information Group will be teaming up to tackle a gruelling 30-hour, 100km trek in aid of Oxfam on June 4th-5th.

Adeptra Complements Voice, Email and Text Capability with New Smartphone Mobile Banking Application

Wed, 11 May 2011 21:39:46 +0100

Adeptra, the leader in auto-resolution technologies that span the consumer lifecycle, has announced a new fully-interactive mobile application called MobileDirect.

Police unit recreates cash machine crimes to advise public how to stay safe from fraud

Wed, 11 May 2011 12:27:31 +0100

Police officers from the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU) are today (Wednesday 11 May) holding a cash machine fraud prevention public event at the Fulcrum, Broadgate Circle near Liverpool Street Station.

Survey: Card fraud experts warn against looming mobile payment fraud risk

Tue, 10 May 2011 16:10:46 +0100

A survey of leading UK anti-fraud management and specialists, conducted jointly by www.UKFRAUD.co.uk and event organiser www.fraudconference.co.uk, has revealed that despite falls in card fraud over recent years; 60% of fraud specialists surveyed last month believe that mobile payment options pose the greatest potential risk going forwards.

Business debt gets personal

Tue, 10 May 2011 15:32:06 +0100

As the latest insolvency figures reveal a harsh picture of trading conditions for the UK’s small businesses and self-employed, Atlantic Financial Management is cautioning business owners against using personal credit to help keep their business afloat. Atlantic has seen a stark rise in the number of company directors and owners in serious financial problems, owing in part to the fact they have used their personal credit cards to support their business.

Equifax and FICO join forces to offer game-changing risk management solutions

Tue, 10 May 2011 15:18:54 +0100

Global information solutions leader Equifax and FICO, the leading provider of predictive analytics and decision management technology, today announced that they have entered into a new partnership for the UK to challenge the status quo in the risk management arena.

CIFAS Members issue call for action to Government

Tue, 10 May 2011 13:01:30 +0100

Members of CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, have delivered a clear and strong call for action to the UK Government to prevent fraud through data sharing initiatives that will help to identify fraudulent applications, identities and activity.

Experian enhances market leading fraud prevention system

Mon, 09 May 2011 16:51:02 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today launched an enhanced version of its Detect fraud prevention system in the UK. The new version of Detect features 60 new policy rules and access to a range of new data sources, further improving the system’s ability to validate the identity of customers and combat credit fraud at the point of application.

Equifaxâs partnership agreement with marketing services provider Communisis.

Thu, 05 May 2011 18:07:27 +0100

Leading marketing services provider (“MSP”) Communisis plc is pleased to announce that it has today signed an extension to the term and scope of its data services partnership agreement with Equifax.

NICE Actimize in Leaders Quadrant in Analyst Firmâs 2011 Magic Quadrant for Web Fraud Detection

Wed, 04 May 2011 17:11:44 +0100

NICE Actimize, a NICE Systems company and the largest and broadest provider of a single financial crime, risk and compliance software platform for the financial services industry, today announced that it has been positioned by Gartner, Inc. in the Leaders Quadrant in the analyst firm’s “2011 Magic Quadrant for Web Fraud Detection” report.

Cloud computing does not complicate business continuity strategies, according to NCC Group

Wed, 04 May 2011 12:22:39 +0100

As adoption of cloud solutions continues apace, NCC Group Escrow calls for calm amid growing concerns from those responsible for business continuity and governance strategies. While the Group acknowledges that protection of individuals’ data must be a top priority for companies moving operations in to the cloud, it believes that business continuity priorities and methodologies remain the same, whether in the cloud or ‘on premises’.

Hastings Direct signs major new contract with Equifax

Wed, 04 May 2011 11:37:35 +0100

Hastings Direct, a division of Hastings Insurance Services Limited, has signed a significant new one year contract with leading consumer risk and ID fraud expert, Equifax. The insurance provider will be using Equifax Credit Information solutions to assess the credit worthiness of new customers applying to pay their premiums by instalments, as well as using the latest ID fraud solutions to validate the identity of new customers.

Equifax Reports First Quarter 2011 Results

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:19:53 +0100

ATLANTA, April 27, 2011 -- Equifax Inc. today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. The company reported revenue from continuing operations of $472.6 million in the first quarter of 2011, a 7 percent increase from the first quarter of 2010. First quarter 2011 net income from continuing operations attributable to Equifax was $57.3 million, a 6 percent increase from the prior year. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted EPS from continuing operations attributable to Equ ...

Wolters Kluwer Financial Services reacts to the FSAâs staff exodus

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:37:44 +0100

Speaking yesterday, Mark Coronna, chief of marketing and products officer at Wolters Kluwer Financial Services reacts to the FSA’s staff exodus, saying: “Today’s reports that the FSA has faced an ‘exodus’ of staff over the past 12 months highlights a major productivity issue faced by both regulators and regulated institutions. Put simply there is just not enough trained, certified and experienced compliance and risk talent available in the market.

Major fraud data sharing report launched

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:01 +0100

Leading fraud management services provider Ethoca has released a major new independent study providing a strategic analysis and country-level commentary on the opportunities and challenges of sharing data for the purposes of fraud detection and prevention, particularly in a European context, but also referencing the United States and Canada.

Volatile fraud levels present unclear picture

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:37:41 +0100

Fraud decrease is far from crystal clear A decrease of almost 7.5% in the total number of frauds recorded in the first three months of 2011, compared with the same months in 2010, continues the pattern of falling fraud levels established during the whole of 2010. It is worth noting, however, that the fraud levels recorded between January and March 2011 represent a 11.55% increase on the frauds recorded during the last quarter of 2010. The variation in these figures demonstrates ...

Can an insider really take down your business?

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:01:33 +0100

Quantainia, an influential player in the information security market, is a growing source of independent advice on the legislative drivers facing the industry and the increasingly diverse range of threats faced by businesses in today‟s market.

Risky business: one-in-six firms conduct no checks before trading

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:01 +0100

New research commissioned by Creditsafe reveals almost half (47%) of businesses have lost money in the last 12 months as a result of trading with another company without a signed contract in place or completing adequate due diligence. A failure to complete due diligence has seen 7% of UK firms become a victim of fraud, losing monies after being duped into sending goods to a false business address or a company vanishing before paying for goods received. One-in-six firms (14%) h ...

Veracode State of Software Security Report Uncovers Weaknesses in Security Vendor Applications

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:00:42 +0100

With the trend of targeted cyber attacks along with the exploitation of common vulnerabilities such as SQL Injection, it is clear that the core software infrastructure of several critical industries remains extremely vulnerable. Released today, the Veracode “State of Software Security Report: Volume 3” uncovered that those security vendors tasked with protecting enterprises are often the most at risk due to the poor quality of their very own software applications. ...

INFORM Supports Banks in the Fight Against Skimming Attacks

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:13:32 +0100

INFORM, a provider of intelligent decision-making software systems, announces its support for banks in the fight against fraud from skimming attacks. At one major European bank alone, within just six months INFORM has helped to reduce losses from skimming attacks by 1.5 million Euros. When withdrawing money from an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) or making payments at cashless payment terminals with credit or debit cards, the public risks their confidential details being copied or manipul ...

Experian appoints Managing Director of Credit Services in UK and Ireland

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:39:34 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced the appointment of Paul Vescovi as Managing Director of its Credit Services business in the UK and Ireland.

British business strength improved during last fiscal year

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:53:27 +0100

The latest Business Insolvency Index from Experian®, the global information services company, has revealed that British businesses finished the last fiscal year stronger than they started it.

British business strength improved during last fiscal year

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 09:17:17 +0100

The latest Business Insolvency Index has revealed that British businesses finished the last fiscal year stronger than they started it.

Coface warns against increased country risk

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 16:03:53 +0100

After upgrading many of its country ratings in 2010, Coface is now downgrading 10 country ratings, including those for Japan and several countries in the Middle East/North Africa region.

Three disqualified directors

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:24:11 +0100

Details of three disqualified directors, supplied by the Insolvency Service.

The Cambridge Financial Results

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:43:34 +0100

A buoyant Cambridge Building Society has just announced another positive set of financial results and is going public with many other exciting announcements over the coming weeks.

Birmingham gambler jailed for Â£60 million fraud

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:03:08 +0100

A Birmingham money launderer has become the final defendant to be sentenced in a major international VAT and money laundering plot which stole £60 million from the public purse. He was jailed today for seven years at Birmingham Crown Court.

Loss of Income is biggest cause of debt woes

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:16:32 +0100

Consumer debt in the UK is being exacerbated by the changing job market according to the latest analysis from EuroDebt Financial Services. According to EuroDebt, loss of income is the biggest single factor for people entering a Debt Management Plan (DMP). Over a quarter of its clients (25.4%) entered a DMP in the past tax year for this reason. Add to this Redundancy (4.53%) and Unemployment (6.67%) and overall 37.04% of clients are facing debt woes due to a change in their job ...

Norwich & Peterborough expands partnership with Equifax

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 11:01:59 +0100

Norwich & Peterborough Building Society (N&P), is continuing to strengthen its partnership with leading credit risk management expert, Equifax.

Fraud rates up 11 per cent in 2010, reveals Experian

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:00:01 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today published a new report revealing that frauds attempted against financial services providers increased by 11 per cent in 2010. 20 in every 10,000 applications for credit and other financial products made last year were discovered to be fraudulent, up from 18 in 2009.

SFP completes sale and saves jobs at major scaffolding company

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:51:56 +0100

AGS Scaffolding Limited, a market leader in the field of design, provision and installation of major scaffolding works, has been successfully sold to management following the appointment of SFP – the nationwide insolvency practitioners – earlier this month. All but one of the 24 jobs have been saved as a result.

improvemydata.com launches email append service

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:43:55 +0100

Consumer data cleaning and enhancement specialists Callcredit Information Group have today launched a new email append service through their online tool improvemydata.com. Marketers can now increase consumer touch-points across their marketing database by appending email addresses online both quickly and easily 24 /7.

SFP appointed administrators to Fingerprint Limited

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:54:26 +0100

SFP – the nationwide insolvency practitioners – has been appointed Administrator to Whitstable-based printing firm, Fingerprint (Kent) Limited, following the non-payment by a major customer for an amount in excess of £270,000.

P&A business turnaround promotion for Richard Pinder

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:30:37 +0100

The P&A Group of Companies has promoted Richard Pinder to manage its business rescue and turnaround department.

Older shoulders can take the weight of late retirement

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:26:57 +0100

New research from Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, reveals that concerns over the raising of the retirement age may be unfounded given the number of senior business positions currently held by those aged over 65. There are already 360,000 directors in the UK over the age of 65, equating to 3% of the pensioner population.

Atradius and CMR support SMEs With New Fixed Price Trade Credit Insurance Solution

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:28:43 +0100

Leading trade credit insurer Atradius this week joins forces with appointed representative CMR, to launch Modula First, a new trade credit insurance product aimed at helping smaller businesses manage their trade credit. The product has been jointly developed by the two businesses.

NICE Actimize Selected by Bank of Ireland to Provide Enterprise-Wide Financial Crime Protection

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:43:17 +0100

NICE Actimize, a NICE Systems company and the largest and broadest provider of a single financial crime, risk and compliance software platform for the financial services industry, today announced that its Enterprise Risk Case Manager, Card Fraud and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) solutions have been chosen by Bank of Ireland. NICE Actimize’s single financial crime platform will allow the bank to obtain a more holistic view of financial crime risk across the enterprise to help in its e ...

Equifax steps up focus on the retail sector

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:27:47 +0100

Leading consumer credit and business risk management and marketing services provider, Equifax, is stepping up its focus in the Retail sector with the appointment of a new Head of Retail Sales.

Atradius' response to Government pre-pack announcement

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:16:06 +0100

Following over two years of lobbying for changes to the pre-pack insolvency system to increase transparency and thus reduce abuse of the process, Atradius welcomes yesterday's announcement by Government to implement changes. Marc Henstridge, Head of Risk Atradius UK and Ireland says:

New Bribery Act clarification welcomed by leading business group

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:33:29 +0100

A small business support organisation has welcomed new guidelines explaining firms’ liabilities under the forthcoming Bribery Act.

The P&A Partnership seek buyers for Woodhead Bakery

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:25:37 +0100

Gareth Rusling and Christopher White of The P&A Partnership, Sheffield, have been appointed joint administrators of Scarborough-based Woodhead Bakery.

Experian analysis reveals pockets of UK society most at risk of personal insolvency

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:01 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today published new analysis revealing that although insolvency continues to be most frequent amongst welfare dependent groups and those just starting out on professional careers, certain middle-aged, middle class and skilled working class groups bucked the national trend and saw their share of insolvencies increase in 2010. Meanwhile, the rate of insolvencies amongst a number of the poorest groups fell faster than the national av ...

Callcredit Appoints New Market Development Manager

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:57:03 +0100

Callcredit Information Group has appointed a new Market Development Manager Will North.

Channel Fiveâs Cowboy Builders uses Creditsafe reports to investigate rogue tradesmen

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:53:06 +0100

Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, has had its data featured in the latest series of Channel Five TV programme Cowboy Builders as they carry out extensive investigations into rogue companies.

Equifax launches Bank Check Advanced

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:18:59 +0100

Leading consumer credit information specialist, Equifax, is utilising its comprehensive consumer credit data to give Risk and Credit Managers a new level of fraud protection.

Money Advice Trust releases report into men and debt

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:47:00 +0100

Leading debt advice charity the Money Advice Trust (MAT) has today released a report into how men deal with debt problems. The research, which was undertaken by Dr. Jackie Goode and Dr. Amanda Waring from the Centre for Research in Social Policy, uncovered reasons why men can be seen to be less likely to seek debt advice than women:

MCR appointed Administrative Receivers for CDU Plcâ¨

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:39:40 +0100

    John Whitfield and Philip Duffy, Partners at MCR, have been appointed Joint Administrative Receivers of CDU Plc, an AIM listed company, on 23 March 2011.

Perspective Financial Group announces finance raising activity

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:32:19 +0100

Perspective Financial Group Ltd, the Wilmslow-based IFA group, has today announced it has raised a total of £10.6 million to further boost its acquisition and growth strategies.

Callcredit Budget Response

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:07:38 +0100

Jan Smith External Affairs Director at Callcredit Information Group commented “We welcome today’s announcement by the Government to provide financial incentives to help first time buyers get on the property ladder. However the issue of affordability extends much further than to those looking to buy a home for the first time.

Treasuryâs scaled back GDP forecasts overshadow budgetâs positive measures for growth

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:56:41 +0100

The Government’s reduction in GDP growth projections for both 2011 and 2012, announced in today’s Budget, overshadows the measures put in place to help small businesses, and perhaps explains the deep divisions within the business community as to whether the economy is returning to growth, says Graydon UK , the commercial reference agency.

Budget Comment - Atradius trade credit insurance

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:32:59 +0100

Alun Sweeney, Regional Director for Atradius UK and Ireland said: “We welcome the support offered in the Chancellor’s budget for Britain’s businesses, most notably for SMEs and the manufacturing and construction sectors, which he singled out for particular attention.

KBC chooses SASÂ® for central, groupwide risk reporting

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:31:28 +0100

KBC has chosen SAS Risk Management for Banking, SAS Risk Management for Insurance and SAS Financial Management from the leader in business analytics software and services, to provide a central, groupwide risk reporting solution. With SAS, KBC can obtain a consistent and quick view of the overall risk exposures across risk types, departments and geographies.

78% market could be turned off by poorly targeted credit offers

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:28:00 +0100

An independent survey commissioned by Callcredit Information Group has revealed the scale of inaccurate targeting by credit marketers and, alarmingly, that poorly-targeted mailed credit offers, such as credit card and loan offers could turn off up to 78% of consumers. Asked how they would react if they were mailed a credit offer, only to be turned down when they applied:

Company failures down 13 percent on Q1 2010

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:57:10 +0100

The rate of company failures has continued to slow during the first quarter of 2011, down 1.4 per cent on Q4 2010 according to the Graydon Insolvency Predictor, based on data from commercial credit reference agency Graydon UK published today.

Equifax 2011 Business Failures report

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:41:04 +0100

Leading business information expert, Equifax, has released its analysis of Business Failures for the first months of 2011 which seem to suggest a continuing downward trend in enterprises going under. With a 7.9% drop in failures for January-February 2011 compared to the same period in 2010, this should provide some positive signs for business leaders and government.

Research shows sales and marketing the key concerns of smaller manufacturers

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:19:18 +0100

Despite the sector’s recent resurgence, the ability of smaller manufacturers to lead the UK’s economic recovery could be under threat because many are struggling to get their products to market, according to new figures from the Forum of Private Business (FPB).

Credit check Tuesday

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:15:26 +0100

Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, reveals more business credit checks are conducted at 11:00 am on a Tuesday than at any other point in the week. Across Creditsafe’s European operations, a staggering 5.18 business reports are accessed every second of an average business day.

Lombard Risk trading report

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:19:45 +0100

Lombard Risk Management plc (LSE:LRM) ("Lombard Risk"), a leading global provider of collateral management, liquidity and regulatory reporting and compliance solutions for the financial services industry, is pleased to announce an Update on Trading for the current financial year ending 31st March 2011.

Police car crime partnership keeps down motor finance fraud in 2010

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:01:06 +0100

Motor finance fraud cases fell 14% in 2010 despite more cars being sold on finance than in the previous year, according to the latest quarterly report from the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA).

Developments on Gender and Age Discrimination in Financial Services

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:16:22 +0100

The latest Callcredit website Industry Minute reports: The view of the European Court of Justice last week was that the exemptions were intended to be used to support a transitional period, subject to review by member states in December 2012. Its concern was that instead, the exemptions looked set to be applied indefinitely - against the intention of the Directive. So, the Court ruled that as with effect from December 2012, the article which allows the exemptions will be invali ...

Callcredit Partners with the British Heart Foundation

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:44:38 +0100

Callcredit Information Group has committed to a year-long partnership with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to support its 50th year anniversary appeal: Mending Broken Hearts.

Television and computer markets set for 2011 boost

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:19:06 +0100

Sales in the television and computer markets are expected to be boosted this year as new technology beds in, according to leading trade credit insurance firm Atradius.

Fraud losses drop on UK cards, cheques and online banking

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:01 +0100

 New figures released today show that banking industry initiatives are successfully keeping the fraudsters away from customers’ cards and bank accounts. Fraud losses on UK cards, cheques and online banking all fell in 2010 compared with 2009.

Fraudscape: report reveals the UKâs fraud landscape in 2010

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:47:40 +0100

CIFAS - the UK's Fraud Prevention Service, today releases Fraudscape: a 44-page report that lays bare the frauds recorded by over 260 CIFAS Members during 2010, and examines the patterns in the context of previous years.

Callcredit signs three year deal with Santander Cards

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:23:26 +0100

Callcredit Information Group has signed a three year deal with Santander Cards. The deal will provide Santander Cards with a range of innovative risk products that will feed into its credit management strategies.

Reducing red tape does not reduce costs to SMEs, business chief warns

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:20:19 +0100

A leading business organisation has slammed the latest news from the Government that hopes to save small businesses around £40 million per year by doing away with the need to produce audited accounts.

Government action to save small firms Â£40m

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:15:42 +0100

No small firm will have to have independently audited accounts any longer, Business Secretary Vince Cable announced today, saving 42,000 businesses £40 million per year.

Graydon UK appoints Keith Jones as managing director

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:05:23 +0100

Graydon UK, the commercial credit reference agency, today announced the appointment of Keith Jones as its new Managing Director.

Coface - Financial recovery confirmed, strategic refocus on credit insurance

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:14:54 +0100

The turnover for 2010 amounted to €1,622 million, up 3.8% from 2009. Turnover growth accelerated in the second half of the year, reaching 10% in the fourth quarter, driven by credit insurance and factoring. Net profit came to €61 million.

Equifax acquires market-leading wealth & asset data business

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:00:37 +0100

Equifax, a leading provider of consumer credit and business risk management services, has acquired Workload Financial Business Consultants Limited, the UK’s leading provider of strategic intelligence to wealth and investment financial product providers.

Coface scores with conference at the Emirates Stadium

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:00:57 +0100

Coface UK & Ireland, the leading provider of country, sector and business climate ratings and a world leader in credit management services, will stage its Country Risk Conference at The Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal FC, on Wednesday, 8th June 2011.

SAS evaluated in leading industry analyst firm's credit, market, and oprisk vendor assessment

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:27:52 +0100

SAS, the leader in business analytics software and services, has been evaluated in A Banker's Guide to Credit, Market and Operational Risk Management Software Functionality by Gartner, Inc. in terms of relative vendor size and target market.

SAS named software market leader in Ovum credit risk management report

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:22:06 +0100

SAS, the leader in business analytics software and services, was named market leader in Ovum's Solution Guide to Credit Risk Management in Banking. The Ovum report provides a summary of SAS® Credit Risk Management capabilities based on a quantitative assessment of SAS' influence in the market, the quality and breadth of the provided functionality, and the underlying technology.

Atradius appoints new UK Head of Sales

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:06:23 +0100

Leading trade credit insurer, Atradius, has appointed Marc Jones as their new Head of Sales for the UK. Marc Jones joins the insurer’s commercial team from tomorrow, March 1st. Marc joined Atradius twelve years ago as Group Economist. He has subsequently built his expertise in different parts of Atradius, both in the UK and further afield, returning to the UK in 2010 following four years in Asia to work in Group Outward Reinsurance.

YES-secure introduces new maximum lending rates

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:02:02 +0100

YES-secure, a trusted social lending and borrowing marketplace, has introduced new maximum lending rate for each of its A*– E markets, while maintaining the existing overall cap at 27.5%. The introduction of the new individual cap on lenders’ offered rate for each market has been done with the view to provide exciting rates to creditworthy borrowers. Launched in June 2010, YES-secure has established itself as a successful peer to peer social lending platform in the UK consume ...

Specialist recruitment business employs intelligent data

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 10:43:12 +0100

The last two years have been tough on business, and as the economy emerges from the recession, it’s never been more important to know who you’re dealing with. That’s why specialist recruitment company, McGinley Support Services has been employing intelligent data to not only check a customer’s financial standing at the start of the relationship, but to continually monitor them in order to minimise potential financial risk.

D&B launches DNBi credit risk management platform

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:37:10 +0100

Dun & Bradstreet (D&B UK), the world’s leading provider of global business information, tools and insight, today announced the launch of DNBi in the UK, an interactive, cloud-based credit risk management platform that gives one-stop analysis of a company’s credit risk.

Value of consumer debt judgments falls below 2006 levels

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:26:36 +0100

The value of all county court judgments (CCJs) against consumers in England and Wales fell from £2.63bn to £2.036bn in 2010 according to Registry Trust’s annual statistics.

DPR Consulting launches Debt Consolidation Accelerator to support responsible lending

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:07:08 +0100

DPR’s Debt Consolidation Accelerator is a rich, interactive web component that enables debt consolidation companies, intermediaries and lenders to quickly and accurately capture details of an applicant’s existing credit agreements and other scheduled outgoings ready to be processed by an affordability calculation decision engine.

New guide provides simple tips on how small businesses can improve their credit rating

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:51:01 +0100

Small businesses are missing out on credit from suppliers through ignorance of what will improve their credit rating, according to the chief executive of one of the leading business organisations.

Neural Technologies Wins European IT Excellence Award

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:53:11 +0100

Neural Technologies was presented with a European IT Excellence Award at a gala dinner at the London Marriott on 10th February. The award was in the ISV category of ‘Enterprise Application’ and recognised a joint fraud and credit risk management project with Turkish mobile operator, Turkcell.

Five years on from chip and PIN day and Britons can now expect to pay with a pin across Europe

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:52:32 +0100

Today is the five-year anniversary of PIN Day – and the ‘I ♥ PIN’ campaign – when the official changeover to chip and PIN took place in the UK. Before then it was still possible to use a signature, even if the retailer had upgraded to chip and PIN.

ECGD - new initiative will help only small numbers of UK exporters says insurance Chief

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:26:55 +0100

Euler Hermes UK has given a cautious welcome to news of a series of new products being launched by the Government's Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) but questions whether outside intervention is actually required.

Information is not always available to take responsible credit decisions

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:02:04 +0100

“……….customers requesting credit are encouraged to collaborate wholeheartedly with their suppliers when the latter ask for pertinent information. It is for their own interest to ensure that future financial commitments will be met.

Equifax Reports Strong Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2010 Results

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:55:45 +0100

ATLANTA -- Equifax Inc. today announced financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2010. The company reported revenue from continuing operations of $482 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, an 11 percent increase from the fourth quarter of 2009. Fourth quarter 2010 net income from continuing operations attributable to Equifax was $62.2 million, a 13 percent increase from the prior year. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted EPS from continuing operations attributable to Equifax, exc ...

Insider fraud remains high but methods change

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:58:25 +0100

Analysis of frauds recorded on the CIFAS Staff Fraud Database during 2010 reveals that cases of proven insider fraud remained as high as in the preceding year (with exactly the same number of staff frauds recorded in 2010 as in 2009) but that there were some interesting shifts in the types of fraud being identified. Of particular note are:

Seminar organiser warns of fraud risk

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:33:51 +0100

An organiser of a free fraud prevention seminar in Sheffield next month is warning manufacturing businesses that they are particularly at risk from fraudsters.

Comments from Experian small business lending expert on Project Merlin

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:18:08 +0100

Stephen Gildert, Head of SME Lending at Experian, comments: "In order to lend profitably to the small business sector, banks need to be able to treat each business according to its individual potential, risk profile, ability to afford the credit and vulnerability to changing market conditions. A key challenge is managing the relationship across the entire credit lifecycle at a cost that enables high volumes of small ticket lending to be done profitably for the majority of customers. ...

Experian appoints Global Managing Director for Decision Analytics

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:52:35 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced that Joy Griffiths has been appointed as Global Managing Director of its Decision Analytics business. Prior to her appointment, Joy was Managing Director, LloydsTSB and Bank of Scotland Community Banks.

Court debts reach record highs in Northern Ireland

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:44:46 +0100

The number of debt judgments issued against businesses and consumers in Northern Ireland reached a record high in 2010.

R3 responds to latest insolvency statistics

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 17:24:53 +0100

R3 president, Steven Law, comments on the latest insolvency statistics, released today:

Media summary - Insolvency Service statistics, Q4:2010

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:46:34 +0100

The Insolvency Service statistics are the most comprehensive record of the number of personal and corporate insolvencies in England and Wales and are published in conjunction with The Office for National Statistics.

East Londoners at greatest risk of falling for money laundering scam

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:01 +0100

New research published today by Financial Fraud Action UK - the name under which banks co-ordinate their fraud prevention activity, shows that consumers are alarmingly unaware of the fake job recruitment scams criminals are increasingly using to dupe people into assisting them in money laundering activity. Those recruited become ’money mules’. Industry data shows that nearly half of all mule accounts identified in Greater London were located in East London; and 70% of tho ...

Adeptra survey on credit card fraud and preferred communication tools

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:52:01 +0100

An in-person survey of 400 bank account holders in London and New York has found that consumers are eager for card issuers and financial institutions to increase the speed, and types of channels used for communications in the event of account irregularities.

FICO and Efma Survey Indicates Banking Regulations Will Restrict Credit Availability in Europe

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:36:32 +0100

LONDON — FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, and Efma (European Financial Marketing Association) today announced the results of the first European Credit Risk Survey.

Fall in distressed deals reflects drop in insolvencies

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:27:14 +0100

Acquisitions of insolvent businesses in the UK fell in the second half of 2010, according to research by Experian Corpfin on behalf of the insolvency trade body R3. However they continue to account for a significant proportion of all M&A activity in the UK.

Tracesmartâs rapid expansion leads to office move

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:06:21 +0100

Cardiff-based consumer data specialist Tracesmart, has relocated to Global Reach following recent significant growth. The company has transferred its 80 employees from three office locations to a single headquarters; a brand new, high-tech and environmentally friendly office complex in Cardiff Bay, providing a centralised workforce and further scope for expansion.

Graydon UK selected as preferred provider of credit reports for BIBA members

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:26:12 +0100

Graydon UK, the commercial reference agency, has been selected as the preferred supplier of credit reports for a new scheme to provide members of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) with exclusive access to affordable credit cover.

Hometrack Supply Automated Valuation Services to Blemain Finance

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:21:01 +0100

Blemain Finance, the broker-focused mortgage and secured loan provider, has awarded Hometrack, the property analytics company, a contract to extend their use of its automated valuation model (AVM) into their broker network. Hometrack’s Realtime AVM will be used by Blemain Finance’s select group of brokers enabling them to access fast, accurate and low cost residential valuations for both their existing and prospective clients.

Graydon to preferred provider of credit reports for British Insurance Brokers' Association

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 15:49:14 +0100

Creditsafe launches âLinkagesâ â facilitating cross border identification of ...

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:45:41 +0100

Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, has announced the launch of a new linkages solution, which offers enhanced visibility of a company’s group structure and ownership across Europe. This solution delivers improved risk mitigation for Creditsafe’s customers when trading with European businesses with a cross border structure. Customers can identify businesses that are directly or indirectly linked to an enterprise, securing immediate access to credit ratin ...

More people registered to vote for 2011

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:39:33 +0100

Analysis of electoral registrations for 2010, by leading credit and marketing data expert, Equifax, shows a 1.5% increase in the total number of registered voters compared to 2009. Equifax has uploaded data from the majority of UK local authorities to provide important identity verification for credit applications. The data also offers an insight into the political engagement of the UK public.

Young adults are walking a credit tightrope

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:56:13 +0100

Independent research commissioned by Callcredit Information Group has today revealed that young adults appear to be getting more desperate for credit, as 7% of 25-34 year olds admit to applying for credit knowing that they may not be able to repay it.

Hackers target credit card data âin transitâ

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:31:02 +0100

Cybercriminals are shifting the target of their attacks from traditional infrastructure to mobile users and endpoint devices, according to the 2011 Global Security Report from Trustwave.

Banking & credit card risk expert joins Equifax

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:31:21 +0100

Leading consumer credit and business risk management and marketing services provider, Equifax, has made a significant appointment to its Executive Team.

Daniels Silverman comment on recent predictions of a 10% rise in company insolvencies in 2011

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:15:45 +0100

Carole Hughes, managing director of leading credit management and collections agency Daniels Silverman, speaking on recent predictions of a 10% rise in company insolvencies in 2011, says:

Analysis of 2011 Edited Electoral Roll identifies issues for lenders

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:40:19 +0100

Leading marketing services and credit reference agency Callcredit Information Group has published figures illustrating that the overall opt out rate for the 2011 edited Electoral Roll has decreased for the first time*, but that regional variations are still substantial.

SAS revenue jumps 5.2 percent to record $2.43 billion

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:00:03 +0100

SAS, the leader in business analytics, achieved record global revenue of US$2.43 billion in 2010, up 5.2 percent over 2009 results. In the business analytics category, revenue surged 26 percent.

XINTEC sights larger markets with FMSevolutionâ¢ telecom Fraud Management System

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 23:36:19 +0100

XINTEC S.A., the world’s fastest-emerging provider of telecom fraud and revenue assurance solutions, today announced the release of its brand new low-cost fraud management system FMSevolution™.

CIFAS warns against greeting reduction in fraud too enthusiastically

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:16:48 +0100

The analysis of fraud trends during 2010 by CIFAS - The UK's Fraud Prevention Service reveals a 7% reduction in the overall level of fraud, when compared with the previous year, and while this news is to be warmly received, other key findings present a more stark and sombre reality:

Economic forecasts integrated into Experianâs next generation credit risk management services

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:07:37 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced that economic forecasts are now available as an additional variable within its Delphi for New Business and Delphi for Customer Management suites.

Coface announces a new trend in the worldwide country risk scene

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:31:11 +0100

On the occasion of its 15th Country Risk Conference, Coface is expecting a moderate slowdown of the global economy. Among the risks to be monitored are the continued tension with the sovereign risks in the euro zone and the financing of growth in the emerging countries. Coface indicates that it is now the time of converging risks between the advanced countries and the emerging countries who have seen their rating improve with the test of the crisis.

Callcredit Purchases The Trading Floor

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:33:34 +0100

Callcredit Information Group has announced the purchase of data provider The Trading Floor, which will allow Callcredit to offer clients an even more comprehensive range of services from an unparalleled data pool.

Fall in thefts to reduce Â£1.1 billion retail crime bill

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 12:43:20 +0100

Massive investment in crime prevention has resulted in fewer incidents of most types of retail crime, according to new statistics but retailers have yet to reap the financial benefits.

Leonard Curtis expands into Bristol

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:45:15 +0100

ONE of the UK's leading corporate recovery, insolvency and restructuring specialists is expanding its reach after opening a new office in the West Country.

Equifax 2010 Business Failures Report - 2010 business failures fall 12.1%

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 14:46:08 +0100

Leading business information expert, Equifax, has released its final report of Business Failures for 2010. With a 12.1% fall in failures recorded for the whole of 2010, compared to 2009, the Report paints a relatively positive picture for UK businesses as they continue to tackle the challenges of the difficult economic climate.

P&A confirm Lincoln business to go into liquidation

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:11:38 +0100

Eros Laboratories, a toiletries packing company based in Metheringham near Lincoln, will go into liquidation on January 25.

Mortgage Approvals to Remain Subdued Over 2011 as New Norm in Lending is Set

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:01 +0100

Increased regulatory pressures, lack of funds and a tough economic climate will make 2011 a challenging year for lenders and continue to restrict the availability of mortgage finance to borrowers. Hometrack, the property analytics business, report today that home buyers face a continued struggle to obtain mortgages in 2011, with approvals expected to remain flat over the next 12 months.

Public at risk from âdodgy directorsâ

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:08:44 +0100

The number of directors disqualified by the government for misconduct, such as fraud, has failed to keep pace with an increased number of reports of potential misconduct, according to research by insolvency trade body R3.

Neural Technologies Finalist in European IT Excellence Awards

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:44:47 +0100

Neural Technologies (NT) has been shortlisted by the IT Europa European IT Excellence Awards, the first pan-European awards to recognise the crucial role that independent software vendors (ISV) play in the delivery of real world solutions.

Callcredit Strengthens Affordability Team

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:13:50 +0100

Callcredit Information Group has appointed Andrea Cox as Market Development Manager to further strengthen the team behind the company’s rapidly developing Affordability Suite.

Are lenders making it easier to get new credit?

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 12:46:23 +0100

As the Bank of England reports a 42% increase in mortgage holders who switched provider in November 2010, compared to the same month in 2009, leading online credit information provider, Equifax, has released its own data suggesting that lending criteria may be slightly easing.

Scottish economy maintains its emergence from recession

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 11:06:33 +0100

The Scottish economy is maintaining its emergence from recession with the best result of 2010, according to the latest Lloyds TSB Scotland Business Monitor.

Loan fraud rises sharply in 2010, according to Experian

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:12:11 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today revealed that there has been a surge in loan fraud over the past 12 months, with a 57 per cent increase in fraudulent activity recorded during quarter three compared with the same period in 2009. Loan fraud activity is now approaching pre-2008 levels, with seven out of every 10,000 applications identified as fraudulent.

Over a quarter of debt charityâs clients receiving benefit or tax credit

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 12:27:58 +0100

Consumer Credit Counselling Service's (CCCS) Debt Dashboard for quarter three 2010 reviewed which benefits made up its clients' household incomes, and at what proportion. The charity wanted to understand the impact that recently announced cuts to welfare spending would have on its clients' ability to repay their debts.

YES-secure Success Story for Lenders and Borrowers after 6 Months of Operation

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:03:58 +0100

YES-secure, a Social Network Lending and Borrowing website in the UK Peer-to-Peer Lending market is celebrating its success of disbursing over £200,000 to borrowers since its launch in June 2010. YES-secure acts as a marketplace for lenders to bid on borrowers’ loan listings in an auction-like process whilst cutting out the middleman and bypassing traditional intermediaries such as banks. UK savers are offered a new way to beat inflation and earn better returns than by investing ...

Is tight control on costs & recruitment the reason business failures continue to drop?

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:00:01 +0100

Leading business information expert, Equifax, has taken a snapshot of business failures in October/November to see how the private sector is faring in the continuing difficult trading conditions. For October/November 2010, there was a 4.6% drop in failures compared to the same two months in 2009.

Have consumers been making the most of interest rate cuts?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:03:32 +0100

Leading online credit information provider, Equifax, is responding to the Bank of England warning to more than 7 million homeowners currently on floating interest rate deals that they should start paying off their debts before rates rise.

Personal finance spending habits research from Callcredit

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:53:36 +0100

Research published today by Callcredit Information Group shows that when it comes to purchasing personal finance products, 34% of respondents would buy via the internet or over the phone (21% would only buy online direct from a company website, 7% would only use price comparison sites, while 6% would buy over the phone). In addition, 18% of consumers say they would only purchase personal finance in a shop or branch.

SASÂ® Operational Risk Management wins 2010 Financial i Leaders in Innovation Award

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:35:17 +0100

SAS, the leader in business analytics has won a 2010 Leaders in Innovation Award for best and most innovative solution in the category of Operational Risk Management from Financial i magazine. This is the fourth consecutive year that SAS has won the title, having earned the award for exhibiting excellence in risk management during the last 12 months.

Risk management vs. ROI

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:04:14 +0100

Mikael Krohn, VP at EDB Business Partner comments on balancing risk management with Return on Investment (ROI).

Financial crimes investigators more agile, efficient with latest case management solution from SAS

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:02:37 +0100

London, UK – Financial crimes continue to be on the rise in industries such as banking, insurance, government and health care, where speed and efficiency are critical to track down and stop offenders. The latest version of SAS® Enterprise Case Management provides more power, flexibility and task automation to accelerate fraud investigations without relying on IT support and time frames. A component of the SAS Enterprise Financial Crimes Framework, the enterprise case management ...

Insolvencies predicted to rise in 2011 owing to withdrawal of government funding

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:45:04 +0100

The rate of company failures has continued to slow during the fourth quarter of 2010, down 3.2 per cent on Q3 according to the Graydon Insolvency Predictor, based on data from commercial credit reference agency Graydon UK published today.

Jean-Marc Pillu, new Chief Executive Officer of Coface

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 23:20:58 +0100

In its December 10th meeting, the Board of Directors of Coface, chaired by François David, announced the appointment of Jean-Marc Pillu as Chief Executive Officer of Coface.

Commercially corrupt bankruptcy advice firm shut down by The Insolvency Service

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 09:36:18 +0100

A company that advertised itself as a ‘one stop shop’ for dealing with bankruptcy has been ordered into liquidation following an investigation by The Insolvency Service.

Howes Percival LLP appointed to investigate Asil Nadirâs finances

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 18:46:35 +0100

Howes Percival has been appointed by the Trustee in Bankruptcy of the estate of Asil Nadir to assist with investigations into Mr Nadir’s finances.

O2 stays connected with Equifax

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 18:42:46 +0100

O2, the UK’s leading provider of mobile services to consumers and businesses is sustaining its focus on risk management with the renewal of its long-standing contract with consumer credit information expert, Equifax. The new contract sees Equifax as the primary credit bureau for O2’s application processing, providing a crucial level of consumer risk intelligence for the mobile comms business.

VocaLink Take Home Pay Indices - average private sector pay growth fell by more than half in 2010

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:01 +0100

Whilst November’s VocaLink FTSE 350 Take Home Pay Index has edged up by 0.1 percentage point to 1.7 per cent, the average growth during 2010 to date is 1.0 per cent. This is less than half the 2009 average growth rate of 2.2 per cent. The year-on-year public sector pay growth has also dropped from an average of 2.8 per cent during 2009 to only 1.5 per cent during 2010.

Growth at Fraudscreen Sees the Creation of a New Professional Services Team and Two Key Appointments

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:36:10 +0100

First party fraud prevention company, Fraudscreen, has created a new Professional Services team and made two pivotal appointments, as the company continues to grow and advance into new sectors.

Over 4 million people fear redundancy

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:15:09 +0100

More than four million people (4,258,737) fear being made redundant according to R3’s quarterly personal debt tracker – an increase of 50 percent over the last three months. Those aged between 25 and 34 are the most worried, with one in six (16%) expressing a concern.

Prison for fraudulent company director guilty of âincomprehensible dishonestyâ

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 18:01:57 +0100

Huntingdon Crown Court yesterday sentenced Mr Richard Neil Grout, who had six known aliases, to six years imprisonment for fraud; fraudulent trading; failing to cooperate with the Official Receiver (Northampton); perjury and acting as a director of a company whilst disqualified. The criminal prosecution by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills followed an investigation by The Insolvency Service.

Bankersâ Almanac launches Credit Risk

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:58:25 +0100

Bankers' Almanac, a leading global provider of financial data for over 160 years, is proud to announce the launch of their brand new Credit Risk product. Providing vital data on banks and financial institutions in one single location, Credit Risk gives analysts the freedom to concentrate on analysis, rather than spend time researching and collating information. The new solution transforms the way credit risk professionals assess and analyse counterparty credit risk. Credit Risk gives prof ...

FSA contacts 49,000 people to warn them they could be targets of boiler room share fraudsters

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:33:58 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is contacting thousands of people to warn them they could become victims of share fraud after it recovered its biggest ever ‘master list’ used by boiler room fraudsters.

No laughing matter as former comedian is sent to jail for breaching bankruptcy rules

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 17:51:16 +0100

Liverpool Crown Court sentence bankrupt former comedian Anthony Lee Wright, also known as Anthony Cronley, to 40 months imprisonment on Friday 4 December for attempting to pervert the course of justice and breaching bankruptcy rules. The criminal prosecution by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills followed an investigation by The Insolvency Service.

Help businesses get their satisfaction

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 17:13:17 +0100

Registry Trust Ltd holds registers of judgments against companies in the United Kingdom. When judgments are paid or satisfied they can be marked as such on our register.

Creditsafe launches new contract limits

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 17:07:50 +0100

Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, today announced that it is launching contract limit recommendations as part of its company credit report service to make it easier for firms to trade with companies when signing extended contracts, or sign agreements with enterprises that have significant variances in their revenues throughout a 12 month period. The new solution will be especially beneficial for firms signing annualised contracts, with payments spread throughout the du ...

A third of people expect their finances to worsen in 2011

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 13:01:09 +0100

A third of people (30%) believe that their financial situation will worsen over the next six months, according to a quarterly survey by R3, the insolvency trade body - an increase of 7 percent on the last quarter. The number of people who believe that their financial situation will improve has fallen from 35 percent to just 22 percent.

Two charged by the SEC with insider dealing in the U.S. following FSA, SEC and DoJ investigation

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:49:45 +0100

In a parallel investigation by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Department of Justice (DoJ), and with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a former Deloitte Tax LLP partner and his wife were yesterday charged by the SEC with insider trading in violation of the U.S. federal securities laws.

Nearly half of consumers feel optimistic about their finances

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:35:03 +0100

As the Bank of England reports the highest increase in unsecured lending since May, leading instant online credit information provider, Equifax, reveals the findings of research into consumer financial confidence. In a survey conducted amongst over 1,500 buyers of its credit report services earlier this month, nearly half (42%) said that they feel more optimistic about their finances going into 2011 than they did this year.

Marsh launches comprehensive political risk facility

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:00:15 +0100

In order to meet the increased concern of multinational companies about the rise in political risks globally, Marsh today announced the launch of its innovative Mobile Asset and Commodity Expropriation (MACE) insurance facility. Available globally, the product provides up to $100 million of cover per risk for plant, equipment and inventories located in foreign countries and territorial waters or while in transit between sites.

Callcredit announce purchase of process benchmarking ltd

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:56:40 +0100

Callcredit Information Group today announced the purchase of process benchmarking ltd, in a deal set to combine their proven strengths to deliver the most powerful credit risk management insight for their clients.

Insolvency Practitioners Association to host road-show in Glasgow

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:23:21 +0100

The Insolvency Practitioners Association (IPA) will host the last in its series of road-shows, sponsored by JLT Partnership Practice in Glasgow on Wednesday 1 December.

New service reduces backloading bad debt risk

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:14:01 +0100

Credit management specialists Octempo RM are to continue lightening the load of bad debt risk for haulage firms with the launch of their new Backload Protect service.

Senior manager found guilty of insider dealing and money laundering

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 16:57:12 +0100

In a case brought by the Financial Service Authority (FSA) Neil Rollins, a former senior manager of PM Onboard Limited, a waste industry firm, was today found guilty of five counts of insider dealing and four counts of money laundering at Southwark Crown Court after he traded on the basis of information he obtained as a result of his senior position and laundered the proceeds.

Five charged with insider dealing

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:39:09 +0100

Five individuals, including two former directors and one former senior trader of Blue Index Limited (Blue Index), a specialist Contract for Difference (CFD) brokerage, have been charged by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) with 17 counts of insider dealing, contrary to section 52 of the Criminal Justice Act 1993.

Experian outlines key credit risk priorities in Europe

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:31:44 +0100

At its Credit Risk Summit in Istanbul, Experian today outlined to Europe’s most senior financial sector credit risk professionals the key strategies to help manage credit risk most effectively, particularly when operating in countries facing austerity measures.

Consumers more interested in their credit data than ever

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:47:13 +0100

Leading instant online credit information provider, Equifax, is reporting a significant increase in consumer demand for its credit report services in the last 12 months. Neil Munroe, External Affairs Director, Equifax, puts this considerable uplift in orders down to two key factors.

New Fraudscreen Service Gives Collections and Recoveries a Healthcheck

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:10:48 +0100

First party fraud prevention company, Fraudscreen, is today announcing the roll-out of a new service to help consumer businesses develop more effective debt collection and recovery strategies, reduce bad debt and the risk of first party fraud.

Atradius launches dedicated insolvency protection product for SMEs

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:10:45 +0100

Small businesses in the UK are continuing to be squeezed despite the level of insolvencies reaching a plateau, according to trade credit insurance firm Atradius.

Personal Insolvency Conference deemed to be a Great Success

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:51:11 +0100

The Insolvency Practitioners Association has just held its inaugural Personal Insolvency Conference in Manchester which has become the centre for the debt management industry with the majority of debt management companies and IVA providers practising in the surrounding region.

Coface announces a rebound in its turnover exceeding expectations on the 3rd quarter

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:45:26 +0100

2010 marks a full turnaround compared to 2009
Growth in turnover over 9 months is now positive again, at +1.9% at current structure, and at +0.6% at constant structure and exchange rates.
Current operating profit has reached €89 million, compared to €-240 million in 2009.

Fall-out from Irish debt crisis likely to hit UK small firms hard says Check That Company

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:03:06 +0100

Leading online credit checking service for small businesses, Check that Company, is warning says that UK SMBs are likely to be on the receiving end of any fall-out from the Irish debt crisis. According to reports, major UK banks have significant exposure in Ireland amounting to more than £140 billion, most of which is lending to Irish firms and consumers.

Counterfeit card factory criminals sentenced to more than 20 years

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:29:00 +0100

Five card fraud criminals have been sentenced to a total of more than 20 years in prison following a successful conclusion to a raid undertaken by the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU) – the special police unit sponsored by the banking industry to tackle card crime in the UK.

Callcreditâs new product transforms collections insight

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:14:32 +0100

Callcredit Information Group has today launched Data-Gateway, an innovative new product for the collections industry.

New steering group chairs to help drive MATâS goal of reducing unmanageable debt in the UK

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:04:50 +0100

The Money Advice Trust has announced three new steering group chairs to aid the work of its Partnership Board in helping drive innovation in the money advice sector.

Rok hits a hard place

Sat, 13 Nov 2010 09:10:28 +0100

As Rok Plc announces that it has entered Administration, Company Watch analyses what went wrong for ‘the nation’s local builder’.

Experian to provide range of credit risk and customer management services to JD Williams

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 16:16:34 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced that it has signed a five year deal in the UK with home shopping company JD Williams. The services provided by Experian will help JD Williams to better manage its customers, enabling it to continue to reduce risk and maximise the value from these relationships.

Callcredit appoints new head of database solutions

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:33:03 +0100

Callcredit Information Group continues to strengthen its Marketing Solutions team by appointing Neil Evans as Head of Database Solutions.

Commercial launch of the worldâs first Visa CodeSure card with contactless payment ...

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:29:49 +0100

London, UK, and Zürich, Switzerland - Visa Europe, Europe’s leading payment system, and Cornèr Bank, one of Europe’s most innovative banks, today announced the commercial launch of Visa CodeSure. This is a payment card with an embedded PIN pad which allows consumers to generate a passcode by simply typing their PIN number into the card enabling security and convenience in the same device. The card makes Verified by Visa online transactions easier and more secure and ...

Ocean rower and property-developer, Simon Chalk handed five year bankruptcy restriction

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:22:42 +0100

Simon Chalk, an ocean rower, property developer (trading as Woodvale) and night-club owner today received a five-year Bankruptcy Restrictions Order at Torquay and Newton Abbot County Court following an investigation by The Insolvency Service.

A tough last 18 months hits the travel sector

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:58:01 +0100

As travellers prepare for their winter holidays, leading business information provider, Equifax, reveals just how hard the travel industry has been hit in the last 18 months. As a result of the recession, belt-tightening by travellers and the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud, 13 travel firms have gone bust in the UK so far this year leaving a trail of holidaymakers and suppliers potentially out of pocket.

Consumer debt judgments fall Â£145.5m in County Courts

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:09:29 +0100

The total value of debt judgments against consumers in county courts in England and Wales was £145.5m lower in the third quarter of 2010 than last year’s total for the same period.

Channel credit forum aims to address key business and financial issues

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 15:59:16 +0100

P&A Receivables, the leading credit management and debt recovery service provider to the IT industry, has joined forces with credit management services specialist Experian, security software provider F-Secure, and insurance specialist Reynolds Trade Credit, to form the Channel Credit Forum (CCF).

Atradius comments on Q3 insolvency statistics

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 11:07:50 +0100

Marc Henstridge, head of risk for Atradius UK and Ireland, said: “Company liquidations in England and Wales have reached a plateau throughout the third quarter. In Q2, company liquidations were down by 19.1% year on year whereas now they have decreased by 13.9% so we are seeing fewer insolvencies although the rate of decline is slowing. Overall company liquidations remain at elevated levels despite the recent downward trend.

Insolvency Service Statistics Q3 - Comment from R3 President Steven Law

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:29:27 +0100

“With corporate insolvency numbers down 20% across the board compared to the same quarter a year ago, we are clearly not following typical post-recessionary trends when corporate insolvency numbers have always continued to rise. Current fiscal and monetary policies such as Time to Pay agreements and low interest rates, coupled with a more supportive attitude from the banks has kept numbers down.

Figures reveal the bleak and complex reality of fraud in the UK today

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 10:37:35 +0100

At the end of the third quarter of 2010, data provided by the 265 Member organisations of CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, demonstrates that fraud remains rife:

Equifax Reports Third Quarter 2010 Results

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 13:22:02 +0100

Equifax Inc. today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2010. The company reported revenue from continuing operations of $473.8 million in the third quarter of 2010, an 11 percent increase from the third quarter of 2009. Third quarter 2010 net income from continuing operations attributable to Equifax was $61.3 million, a 10 percent increase from the prior year. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted EPS from continuing operations attributable to Equifax exclud ...

Tracesmartâs success is celebrated at the 2010 Welsh Fast Growth 50 awards

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:27:59 +0100

Tracesmart, one of the UK’s leading consumer data specialists, attended the highly regarded Welsh Fast Growth 50 annual award ceremony at the Holland House Hotel, Cardiff, on 29th October. Nominated for the fastest growing company within the Creative and Knowledge Industry category, and competing for the title of Wales’s Fastest Growing Company, it was a satisfying moment for Mike Trezise, Tracesmart’s Managing Director and founder:

Business turnover hits highest level since q4 2007, says Bibby Industry Index

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:53:11 +0100

Business turnover in Q3 of this year reached the highest level in almost three years, when the first signs of the banking crisis began to emerge, according to the latest Business Factors Index from Bibby Financial Services.

Coface extends its Irish team with 2 appointments

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:49:57 +0100

Coface – UK & Ireland, a leading provider of credit management solutions for business, has strengthened its team in Ireland with the appointment of Roslyn Keogh as Commercial Manager and Ellen Malone as Account Executive.

Credit insurer warns of difficult times ahead for travel sector in 2011

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 17:31:58 +0100

Smaller, ‘generalist’ travel operators or those that have either failed to differentiate their offer and/or have not yet embraced new technologies look set for a difficult 2011, a leading credit insurer has warned.

Callcreditâs call centre becomes FSA authorised

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 17:23:00 +0100

Callcredit Information Group is proud to announce that in October its UK call centre became authorised and regulated by The Financial Services Authority (FSA). This authorisation enables Callcredit’s Agents to carry out telephone based non-advised, non-investment life assurance sales on behalf of its clients.

Managing risk is more important than growth for nearly half of UK firms

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:33:20 +0100

UK businesses have become markedly more risk averse in the last three years, according to a recent poll of finance professionals.

FICO Expands European Fraud Leadership with Two Key Appointments

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:24:27 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, today announced that two leaders of the European fraud solutions market have joined FICO in Europe. Paul Eagles, who has worked extensively for both SAS and Visa Europe, has joined FICO’s fraud professional services team as a senior consultant, while Brian Kinch, most recently of Lloyds Banking Group, has joined FICO as a senior partner working with FICO’s global fraud clients. Both executives will be based i ...

Royal Mail launches new data service to help businesses tackle ID fraud

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:19:21 +0100

Royal Mail has launched a new data service to provide companies with extra insight to help them to tackle identity fraud even more effectively.

London cash machine criminals sentenced to three years thanks to work of special police unit

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:20:38 +0100

Two cash machine criminals, caught in the Knightsbridge and Gloucester Road area by officers from the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU) were yesterday (25 October) each sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

Economy: UKâs Spending Review a necessary step toward fiscal stability

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:47:35 +0100

OECD Secretary General Angel Gurría welcomed the United Kingdom’s Spending Review released 20 October as a necessary step towards achieving long-term fiscal stability.

Barclays Capital Appoints Senior High Yield Credit Analysts

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:07:32 +0100

Barclays Capital have announced three senior appointments in its award-winning credit research franchise. Daniel Rekrut, Karine Elias and Thomas Southon join the European High Yield Credit Research Team based in London.

Company Watch undertakes a review of 2009 and considers the impact of the Spending Review

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:33:16 +0100

With company accounts covering 2009 now filed at Companies House, Company Watch undertakes a review of 2009 and considers what impact the cuts announced in the Spending Review will have on the financial health of companies over the coming months and years.

Impact of spending review to be felt locally rather than nationally

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:41:55 +0100

The impact of the public sector cuts announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review yesterday is likely to be felt locally rather than nationally and businesses will need to take this in to account when assessing risk in their supply chain. This is the message from commercial credit reference agency Graydon UK.

Metro Bank Powers Instant Decisions with FICO Business Rules

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:23:17 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, today announced that its business rules technology is powering retail decisions at Metro Bank. Metro Bank, the first full-service bank in more than 100 years, opened its first “stores” on July 29.

RateSetter.com Selects Callcreditâs Risk and Verification Products

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:04:10 +0100

RateSetter.com, the new peer-to-peer lending website, is using a raft of Callcredit Information Group’s services to confirm the identity and creditworthiness of its users.

CIFAS calls for unified action to tackle identity fraud

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:49:36 +0100

CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service has called for joint action in tackling the danger of identity fraud during National Identity Fraud Prevention Week 2010.

Visa Europe combats cross-border ATM fraud with new Device Profiling service

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:11:16 +0100

Visa Europe, Europe’s leading payment system, today launched Visa Device Profiling, a new fraud management service which provides fast and accurate information on locations where suspicious cross-border ATM transactions are taking place. The service provides banks with an easy and cost-effective tool for helping to combat ATM fraud.

Digital Thieves: CIFAS releases Special Report into online identity fraud

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:37:00 +0100

CIFAS – the UK's Fraud Prevention Service, in collaboration with a number of private and public sector bodies has released a report entitled Digital Thieves today at the beginning of National Identity Fraud Prevention Week.

One thousand and counting for Veriphy

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:18:01 +0100

Online customer and employee reports supplier, Veriphy, has achieved the milestone of 1000 user firms.

Navigant Consulting appoints Jim Evans as MD of Regulatory Strategy, Risk and Compliance team

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 17:36:15 +0100

Navigant Consulting, the global management consultancy and advisory firm, today announces the appointment of Jim Evans to its London financial services practice. Mr Evans will hold the position of managing director in the recently established Regulatory Strategy, Risk and Compliance solutions team.

FSA bans three fraudulent mortgage brokers and imposes fines totalling more than Â£400,000

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:25:55 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has banned three individuals for mortgage fraud and fined two of them a total of £414,683.

Over 13% less businesses went bust in third quarter of 2010

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 16:56:48 +0100

The Quarter 3 Equifax Business Failures Report reveals a drop of 13.4% in the number of businesses going bust, compared to the same period in 2009. This sustains the pattern of year on year falls in business failures for each Quarter of 2010 .

Callcredit celebrates a successful first decade

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:05:09 +0100

Callcredit Information Group, experts in managing consumer information, is celebrating its 10th birthday today (11th October).

Good for consumers as banking industry initiatives drive down card, cheque and online banking fraud

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 11:55:51 +0100

New figures just released show that banking industry initiatives are successfully driving fraud away from customers’ cards and bank accounts. Fraud losses on UK cards and cheques fell in the first half of 2010, compared with the same time last year. Online bank account fraud also fell during January to June 2010 – the first decrease in this type of fraud since 2007.

R K Harrison Financial Risks Launches Premier Client Service

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:57:58 +0100

At a September gathering at its London offices, R K Harrison Financial Risks (RKHFR) Chairman Alan Wallace welcomed major clients, underwriters and other key partners to the official launch of their PREMIER CLIENT Service. He charted the dynamic growth of the RKH Group over recent years and posited this ground-breaking advance as a further example of the Company’s pioneering spirit.

10th Annual Tech Track Ranks Neural Technologies for third time

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 19:39:22 +0100

Risk management software provider, Neural Technologies, has once again been ranked as one of the top technology companies by the Sunday Times Tech Track 100 league table.

Insolvency Predictor reveals that corporate insolvencies are likely to continue to fall during Q3

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:55:10 +0100

The Graydon Insolvency Predictor, based on data from commercial credit reference agency Graydon UK published today, suggests that the official number of UK company failures will fall further during the third quarter of 2010 - down by 5.7 per cent in comparison to the second quarter of this year. The data reveals the number of corporate insolvencies is likely to fall by six per cent compared to Q3 2009.

Ratesetter.com chooses Equifax for credit checks

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:34:23 +0100

New peer-to-peer lending website RateSetter.com has selected Equifax, the leading consumer credit intelligence business, to provide credit data in order for it to assess the credit status of borrowers signing up to the site. Equifax’s experience in this growing market means the company is able to efficiently reduce risk by highlighting potential borrowers with a less than perfect credit history.

Creditsafe ensures reliability of online credit checking services investing in key IT appointments

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 17:48:18 +0100

New appointments will re-inforce availability and stability of online platform used by 50,000 customers across Europe

When You Go on Holiday, Leave the Fraudster Behind

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 09:22:41 +0100

The UK’s National Fraud Authority (NFA) is currently estimating annual fraud losses to be in excess of £3.5 billion within the travel sector – a large part of which is identity fraud.

Creditsafe launches free fraud alert service for businesses

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 09:08:26 +0100

Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, has announced the launch of Fraud Alert, a new free online service that will caution company directors when changes are made to their businesses’ information at Companies House – alerting them to potential company identity fraud.

New Commercial Head for Atradius UK and Ireland

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:12:31 +0100

Leading trade credit insurer Atradius announces well-known industry figure Alun Sweeney as the new commercial head of their UK and Ireland business.

OFT warns estate agents and credit lenders on penalties for AML non-compliance

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 18:07:47 +0100

The OFT has today published its interim policy on imposing financial penalties on estate agents and certain credit lenders who have failed to register under its money laundering registration scheme but continue to carry on a supervised activity.

UK businesses defy the odds to turn around fortunes

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:57:52 +0100

Leading business information specialist, Equifax, has released its latest figures on business failures across the UK, showing that despite continuing difficult trading conditions, businesses are doing their best to reverse the negative trend.

Police bust fake credit card factory

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:21:59 +0100

Two fraudsters who ran a lucrative credit card factory and were found with a hoard of jewellery, gold ingots and antique stamps have been sentenced today, 15 September, to a total of over five years in prison.

Adeptra survey finds UK consumers want immediate notification of possible fraud

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:45:32 +0100

UK consumers are demanding a faster response from their banks in the event of suspicious or fraudulent activity on their account, according to a recent survey of account holders commissioned by Adeptra, the recognised leader in automated customer contact and resolution.

New Experian service to help providers understand more about individualsâ equity positions

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:29:13 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announces the launch of Equity Check, a new service that will help lenders make even more informed lending decisions by providing them with insight into customers’ equity positions.

Man arrested in FSA insider dealing investigation

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:23:04 +0100

A 64-year-old man was arrested yesterday by the City of London Police Economic Crime Directorate on suspicion of money laundering and providing false information in connection with suspected insider dealing. The arrest was related to an ongoing investigation by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Following questioning under caution by FSA staff, he was released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Callcredit Information Group launches new website

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:31:32 +0100

Callcredit said: "After feedback and consultation, we have consolidated all our websites into one central hub covering all our business solutions. The new website is packed with information on our innovative products and services, company news, the latest industry developments and much more... all just a click away at www.callcredit.co.uk".

Leading credit insurer warns against unexpected insolvencies

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:16:02 +0100

Leading trade credit insurer Atradius warns businesses not to be complacent in the wake of another high profile insolvency hitting the UK. Construction giant Connaught, valued just months ago at £500m, has this week entered administration leaving thousands of creditors out of pocket and wondering if and how they are going to be paid for goods and services they have already provided.

Microfinance giant ACCION Texas-Louisiana uses SASÂ® software to expedite loan approvals

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:46:09 +0100

A scorecard from SAS helps the largest non-profit microloan provider in the US, ACCION Texas-Louisiana, speed loans to small business owners who don’t qualify for traditional loans. With SAS Desktop Data Mining for Midsize Business, from the leader in business analytics, ACCION Texas-Louisiana has also reduced the delinquency rate by 76 percent and loan restructuring rate by 64 percent.

Automotive finance fraud surges in first half of 2010

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:40:12 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today revealed that automotive fraud rose by 35 per cent in the first half of 2010, overtaking attempted mortgage fraud in the second quarter to reach its highest level since early 2006.

Metro Bank invests in Equifax risk management tools

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:14:48 +0100

Leading consumer credit information and decision solutions provider, Equifax, has secured a significant contract with the newest name in UK retail banking – Metro Bank. Equifax has won the contract to provide Metro Bank with a range of risk management and fraud prevention services. As the first UK high street branch- based bank launch in over 100 years, Metro Bank has chosen to work with Equifax to ensure it has robust risk assessment and anti-money laundering procedures in place. ...

Neural Technologies finalist in IT Supplier of the Year Award

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:53:37 +0100

Risk management software solution provider, Neural Technologies, has been selected as a finalist for the IT Supplier of the Year Award by the BCS & Computing UK IT Industry Awards 2010 in the Organisational Excellence category. The shortlisting is a recognition of the company’s work on a major fraud and credit risk management project carried out for leading Turkish mobile operator, Turkcell.

Callcredit Strengthens Leadership Team

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:35:27 +0100

Callcredit Information Group welcomes Adrian Mitri and Tom Ilube in the new roles of Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of Consumer Markets, respectively.

Begbies Traynor Group launches BTG Global Risk Partners

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:03:59 +0100

Begbies Traynor Group, the specialist professional services consultancy, today announces the launch of BTG Global Risk Partners, bringing together the Group’s forensic accounting, computer forensic, investigation and security risk practices into a new integrated business, with immediate effect.

SAS ranked as a leader credit risk management systems market for fourth year

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:40:52 +0100

Chartis Research's Credit Risk Management Systems 2010 report ranks SAS, the leader in business analytics software and services, as a leader for the fourth straight year.

Coface confirms the strong recovery of its result in the 1st half of 2010

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:28:39 +0100

The positive trend that began in the second half of 2009 is confirmed in the first half of 2010, with operating profit of €55m compared to -€47m in the second half of 2009 and -€202m in the first half of 2009.

With SAS software, Alliant Credit Unionâs enhanced risk management program will lead market

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:13:58 +0100

To strengthen its market leadership, Alliant Credit Union of Chicago has chosen SAS to upgrade its enterprise risk management (ERM) program. The seventh-largest US credit union based on asset size, Alliant chose SAS OpRisk Management from the leader in business analytics following a successful 2009 SAS Analytics implementation.

Action taken against two brokers for mortgage fraud failings

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:49:55 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has taken action against two mortgage brokers whose reckless business practices allowed false and misleading mortgage applications to be made to lenders.

Nearly one in three UK firms targeted by fraudsters in past eighteen months

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:40:12 +0100

Almost a third of UK businesses, (31 per cent), have been targeted by fraudsters over the past eighteen months, reveals recent research carried out by Graydon UK, the commercial credit referencing agency.

Experian appoints Head of Insurance for UK & Ireland

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:58:06 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announces the appointment of Sandy McPherson as Head of Insurance for UK and Ireland.

Callcredit agrees long-term credit report deal with Rent4Sure

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:11:45 +0100

Callcredit Information Group has signed a five year deal with tenant referencing specialists Rent4Sure, to supply credit reports and risk assessments through its CallReport product.

Creditsafe launches advanced prospecting tool

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:06:13 +0100

Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, has announced the launch of Advanced Prospects, a marketing tool that delivers vital business intelligence on 3.7 million companies throughout the UK.

LSC - the first public body to fight fraud through CIFAS

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:52:16 +0100

The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is the first public sector organisation to join CIFAS, the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, to counter the fraudulent use of taxpayers’ money.

Atradius appoints Mark Palmer to lead and expand its London Special Products team

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:39:30 +0100

Formerly Director of the Trade Credit Surety and Political Risks Division at Marsh Brokers Ltd (formerly HSBC Brokers Ltd) Mark’s career has spanned banking and broking as well as the underwriting of trade credit and political risk.

Adeptra brings context and intelligence to global banks with new deployments of its decision engine

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:02:15 +0100

Adeptra, the recognized leader in automated customer contact and resolution for fraud, collections and marketing, has announced new deployments of its Decision Engine technology for banks headquartered in North America and Europe.

Lafayette Federal Credit Union picks SASÂ® for predictive insight from operational data

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:49:43 +0100

Facing increased competition, credit unions struggle to work smarter while still providing superior member service. Lafayette Federal Credit Union (LFCU) wanted to predict and prepare for events and issues rather than simply react.

FSA bans five individuals for insurance fraud and insurance broker gets large fine

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:59:21 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has banned five individuals for failings in relation to insurance fraud. It has also imposed one of its largest ever fines of £150,000 for insurance fraud on one of these individuals and £50,000 on another.

CIFS introduces new collections service

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:02:24 +0100

Lloyd’s credit insurer, Credit Indemnity & Financial Services, has introduced a new Integrated Collections Service designed to provide policyholders with certainty that outstanding overdue debts will be speedily paid under their policy.

The Internal Betrayal: CIFAS releases Special Report into Staff Fraud

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:55:12 +0100

CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, in collaboration with a number of private and public sector bodies and experts, has released a report entitled The Internal Betrayal looking at Staff (or Insider) Fraud and how organisations can combat the threat. The Internal Betrayal combines research, statistics, case studies, analysis and opinion pieces on a range of issues surrounding the problem of staff fraud and the methods that can be used to prevent it from causing financial, reput ...

41st Parameter Teams With Horus Fraud Prevention Solutions to Establish Local Presence in S America

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:17:16 +0100

41st Parameter Inc., the leading provider of person-not-present cross-channel fraud prevention solutions, today announced it has signed Sao Paulo-based Horus Fraud Prevention as the exclusive reseller of 41st Parameter's FraudNet suite of solutions for Brazil with the right to also market and deploy 41st Parameter products throughout South America.

Euler Hermes appoints new commercial director for UK and Ireland

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:02:00 +0100

Euler Hermes UK, the UK’s leading credit insurer, has appointed Iain Bell as Commercial Director for the UK and Ireland. He succeeds James Daly who has been promoted to Commercial Director for Northern Europe.

Lax security and payment complexity leaving small firms stung by credit card fraud

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:55:40 +0100

Insufficient security checks and the complexity involved in taking online payments are leaving small firms exposed to payment processing fraud, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) is warning.

Government Needs Open Mind on Tackling Benefit Cheats

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:39:05 +0100

Responding to the announcement about tackling fraud in the public sector, Peter Hurst, Chief Executive of CIFAS, the not-for-profit UK’s Fraud Prevention Service comments, “I am delighted that at long last government is looking at how to prevent fraud rather than simply investigating it once it’s already happened. CIFAS, which is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to sharing information about known fraudsters, is very keen to work closely with government to help stamp out ...

Callcredit Information Group Announces New Telecoms Division

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:30:16 +0100

Callcredit Information Group has today announced that it is expanding its focus into the telecoms sector, drawing on the company’s expertise from retail and financial services to bring credit referencing and marketing services to the telecoms market. As part of the company’s strategy to grow and evolve its telecoms portfolio, it has created a dedicated Telecoms Business Development team which will be headed up by James Blake as Sector Head.

Equifax credit reference data is helping to tackle benefit fraud

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:26:18 +0100

Prime Minister, David Cameron is reported to be talking today about cracking down on benefit cheats, using a combination of tactics including credit reference agency data. Equifax is one of the UK’s leading credit reference agencies and is already working with several major Government departments and local authorities to help identify benefit fraudsters.

Comment from Callcredit Information Group on benefit fraud

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:20:59 +0100

In light of today’s news that David Cameron wants credit ratings firms to take a bigger role in tackling the £5.2bn annual cost of benefit cheats and overpayments, please see below comment from John Cannon, Head of Product Strategy, Callcredit Information Group (CIG).

SAS a leader in operational risk management and GRC report

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:02:23 +0100

SAS, the leader in business analytics software and services, remains a leader in Chartis Research’s Operational Risk & GRC Software Solutions 2010 report. Since 2005, Chartis has recognised SAS® OpRisk Management for “completeness of offering” and “market-share potential.” Chartis, which has added the converging governance, risk and compliance(GRC) market, also rated the recently announced SAS Enterprise GRC.

Â£1bn of savings can be delivered through better fraud detection in the public sector

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:52:05 +0100

Over £1 billion paid out in fraudulent benefit claims and social housing provision could be eradicated quickly if simple, cost-effective and proven fraud prevention techniques were implemented more widely across the public sector.

Experian signs global data integration deal with HSBC

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:12:32 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced an enterprise deal with HSBC to help integrate the bank’s access to external data sources around the world.

Creditsafe launches ratings commentary

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:55:18 +0100

Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, have announced the launch of a brand new commentary feature within its Credit Solutions company reporting tool to make readers immediately aware of key information that could affect their dealings with a business.

Emerge from global recession, increase information, and reduce your manual intervention

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:34:27 +0100

The recent global recession has produced a turbulent economic environment, affecting individuals and corporations in equal measure.

The Human Cost of Fraud - What Can People Do To Protect Themselves?

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:22:24 +0100

The University of Portsmouth, along with chartered accountants and business advisers MacIntyre Hudson LLP, have released research into the impactand affect fraud has on its victims. ...

Recovery for creditors becomes more challenging as burden on Insolvency Service continues to grow

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:45:29 +0100

Personal insolvency figures out this week are expected to show a static, if not slightly reduced, position in comparison to the record figures announced last quarter.

HSBC focuses on customer retention & growth with Equifax

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:18:23 +0100

HSBC, one of the world’s major banking groups, has signed a new services contract with leading consumer risk expert, Equifax.

Tracesmartâs New Arrival Set to Optimise Collections Tracing

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:01 +0100

Tracesmart Corporate, one of the UK’s leading data specialists, have announced that the wait for their highly anticipated new online tracing product – TraceIQ – is nearly over. The brain child of leading tracing experts and IT specialists, TraceIQ is set to become the most advanced online tracing tool available.

Lloyds Banking Group announces plans to reduce conveyancing panel

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:39:48 +0100

Earlier this week Lloyds Banking Group announced it is to start the process of significantly reducing their panels of solicitors. The lender is to review the criteria for membership of its conveyancing panels and reduce the number of firms it instructs using a ‘risk based’ model that it says will allow it to assess firms individually.

FSA bans and fines former Northern Rock finance director Â£320,000

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:16:49 +0100

The Financial Services Authority has fined David Jones, former finance director (FD) of Northern Rock PLC (NR) £320,000 for misreporting mortgage arrears figures and prohibited him from performing any function in relation to any regulated activity.

Experian launches new property move alert service

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:06:40 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced the launch of a new alert service which will inform banks, lenders, insurers and home services companies when an existing customer puts their property up for sale or rent.

Rating agency: Coface filed for accreditation with the CESR

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:58:42 +0100

On the 13th of July Coface filed its accreditation request with the CESR (Committee of European Securities Regulators) as a rating agency specialising in corporates, for its 10 rating agencies in Europe. Coface offers an alternative to the traditional 3 rating agencies, as well as a response to the issues concerning independence and responsibility which currently place the rating agencies at the heart of the actual debate on ratings.

Equifax warns rogue directors could be on the rise

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:54:37 +0100

Leading business information specialist, Equifax, is warning that organisations will need to do more thorough checks on potential customers and suppliers if plans by The Insolvency Service sees a reduction in investigations into rogue directors.

Seized criminal footage shows importance of shielding your PIN at cash machines

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:20:01 +0100

Video footage released yesterday by LINK, the UK’s cash machine network, reveals how criminals can try to get hold of your four-digit PIN when you use an ATM that they have targeted. However, as the seized criminal footage shows, by simply shielding the keypad with your free hand, keys, wallet or purse, you can easily stop a criminal from finding out your PIN.

Identity fraud levels continue to rise

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:58:08 +0100

An analysis of fraud trends during the first half of 2010 reveals an alarming and continuing surge in identity fraud. The 265 organisations that are Members of CIFAS - The UK's Fraud Prevention Service - report:

Equifax appoints technology solutions director

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:53:08 +0100

Leading consumer credit and business risk management and marketing services provider, Equifax, has created a new technology-focused role for its UK business.

Oita Bank selects SAS Marketing Automation on Teradata to revitalise business intelligence capacity

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:06:23 +0100

Japan-based Oita Bank has selected SAS, the leader in business analytics software and services, and Teradata the world’s largest company solely focused on data warehousing, to help revitalise its business intelligence capabilities.

Equifax strengthens marketing solutions team

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:35:36 +0100

Leading consumer credit, business and marketing information provider, Equifax, has strengthened its business to business marketing solutions team with the appointment of a Lead Analyst for its B2B Marketing Data.

GB Group Exclusively Incorporates iovation Device Reputation into Identity Management Services

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:58:03 +0100

iovation, provider of the world’s first device reputation service for preventing online fraud and abuse, today announced an exclusive strategic alliance with GB Group (GB), the leading Identity Management business.

R3 Media Statement on Director Disqualification and Insolvency Service resource

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:57:09 +0100

Steven Law, the president of R3, the insolvency trade body, has issued a media statement as a result of the Insolvency Service offering the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) a 'carefully considered plan to meet the 11% cuts agenda'.

Insolvency Service offers BIS a carefully considered plan to meet the 11% cuts agenda

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:22:07 +0100

Following the Government’s announcement in June about the need to find savings in 2010-11, The Insolvency Service, an Executive Agency of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has made plans to reduce its expenditure this year.

Equifax enhances access and user experience for its Debtor Management Solutions

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:58:44 +0100

Leading consumer credit information expert, Equifax, has announced two major upgrades to enhance online access to its Debtor Management Solutions.

FSA Chairman calls for debate

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:25:55 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) chairman, Lord Turner, has said there needs to be a fundamental debate in this country, both about how much easy credit should be available in the mortgage market, and how much capital and liquidity banks should be required to hold, without holding back the economic growth necessary for recovery.

More structured financial education needed in secondary schools

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:02:49 +0100

Financial education charity, the ifs School of Finance, says that the latest research on mortgages shows the need for more structured financial education at secondary school.

FICO Launches Optimisation âStarter Kitâ to Reclaim Card Profitability

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:32:09 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, announced today the general availability of a “starter kit” for credit line optimisation (CLO). This starter kit is bundled with the industry-leading FICO® TRIAD® Customer Manager to help card issuers apply analytic precision to credit line increase strategies.

Credit reports available online for all consumers

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:02:40 +0100

Consumers can now access their statutory credit report online for a nominal fee of only £2 from all three major UK credit reference agencies: Experian, Equifax, and Callcredit.

Bad management to blame for nearly 60% of corporate insolvencies

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:57:40 +0100

'Incompetence or bad management’ of company directors causes 56% of corporate failures, while nearly 40% of businesses could have been saved if professional advice had been sought earlier, according to a poll of insolvency experts carried out by insolvency trade body R3.

New Task Force to Tackle Money Laundering & Fraud

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:19:36 +0100

Callcredit Information Group has teamed up with its existing partner Tait Walker Chartered Accountants and the University of Sunderland’s department of Computing, Engineering and Technology to create new software for tackling specific areas of financial crime, as part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP).

Credit sales can stimulate trade, 'but transparency and trust are essential'

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:56:33 +0100

Atradius NV, a leading global credit insurer, has recently launched its white paper ‘The future of trade credit’, the aim of which is to establish the effect that the economic downturn of the past two years will have on companies’ inclination to offer credit terms of sale to their business to business customers, and to recommend actions to ensure that credit remains the engine of successful trade.

Seventy percent higher risk of bankruptcy in the North East than in London

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:05:08 +0100

R3, the insolvency trade body, has published a ‘bankruptcy map’ revealing the regions and local authorities that have seen the highest proportion of new personal insolvency cases.

Five banned, and one fined Â£130,000 and banned, as FSA continues crack down on mortgage fraud

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 17:02:12 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has banned six individuals, and fined one of them over £130,000, for failings in relation to mortgage fraud.

Publication of the Finance Bill 2010

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:59:49 +0100

The Government is today publishing the 2010 Finance Bill. The Bill will enact the key tax measures at the heart of the Emergency Budget package, to cut the unprecedented deficit, deliver fairness and promote enterprise.

Equities Offer Value as Recovery Continues, Barclays Capital Says

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:03:55 +0100

Barclays Capital today said in its latest flagship quarterly research publication, Global Outlook: Rebound, But No Raging Bull Market, that the recent market correction, while exposing obstacles to a bull market in the medium term, has not derailed the global economic recovery. As such, Barclays Capital is recommending that investors maintain selective exposure to risky assets, particularly equities in Europe and the US.

Vivacom select Neural Technologies for Fraud Management

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:15:43 +0100

Vivacom, Bulgaria’s main telecommunications provider, has selected Neural Technologies as its definitive fraud management solution supplier.

New SASÂ® Enterprise GRC enhances performance, collaboration and transparency

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:12:48 +0100

Across all industries, stakeholders increasingly demand to know how revenue was generated, not just how much. A well-integrated governance, risk and compliance (GRC) program helps organizations adhere to laws and regulations, understand and manage risk exposures, and share information with investors, boards of directors, customers and other key audiences.

SASÂ® innovation revolutionises agile decision-making

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:01:33 +0100

SAS, the leader in business analytics, is introducing advanced high-performance computing technology to help enterprises harness the astronomical growth of raw data for quick and accurate business decisions. In this increasingly turbulent economy, better, faster decisions can tip the balance between growth and extinction.

Card fraud gang sentenced to 15 years

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:30:00 +0100

Four criminals were today sentenced for a total of 15 years at Southwark Crown Court for their involvement in a series of card frauds that took place in the south of England during 2009.

The Next Generation in Fraud and Risk Case Management?

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:47:51 +0100

Neural Technologies, working in partnership with Microsoft, introduce 'Insight' to address the issues of fraud management systems that do not automatically trigger an alert for certain fraudulent activities.

Precise Mortgages Goes Live with DPR Solution

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:25:29 +0100

Mortgage software specialist DPR Consulting has announced that new intermediary mortgage lender Precise Mortgages is the latest lender to go live with its mortgage origination system.

Lowest share of house purchase market for first-time buyers since 2007

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:43:24 +0100

First-time buyers made up the lowest proportion of house purchase loans since September 2007, according to new data released today by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. They accounted for 35% of all house purchase mortgages, down from 39% in March and 38% in April 2009. The low share of the market shows that getting a mortgage remains problematic for first-time buyers who tend not to have a substantial deposit.

Euristix provides enhanced risk management for specialist lender, Buy As You View

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:58:48 +0100

Financial services consultancy, Euristix, has been contracted by specialist retail and consumer finance provider, Buy As You View (BAYV), to provide enhanced risk analysis and management for the business.

MGEN selects SASÂ® to optimise operational risk management program

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:19:16 +0100

France’s largest supplementary insurance company is enhancing operational risk management with SAS® OpRisk Monitor software from SAS, leader in business analytics software and services. With more than three million policyholders, the Mutuelle Générale de l'Education Nationale (MGEN), underwrites both compulsory and supplementary insurance plans.

Start-Up discrimination

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:31:59 +0100

New research published today by Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, reveals that nearly one-in-10 (9%) companies will avoid trading with a business if it is less than a year old. These company owners and operators are discriminating against start-up companies when looking at new customers, suppliers and business partners, preferring to trade with enterprises that have an established financial and credit history.

New FICO Service Enables Banks to Fine-Tune Risk Strategies Based on Economic Conditions

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:23:12 +0100

FICO, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, have announced the immediate global availability of the FICO Economic Impact Service, a patent-pending analytic service that helps lenders adjust their use of risk scores based on economic projections and lender-defined scenarios. With the ability to build on both internally derived score models and standard credit scores, such as the FICO® 8 Score, the FICO Economic Impact Service™ provides lenders with unpre ...

âUK Plastic Cards: Outlook to 2011â added to ReportBuyer.com

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:26:07 +0100

ReportBuyer.com has added a new report “UK Plastic Cards: Outlook to 2011" at http://www.reportbuyer.com/go/DAT20061

Â£1bn of savings 'can be delivered through better fraud detection in the public sector'

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:33:10 +0100

Equifax offers smaller companies fast-track to risk decisioning

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:08:00 +0100

Leading credit information specialist, Equifax, has developed a new range of powerful risk decisioning tools that tackle the historical issue of having access to quality risk management solutions, but at prices that are affordable for smaller businesses.

MCR completes sale of Robbs department store in Hexham

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:20:05 +0100

MCR, the administrators for department store business Vergo Retail Limited (“the Company”), has announced the successful sale of Robbs department store in Hexham, Northumberland to J E Beale PLC. The deal was completed on 3 June 2010, following the appointment of joint administrators Sarah Bell and Steven Muncaster, Partners at MCR earlier in May.

Talk of interest rate hike sparks insolvency fears among small businesses

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:18:08 +0100

Following calls from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to raise interest rates to 3.5%, insolvency trade body R3 has traced the impact that rises would have on small businesses. According to a survey of 300 small businesses conducted this month:

Chief Executive of Company Watch Limited announces his retirement

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:05:45 +0100

Company Watch have announced that their CEO and Chairman, Guenter Steinitz will be retiring at the end of this month.

VocaLink Take Home Pay Index continues its decline hitting a new record low in May

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:23:31 +0100

For the second month in a row, the VocaLink Take Home Pay Index is at its lowest level ever recorded since its introduction in 2004, sitting at just 0.5 per cent. The Index has now hovered below 2.0 per cent for the past twelve months and below 1.0 per cent since February 2010, reflecting weak earnings growth, particularly since the start of this year.

MCR completes sale of renowned housewares brand

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:37:20 +0100

MCR, the administrators for stylish kitchen accessories designer Typhoon Housewares Limited (“the Company”), has announced the successful sale of its Intellectual Property and assets to Rayware Limited, which was completed on 27 May 2010.

P&A Receivables European Credit Forum alerts channel to growing threat of fraud scams

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:35:35 +0100

P&A Receivables, the leading credit management and debt collection service provider to the IT industry, has highlighted the growing threat that long- and short-firm scams pose to the channel and urged resellers, distributors and vendors to be on high alert when dealing with new customers, especially when potentially lucrative opportunities seem to be in the offing.

BDO LLP appoints new partner to lead Financial Services Advisory Practice

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:30:53 +0100

Tim Kirk has been appointed as Head of the Advisory Services practice, Financial Services at accountants and business advisers BDO LLP in London.

Check that company sees worrying signs as UK corporate profitability continues to decline

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:38:36 +0100

Check That Company, the online service that gives small businesses a simple and affordable way to run company reports and credit checks, has expressed concern over the impact that falling levels of profitability amongst the UK’s larger companies is likely to have on the small business sector.

FSA confirms annual funding requirement for 2010/11

Fri, 28 May 2010 12:28:43 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has today confirmed its annual funding requirement for 2010/11.

Identity Fraud - Donât let someone steal your good name

Thu, 27 May 2010 17:10:21 +0100

Identity fraud is costing the UK more than £1.7bn a year. It is the fastest-growing white-collar crime, increasing by more than 500% every year. It is now a potential threat to small business owners who are busy with the everyday rigours of running a company and steps need to be taken to avoid becoming a victim.

JaywingDMG to provide Foil fraud prediction models to LaSer UK

Thu, 27 May 2010 16:56:14 +0100

LaSer UK, a leading provider of revolving and fixed term credit and customer programmes, has appointed JaywingDMG to develop bespoke fraud prediction models for its credit card portfolio. In addition, they join other leading organisations in contributing to the Foil fraud syndicate.

Consumer durables look to England World Cup success for 60% sales uplift

Thu, 27 May 2010 16:28:16 +0100

A large proportion of the retail sector is looking to World Cup fever to boost sales by as much as 60 percent to accelerate recovery from the recession, according to leading trade credit insurer Atradius.

CCTA form strategic partnership with Callcredit Information Group

Thu, 27 May 2010 16:21:09 +0100

The Consumer Credit Trade Association (CCTA) has launched a strategic partnership with Callcredit Information Group to offer its members a range of Callcredit products including SHAREReport, CallValidate, CallML and CallTrace.

Benefits cheat is tagged after dishonestly claiming Â£5,000

Thu, 27 May 2010 10:18:17 +0100

Magistrates have ordered that a benefit cheat be electronically tagged after they heard how he pocketed more than £5,000 he was not entitled to.

BBA response to European Commission communication on bank resolution funds

Wed, 26 May 2010 17:01:47 +0100

Commenting on the European Commission communication on bank resolution funds, Angela Knight, chief executive of the British Bankers' Association (BBA) said:

Businesses 'must take proactive measures' to protect themselves against losses due to volcanic ash

Wed, 26 May 2010 13:38:23 +0100

Businesses must take proactive measures to protect themselves against losses caused by eruptions of the Icelandic volcano, advised leading credit management specialist Coface – UK & Ireland.

Experian launches Diversity Monitor to enhance delivery of public services

Wed, 26 May 2010 12:31:57 +0100

Experian Public Sector today announces the launch of Diversity Monitor, a new tool providing government organisations with a more detailed understanding of ethnicity amongst citizens and public sector employees. Use of the tool will help the public sector enhance the quality of services provided and strengthen community relations.

High Court orders return of Â£32m stolen from pension funds

Tue, 25 May 2010 15:29:34 +0100

The High Court yesterday ordered the return of £32m stolen from pension schemes in the biggest pensions fraud case since Robert Maxwell. The total fraud was £52m taken from nine pension schemes in 2007 and 2008.

MCR appointed Administrators to UK magazine distributor Magazine Marketing Company Limited

Mon, 24 May 2010 17:27:50 +0100

Sallyanne Pitt and Paul Clark of MCR were appointed Joint Administrators of Magazine Marketing Company Limited (“MMC”), on Friday 21st May 2010.

Check That Company warns SMBs to stay vigilant as banks continue to keep tight rein on lending

Mon, 24 May 2010 16:41:00 +0100

Check That Company, the online service that gives small businesses (SMBs) a quick and effective way to run credit checks, has warned small businesses to stay on high alert to the dangers of bad debt as the economy recovers.

Community order for fraudster

Mon, 24 May 2010 13:11:00 +0100

A benefit fraudster who managed to buy five properties while claiming council tax benefit has been handed a community order.

Staff Fraudscape: examining the staff fraud threat in the UK

Mon, 24 May 2010 12:45:58 +0100

CIFAS the UK's Fraud Prevention Service, today releases Staff Fraudscape: a 28-page report that lays bare the frauds recorded by the Members of the CIFAS Staff Fraud Database during 2009. Launched in 2006, the CIFAS Staff Fraud Database is a way for organisations to share information on proven cases of staff fraud in order to prevent further fraud. Staff Fraudscape is a first of its kind: examining and revealing the realities of staff fraud in the UK today.

P&A Receivables warns that EC plans could lead to chaos in the IT industry

Sat, 22 May 2010 09:34:49 +0100

P&A Receivables, the leading credit management and debt collection service provider to the IT industry, has slammed the EC’s plans to make small firms exempt from filing accounts as a recipe for chaos in the IT industry.

Experian analysis highlights impact of recession on UK consumers in 2009

Sat, 22 May 2010 09:25:36 +0100

New analysis from Experian®, the global information services company, reveals a sharp increase in personal insolvencies among middle-class professionals and the super rich during 2009.

Communisis plc and Equifax Ltd announce partnership

Thu, 20 May 2010 19:19:54 +0100

Leading marketing services provider Communisis and Equifax have today announced a strategic partnership in the UK.

Equifax adds Prompt Payment Code to business reports

Wed, 19 May 2010 17:05:05 +0100

Leading business information expert, Equifax, is focusing on supporting businesses in the current difficult trading climate with its latest initiative. Prompt Payment Code approved signatories are being included in Equifax commercial reports, providing business users with a quick and easy to interpret guide of the payment behaviours of potential customers and other commercial partners.

Hagley woman pays high price for fraud

Wed, 19 May 2010 09:30:47 +0100

A Hagley woman is paying a high price for a £1,500 benefit fraud after she was found guilty of dishonesty.

Family of benefit cheats believed to have fled the country

Wed, 19 May 2010 09:27:11 +0100

Warrants have been issued for the arrest of a family of benefit cheats believed to have skipped the country during their trial for dishonestly claiming more than £30,000 in housing and council tax benefit.

FSA contacts 38,000 people to warn them they are targets of boiler room share fraudsters

Wed, 19 May 2010 09:24:17 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is contacting more than 38,000 people across the UK to warn them that they could be the target of share fraud after it recovered a master list used by boiler room fraudsters.

CIG takes on cycle challenge for NSPCCâs Childâs Voice Appeal

Wed, 19 May 2010 08:27:00 +0100

Callcredit Information Group (CIG) has rallied a team of keen cyclists to take part in the Coast-to-Coast Cycle Challenge in a bid to raise £10,000 for the NSPCC’s Child Voice Appeal. Taking place on June 24th-25th 2010, six staff and twenty four clients of the Leeds-based credit and marketing solutions company will ride a gruelling 135 miles.

BNP Paribas acts as joint bookrunner on $425m of natural catastrophe bonds for Lodestone Re Ltd.

Fri, 14 May 2010 12:29:47 +0100

BNP Paribas, as joint bookrunner, has placed $425m of catastrophe bonds, in two tranches, for Lodestone Re Ltd. Risk Management Solutions modelled the natural catastrophe risk.

Distressed business alert service launched

Tue, 11 May 2010 18:10:02 +0100

A distressed business alert service has been has launched by Business-sale.com. Every weekday, email alerts are sent through to subscribers listing all UK businesses that have had winding-up petitions lodged against them. Another email alert lists all companies that have had administrators appointed. This gives credit controllers and entrepreneurs a useful advance warning of businesses in financial difficulty.

Equifax launches Book Analyser for debt purchasers

Tue, 11 May 2010 17:55:34 +0100

Debt purchasers face many challenges understanding the potential performance and quality of a debt book before they buy it.

Euler Hermes results for the first quarter of 2010

Mon, 10 May 2010 15:44:35 +0100

Despite the fragile economic recovery Euler Hermes posted a quarter on quarter increase in turnover of 3.5% compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. The group achieved a positive net income development of €47.6 million versus €16.5 million for the first quarter of 2009. The combined ratio improved significantly from 103.0% to 90.0% due to decisive management actions to handle the global financial crisis and improvement in economic environment.

New managing director appointed for Equifax UK business

Mon, 10 May 2010 15:33:26 +0100

Equifax, a leading provider of consumer credit and business risk management and marketing services, has announced the appointment of a new Managing Director for its UK business.

Santander signs new credit data and analytics deal with Experian

Mon, 10 May 2010 15:27:11 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announces that it has signed a three year deal with Santander to provide consumer and commercial credit information to the banking group’s UK operation.

BSI expands international dimension to risk management with the adoption of ISO 31000

Thu, 06 May 2010 17:50:07 +0100

Appropriate risk management (RM) lets organizations discover untapped opportunities as well as maintain their current business. There are many tools to achieve this but not many come with the support and development of an international group of experts plus a tailored view for the UK. In March 2010, BSI adopted the international standard ISO 31000 Risk management: Principles and guidelines into BSI’s existing RM portfolio. BS ISO 31000 is useful for all organizations, regardless of type an ...

Senior public servant and insurance figure are appointed to CIFAS board

Thu, 06 May 2010 17:30:51 +0100

CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service have appointed the former Director of the Assets Recovery Agency, Jane Earl, and Chris McKee, former Technical Services Director of RBS Insurance, as independent directors on their board of directors.

Equifax launches Book Analyser for debt purchasers

Thu, 06 May 2010 17:20:27 +0100

Debt purchasers face many challenges understanding the potential performance and quality of a debt book before they buy it. The unstable economy over the last few years has meant that purchasing books at the right price is now more business critical than ever, for both the seller and buyer. Tackling this challenge, leading credit information and debtor management solutions provider, Equifax has extended its Debtor Management Solutions to include a specific Book Analyser tool.

As voters go to the polls, business confidence continues to rise

Thu, 06 May 2010 17:09:40 +0100

Leading business information expert, Equifax, has reported a nearly 3% drop in the number of businesses going bust in April 2010 compared to March.

Survey: Financial institutions regaining confidence, but barriers to risk management remain

Wed, 05 May 2010 19:47:44 +0100

Banks and insurers are increasingly optimistic and have come far in strengthening risk management. Yet, regulatory compliance may distract attention from emerging risks while the prevalence of a silo-based approach at several organisations hampers risk management at an enterprise-wide level. So finds a survey of 346 senior risk management executives in the financial services industry conducted in February 2010 by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for SAS, the leader in business analytics sof ...

VocaLink Take Home Pay Index reverses recent increase hitting record low in April

Wed, 05 May 2010 19:38:40 +0100

The VocaLink Take Home Pay Index reflects the continuing uncertainty in the UK labour market as it drops to its lowest level on record of 0.9 per cent. The Index has now fallen below its previous lowest level of 1.0 per cent recorded in February this year.

Now is not the time for banks 'to complain about tighter controls'

Tue, 04 May 2010 17:41:53 +0100

“This is not the time for banks to be complaining about tighter regulatory controls, it is the time for them to be lending to good British businesses," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor.

New wave of security breaches hitting UK businesses costing them billions, new report shows

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:11:51 +0100

After declining in number for the last few years, a new wave of security breaches is hitting UK organisations, costing them billions of pounds, despite the fact that security remains high on management’s agenda and the recession has not dampened spending on security, according to a survey released today by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) at Infosecurity Europe.

Equifax Reports First Quarter 2010 Results

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 13:00:30 +0100

Equifax Inc. today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. The company reported revenue of $461.3 million in the first quarter of 2010, a 3 percent increase from the first quarter of 2009. Revenue was unchanged from the prior year when adjusted for the favorable effect of foreign exchange rates.

Fraud continues to pose problems in 2010

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:58:37 +0100

The analysis of fraud trends during the first quarter of 2010 by CIFAS - The UK's Fraud Prevention Service - reveals some notable facts: - a 19.86% increase in identity fraud when compared with the same period in 2009, - the number of victims of impersonation increased by over 20% compared with the first quarter of 2009, and - overall fraud levels remain consistent, with nearly 60,000 proven frauds identified in the first three months of 2010. ...

Government run agency least supportive of exporters amongst worldâs main trading nations

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:01:00 +0100

Britain’s government run export finance and insurance support body, the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD), has fallen behind in world terms over the last decade, according to The British Exporters Association (BExA) research.

Now we have 'Vishing' and 'SMiShing' to add to the fraud watch-list for 2010

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:22:11 +0100

Phishing attacks are on the rise with 51,000 incidents recorded last year – a 16 per cent increase on the amount seen in 2008. Now we have 'Vishing', phishing via the telephone, and 'SMiShing', the use of text messaging as a hook to obtain sensitive information.

Special police unit marks its 8th anniversary with Â£340m of fraud savings

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:02:56 +0100

The Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU) – the unique bank-sponsored police squad - today announced details of its latest fraud savings, which showed that its work to target organised fraud gangs led to estimated savings of £24.5 million in 2009. Publication of this latest figure coincides with the 8th anniversary of the Unit, which was set up on 29 April 2002.

Industry expert joins Equifax as Business Development Director

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:31:11 +0100

Leading consumer credit and business information provider, Equifax, has appointed credit industry expert, Neville Seabridge, as its new Business Development Director. The appointment follows the promotion of Rob Cormican, previously in this role, to Marketing Director.

Homeowner And Home Improver Data added to Equifax Marketing Data

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:08:39 +0100

Leading marketing services data specialist, Equifax, has added two new sets of data to its ConnectSelect consumer marketing database, giving marketers greater ability to focus on key consumer groups at the right time. The new Home Improver dataset gives marketers the ability to identify people who have applied for planning permission while the Homeowner file enables relevant and targeted campaigns specific to this group.

Thomson Reuters Strengthens Leadership of its Enterprise Business with Key Executive Appointments

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:54:28 +0100

Thomson Reuters today announced the appointments of industry executives David Kelly, Roseann Palmieri and Tanya Ezekiel to the leadership team of the Enterprise business. These strategic appointments demonstrate the investment Thomson Reuters is making to accelerate the existing growth of the Enterprise business and the delivery of its next generation solutions.

Payments Council and Accenture Launch a Customer Authentication Evaluation Tool

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:30:47 +0100

The Payments Council and Accenture have launched a new modelling tool to help banks and businesses select authentication technologies for secure customer interactions online.

Experian launches first monitoring service to proactively find fraud in existing customer accounts

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:15:47 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today launched the industry’s first fraud detection service to proactively monitor existing customers’ bank and credit account data to pinpoint potential fraud risks before fraudulent transactions are attempted.

Hypermonitoring â The inside story delivered to your desktop

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:34:56 +0100

It’s a horrible feeling to arrive at work and discover one of your best customers has gone into receivership, and won’t actually be paying for the goods you have just dispatched. And, worse still, after the event it seems that other companies had an inkling it was headed for disaster, why didn’t you?

Experian launches new service to help organisations comply with FSA single customer view requirement

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:15:53 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced the launch of a range of services designed to enable banks, building societies and credit unions to build the single customer view (SCV) required by the Financial Services Authority.

Sunderland, East London and Liverpool top list of UK fraud hotspots

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:33:07 +0100

Callcredit Information Group (CIG) has today published research which identified the areas most and least at risk of ID fraud across the UK, with Sunderland topping the list of 121 localities in the British Isles. Fraud costs the UK £30 billion a year, with credit card fraud totalling £440.3 million in 2009.

Experian appoints Head of Customer Management for UK and Ireland

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:59:18 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, have announced the appointment of Nick Evans as Head of Customer Management for UK and Ireland. Nick joins Experian from HSBC, where he was Head of Credit Risk at its M&S Money business.

FSA fines London IFA Â£24,500 for pension switching advice failings

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:44:21 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) today fined Robin Bradford (Life and Pension Consultants) Ltd (Robin Bradford), a London based IFA firm, £24,500 for exposing customers to unacceptable levels of risk of receiving poor pension switching advice.

High profile economists complete line up of speakers for Coface Country Risk Conference

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:48:30 +0100

Leading economists Juan Gomez and Dr Mohamed Djeddour complete the line-up of speakers at the Coface – UK & Ireland Country Risk Conference in Manchester on the 9th June 2010.

UK Businesses 'fight for recovery'

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:51:45 +0100

Leading business information provider, Equifax, has released its Business Failures Report for the first quarter of 2010, revealing an apparent steely determination by UK businesses to survive - despite the recession.

HSBC and Euler Hermes join forces to support UK exporters

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:13:56 +0100

HSBC Commercial Banking and Euler Hermes, the world’s leading credit insurer, have announced that they will begin working together from 1 April 2010 to support HSBC Invoice Finance’s service to UK exporters.

A further three firms sign up for FRSGlobalâs liquidity solution in Q1

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:39:32 +0100

FRSGlobal, the only global provider of risk and regulatory reporting solutions with coverage for over 40 countries on a unified platform, today announced that a further three firms have chosen its industry acclaimed liquidity solution to comply with the FSA’s regime.

Hometrack and Callcredit win HSBC Group contract

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:02:56 +0100

Hometrack Data Systems, the UK’s leading supplier of automated valuations and risk analytics, together with Leeds-based credit reference agency Callcredit have today announced the award of a contract to supply the HSBC Group with Equity Indicator, a groundbreaking product, designed specifically to assess an individual’s overall equity status.

Consumer Financial Education Body in Financial Services Bill receives Royal Assent

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:34:57 +0100

The Resolution Foundation is delighted that the Financial Services Bill received Royal Assent during the wash-up process. The Bill will establish the Consumer Financial Education Body which will be responsible for running Money Made Clear – the new financial advice service aimed at low earners.

Adeptra announces new Analytics platform

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:47:29 +0100

Adeptra, the recognised leader in automated customer communications, today announced the release of its analytics platform, Adeptra Analytics, to enable financial organisations to build smarter consumer credit and risk management strategies. The platform, developed in conjunction with a number of Adeptra’s global financial customers, is a market-first with near real-time visibility into the success of credit risk management.

The Equifax guide to credit information for small business owners

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:20:37 +0100

Whilst the level of redundancies over the last 12 months has reached record highs, there has also been a surge of new business start ups.

VocaLink Take Home Pay Index starts on road to recovery following all-time low

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:58:24 +0100

The VocaLink Take Home Pay Index for March has recovered from its all-time low in February to record a rise of 0.5 percentage points, bringing the index to 1.5 per cent.

Angie Hall to join Arum

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:07:58 +0100

Credit management specialist, Arum, has appointed Angie Hall as Lead Business Consultant with effect from 15 March 2010.

Small businesses to be fined up to Â£500k for security breaches

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:56:24 +0100

Small businesses across the UK could now be fined up to £500,000 in the event of a data security breach as new powers for the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) come into force today.

Partners-in-crime jailed after pulling off a Â£1.5m fraud

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:25:21 +0100

Two fraudsters have been jailed for a total of five years after they masterminded a £1.5million identity scam.

Former CAB worker Carol Thomas scammed Â£18,500 in benefit fraud

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:17:17 +0100

A woman who advised on how to claim benefits and clear debt has been found guilty of an £18,500 benefit fraud.

BIS - Support to business during a recession

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:41:24 +0100

In late 2008, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) stepped in to offer targeted support to struggling, but viable, businesses in the face of a severe economic downturn. It reacted quickly and prioritized a fast response over perfecting its policies. Under the circumstances, this approach was appropriate, according to a report published today by the National Audit Office (NAO).

Flourishing Data Protection Sector Wins Professional Status

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:13:13 +0100

The UK’s rapidly expanding data protection sector is to be recognized with the introduction of a new professional qualification.

European Parliament votes for less financial transparency

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:25:12 +0100

A European Parliament vote in March to allow micro businesses to be exempt from the EU financial reporting regime, as laid out in the Fourth Company Law Directive, is a vote for less financial transparency, warns leading credit reference agency Graydon UK.

Time to Pay Scheme, now itâs time to pay up!

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:45:49 +0100

In 2009, with the UK economy seeing one of the worst recessions in history, the government took action designed to help save struggling businesses from failure.

Six arrested in FSA and SOCA insider dealing investigation

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:32:30 +0100

In the first operation carried out jointly between the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), 16 addresses have been searched this morning in London, the South East and Oxfordshire in the FSA’s largest ever operation against insider dealing.

Check That Company helps small firms 'stay safe from bad debts'

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:08:01 +0100

A new online service has been launched that helps small businesses run quick and effective credit checks on potential new and existing customers and thus minimises the risk of bad debts and keeps their business safe.

Absolute Invoice Finance appoints risk manager in North West

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:21:52 +0100

Absolute Invoice Finance (“Absolute”), the specialist business financier, has strengthened its North West team with the appointment of Lauren Dolezel as risk manager to its Manchester office.

BBA's response to Cameron's bank tax proposals

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:01:50 +0100

UK banks have already made substantial changes to how they are structured and the amount of capital and cash they hold to help prevent any future problems.

Information Commissionerâs Office puts a value on data protection

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:17:18 +0100

Christopher Graham, the Information Commissioner, is urging organisations to put a value on personal information and invest in privacy protection.

Action taken after insurance provider loses over 2,000 peopleâs details

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:12:07 +0100

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has found that the Royal London Mutual Insurance Society breached the Data Protection Act (DPA) after eight laptops, two of which contained the personal details of 2,135 people, were stolen from the company’s Edinburgh offices. The individuals affected were employees of various firms which had sought pension scheme illustrations.

41st Parameter Names David Walker SVP Worldwide Sales

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:18:57 +0100

41st Parameter Inc., the leading provider of online cross-channel fraud detection and prevention solutions, today announced that David Walker has joined its executive management team as Senior Vice President of Sales.

Experian report reveals the changing face of fraud in the UK

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:01:00 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today published its latest Insight Report, detailing how frauds attempted against UK financial institutions and their customers is on the increase and that the nature of the threat is rapidly evolving.

Review of Money Laundering Regulations â Summary of Views

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:32:34 +0100

The latest Callcredit website Industry Minute reports that HM Treasury has incorporated the observations of a wide range of stakeholders into its newly-published Summary of the Call for Evidence (http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/mlr2007_summaryofevidence.pdf).

Equifax puts Statutory Credit Report online

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:39:11 +0100

Leading instant online credit information provider, Equifax, welcomed yesterday’s announcement by the Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) of new voluntary measures to improve people’s access to credit files. Indeed, Equifax is the first credit reference agency to make its £2 Statutory Credit Report available online – it has been trialling this service since August 2009 with around 1 in 5 of requests for the Statutory Credit Report* now being deliver ...

Equifax launches book analyser for debt purchasers

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:06:15 +0100

FSA and Police contact 1,000 share fraud targets after seizing another boiler room âmaster ...

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:12:23 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) and City of London Police (CoLP) have contacted 1,000 people across the UK to warn them that their personal details are on a ‘master list’ being used by fraudsters to target and sell them worthless shares.

Young adults maximising access to credit

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:01:00 +0100

Independent research commissioned by Callcredit Information Group has today revealed that young people aged 18 – 24 appear to be maximising available credit by taking out multiple current accounts with available overdraft facilities across multiple providers.

New card and banking fraud figures published

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:20:59 +0100

New figures released today show that total fraud losses on UK cards fell by 28 per cent between 2008 and 2009 to £440.3 million – a decrease of £170 million on the previous year’s total.

Creating an Effective Fraud-Management Environment for Corporate Banking

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:45:22 +0100

The speed and magnitude of corporate wires creates a stressful environment for fraud investigators, whose decisions can have implications costing hundreds of thousands of pounds. However, the additional controls typical of commercial accounts create opportunities for early detection of fraud staging activities.

SMEs lose out on Â£5 billion as trading partners go bust

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:01:00 +0100

New research published by CreditPal, a free online service for SMEs, reveals that over the last two years almost half (43%) of UK SMEs have been left with monies owed to them as a result of their trading partners or customers going bust. The total amount owed to SMEs is estimated to be around £5.3 billion.

New reports show toll taken on low earning, hard-working households by the recession

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:01:00 +0100

Two new reports by the low earners think tank, The Resolution Foundation, will today show that low earners have struggled more in the recession because of their exposed and overlooked position compared to both benefit dependent groups and higher earners. This leaves them more susceptible to falling into the benefit-dependent group in the spending squeeze to come.

Coface announces good turnover resistance, turnaround in profits and new credit insurance approach

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:42:22 +0100

The years 2008 and 2009 will remain those of the fifth global credit crisis, the most serious since the Second World War. World growth went from 4.2% in 2007 to 2.1% in 2008 and then to -1.9% in 2009, for an unprecedented growth drop of 6 points.

SMEs demand more transparency from rating agencies

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:26:25 +0100

In his latest blog, Martin Williams, MD of Graydon UK, says: "Throughout the economic downturn, banks, credit insurers and trade suppliers have all complained about having to make risk decisions based upon 'out of date' statutory financial information from Companies House. The demand has grown for organisations to open up their monthly management accounts if they want to gain access to credit and finance.

VocaLink Take Home Pay Index slumps to lowest level on record

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:25:09 +0100

The VocaLink Take Home Pay Index for February has continued January’s downward spiral to hit an all-time low of 1.0 %. The combination of the two recent consecutive falls has nearly halved the index during that period, taking it from 1.9% in December to 1.0% in February, signifying the Index’s lowest level since its inception in September 2004.

Audit thresholds and abridged accounts

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:35:32 +0100

FECMA, the Federation of European Credit Management Associations, has issued the following press release regarding the negative impact of Abridged Accounts and Audit Thresholds in view of the current economic and financial turmoil.

IFA director fined Â£49,000 for putting customers at risk of receiving poor pension switching ...

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:17:38 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has fined Charles Palmer, director of Gloucestershire based IFA network, Financial Ltd, £49,000 for management failings which resulted in poor compliance monitoring on pension switching advice during a period of rapid expansion.

OECD calls on businesses to step up their fight against bribery

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:22:50 +0100

Companies should put in place strict internal controls and establish ethics and compliance programmes as part of a strategy to combat bribery in international business deals, according to a new guidance agreed by the 38 countries that are party to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.

Survey Reveals Data Quality and Consistency Key to Risk Management and Transparency

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:29:09 +0100

Thomson Reuters and Lepus, the independent research firm, today released the results of a survey highlighting the responsibility fragmented IT systems played in the financial crisis and the role data will play as the market rebuilds.

A1 Grand Prix could return soon reveal Bridge Business Recovery

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:33:51 +0100

Bridge Business Recovery LLP is extremely confident of finding a buyer for the A1 Grand Prix series after recently being appointed joint liquidators of the parent company

Threat of twin peak inflation poses the real risk to recovery

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:51:41 +0100

Amid mounting concerns of a double dip recession, the economy is also under threat from ‘twin peaks’ in inflation, warns the latest Business Trends report by accountants and business advisers BDO LLP.

Fraudscape report depicts the UKâs fraud landscape in 2009

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:01:00 +0100

CIFAS - the UK's Fraud Prevention Service, today releases Fraudscape: a 48-page report that lays bare the frauds recorded by the 265 CIFAS Members during 2009. Building on the trends previously identified in CIFAS Annual Fraud Trends press releases, Fraudscape is the result of the work undertaken by CIFAS Members, together with cross-sector collaboration and research into the reasons why these frauds are taking place. It also notes some particularly revealing facts about fraud in the UK today. ...

Equifax creates new role of strategic consulting director

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:04:06 +0100

Equifax, has created a new role of Strategic Consulting Director to keep the company in a strong position as the UK emerges from the recession.

Mortgage company accidentally discloses over 15,000 account details

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:23:58 +0100

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has found Redstone Mortgages Ltd in breach of the Data Protection Act (DPA) after personal information relating to 15,333 mortgage accounts was emailed to a member of the public by mistake.

New FICO Service Enables Banks to Fine-Tune Risk Strategies Based on Economic Conditions

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:23:32 +0100

UK businesses appear to be fighting for survival as numbers failing drops by nearly 10% in January

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:49:47 +0100

Leading business information provider, Equifax, is reporting that Business Failures at the start of 2010 are continuing the downward trend that was seen at the end of last year.

Manchester selected as location for first Coface Conference outside of London

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:58:36 +0100

Manchester has been chosen as the location for the first Coface - UK & Ireland Country Risk Conference to be staged outside of London.

Management accounts prove vital in securing improved credit terms

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:09:20 +0100

New research from CreditPal reveals that three quarters (77%) of SMEs were able to secure or extend existing credit from their suppliers in the last 24 months after sharing their management accounts with them.

CIFAS urges customer awareness over spate of âcharityâ email scams

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:29:26 +0100

CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service warns against a recent spate of emails being received by many, purporting to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.

FSA bans London based mortgage broker for incompetence and failing to prevent mortgage fraud

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:06:48 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has banned Walthamstow mortgage broker Kevin Byrne for lacking the integrity and competence to prevent his business being targeted by mortgage fraudsters.

Government crackdown on cyber scams

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:59:29 +0100

The Government is taking the fight to fraudsters, criminals and rogue traders who use the internet and email to con consumers.

Callcredit responds to Edited Register proposals

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:24:42 +0100

The Ministry of Justice published its consultation paper “Electoral Registers: Proposed changes to the Edited Register” towards the end of November, prompted by a recommendation in the Report of the Data Sharing Review in 2008.

Businesses trade confidently with trade credit insurance, says Atradius.

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:14:10 +0100

Leading trade credit insurer Atradius is flying the flag for trade credit insurance with the launch of a new advertising campaign aimed at generating leads for their brokers and reinforcing the message to customers and prospects that trade credit insurance is still key to the success of many business transactions.

OFT consults on future anti-money laundering supervisory approach and fee structure

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:57:48 +0100

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is consulting on its future approach to supervising estate agents and certain credit lenders under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and the appropriate fee structure.

Soaring insolvencies in middle income bracket 'forcing growing gap between have's and have-not's'.

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:14:49 +0100

A gaping divide is opening up between the “have’s and have-not’s” as soaring personal debt pushes hard-working middle earners out of their comfortable lives and into hardship, warns debt solution website IVA.com.

Consumer Credit Association Form Strategic Partnership with Callcredit Information Group

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:59:47 +0100

The Consumer Credit Association (CCA) has launched a strategic partnership with Callcredit Information Group to offer its members a range of Callcredit products, SHAREReport, CallML and CallTrace.

FSA bans West London mortgage broker for submitting fraudulent applications

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:07:38 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has banned mortgage intermediary Andrew Emelife for knowingly submitting mortgage applications to lenders that contained false and misleading income information.

Experian reveals UK hotspots for man-made perils

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:38:22 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today revealed the UK’s hotspots for malicious damage, escape of water and accidental damage insurance claims.

How the use of advanced IT services in the financial sector can contribute to its recovery

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:35:07 +0100

Mikael Krohn, VP at EDB Business Partner, discusses how the use of IT services can aid the financial sector on its path to economic recovery.

Management buyout leads to major changes for business data supplier

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:16:48 +0100

Bosses at global business information provider CoCredo are making strategic changes to double turnover year-on-year after completing a management buyout.

Concerns for self employed as calls to debt helpline surge

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:39:10 +0100

The UK's leading debt charity, the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS), has expressed concern for those running their own businesses as there was a surge in calls from the self employed to its free debt helpline last month.

2009 Fraud Trends - Fraud continues to demonstrate impact of the recession

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:12:30 +0100

The analysis of fraud trends during 2009 by CIFAS - The UK's Fraud Prevention Service - reveals a 9% increase in the overall level of fraud, when compared with the previous year. This rise has been driven by some particular factors, most notably:

New ISO/IEC standard on risk assessment complements risk management toolbox

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:41:06 +0100

Two recently published ISO standards on risk management have just been joined by a third on risk assessment techniques. Together, they provide organizations of all types with a well-stocked toolbox for tackling situations that could affect the achievement of their objectives.

Political interference 'now the greatest risk facing the global banking industry'

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:35:38 +0100

The greatest risk now facing the banking industry is not financial but political, according to the latest ‘Banking Banana Skins’ survey conducted by the CSFI in association with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Creditsafe Creditnet offers German reports to the UK

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:35:22 +0100

Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, has announced the further expansion of Creditnet, its international credit referencing solution, to include detailed business information on over four million German businesses. This expansion means that Creditnet now offers information on over 90% of European companies.

Equifax appoints new marketing director

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:37:57 +0100

Leading credit, business and marketing information company, Equifax, has appointed a new Marketing Director, as it focuses on business growth emerging from the recession.

Creditsafe completes major re-brand

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:23:12 +0100

Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, has today announced the completion of its recent re-branding programme. The re-brand is part of an integrated strategy to help democratise the credit referencing sector, and is underpinned by the new tag line - Simply Smarter.

Atradius reinforces information exchange as way out of recession

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:38:24 +0100

Leading trade credit insurer Atradius has reinforced the need for a clear exchange of information between stakeholders to strengthen the UK’s business economy and expedite recovery.

Financial Services Bill passes final stage in Commons

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:34:38 +0100

Monday’s report stage and third reading of the Financial Services Bill in the House of Commons was strongly welcomed by the Resolution Foundation. We welcome the cross-party support given to the importance of education and support to consumers when it comes to financial decisions.

Outdated financial records could lead to further credit crisis for UK businesses

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:39:14 +0100

Despite evidence that the UK economy is now out of recession, npower is warning that out of date financial records could prolong financial instability for many UK businesses. This is likely to impact credit ratings, reducing businesses’ access to finance and essential supplies, like energy.

UK Economy comes out of recession

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:41:43 +0100

Figures just released by the Office for National Statistics has shown that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased 0.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with a decrease of 0.2 per cent in the third quarter. The rise in output was due to growths in services and production.

Lenders urged to review data protection measures as ICO granted new powers

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:39:45 +0100

Lenders are being warned to urgently review data protection measures ahead of the introduction of new powers for the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on 6 April 2010.

Record fraud in 2009 closes out the 'naughty Noughties'

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:48:38 +0100

The 2000s were a decade of fraud, according to KPMG Forensic's Fraud Barometer, reaching a peak in 2009 when a record £1.3bn of cases came to court.

CIFAS - Comment on today's National Fraud Authority Report

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:59:31 +0100

Commenting on the publication of The National Fraud Authority’s Annual Fraud Indicator, the Chief Executive of CIFAS – The UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, Peter Hurst said:

Callcredit: response to today's National Fraud Authority report

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:18:27 +0100

Callcredit Information Group’s response to NFA’s findings: fraud losses cost the UK £30bn a year and some 58% of fraud is in the public sector. Jan Smith, Director of Industry Relations at Callcredit Information Group comments:

Experian comments on UK fraud loss figures

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:46:54 +0100

Commenting on today figures from the National Fraud Authority on the true extent of the UK’s £30bn fraud loss, Nick Mothershaw, Director of Fraud & Identity Solutions at Experian, says: “The figures released from the National Fraud Authority (NFA) revealing the new cost of fraud in the UK reaffirms our own data which shows that the fraud threat posed in the current economic climate is very real, especially in the financial services sector.

Experian enhances customer insight with latest real-time data service

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:07:30 +0100

Experian, the global information services company, today launched an enhanced version of its Triggers notification service, to help UK lenders identify and respond to changes in their customers’ financial circumstances.

OFT warns of deadline for anti-money laundering registration

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:09:47 +0100

Estate agents and certain consumer credit lenders must register under anti-money laundering regulations before 31 January 2010 to avoid breaking the law, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has warned.

Experian appoints telecoms market head for EMEA

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:05:27 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, has announced the appointment of Tim Barber as Telecoms Market Director for EMEA.

Thomson Reuters Unveils Risk Management Solution for Islamic Banking

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:45:04 +0100

Thomson Reuters today announced the launch of a risk management system specifically tailored for Islamic banking. Kondor+ Suite for Islamic Banking is a real time trade and risk management solution, which will provide full front-to-back and cross-asset coverage for Islamic banks as well as Islamic windows in conventional banks.

Begbies Traynor Red Flag Alert

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:15:56 +0100

Red Flag Alert is a monitor of early warning signs of company distress by Begbies Traynor, the UK’s leading business rescue, recovery and restructuring specialist. The latest report focussing on Q4 2009 released today contains the following headlines:

UK recovery reliant on a roaring trade with the tiger economies

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:42:06 +0100

The UK economy has moved out of a decade of debt and into a decade of painful readjustment, according to the latest Ernst & Young ITEM Club quarterly forecast, released today. After years of relying on domestic spending and borrowing the economy now needs to rebalance towards saving and exporting, or risk stagnating.

UK government must support contract bonds for exporters

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:25:16 +0100

The UK government is failing exporters by refusing to underwrite the issue of bonds needed to win overseas orders and guarantee the performance of export contracts, according to Susan Ross - Aon Trade Credit director and chair of the British Exporters Association (BExA).

BPP Business School to run 3 day Principles of Fraud course in January

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:34:39 +0100

BPP is running a 3 day ‘Principles of Fraud examination’ short course between 25th – 27th January 2010 at its business school in the city of London.

Chadwick appointed to drive Aon Manchester business

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:59:31 +0100

Aon, Manchester’s leading insurance broker and risk adviser, has appointed Kelvin Chadwick as sales director to lead the commercial sales effort and build on three years of strong revenue growth for the branch.

Experian and I-SEC to provide document checking technology for the fight against fraud

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:55:18 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, and I-SEC Technologies, a global leader in identity document authentication and management, have announced a partnership to provide document checking technology, commonly used in airports, to private and public sector organisations in the UK.

Data breaches to incur up to Â£500,000 penalty

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:43:23 +0100

New powers, designed to deter personal data security breaches, are expected to come into force on 6 April 2010. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) will be able to order organisations to pay up to £500,000 as a penalty for serious breaches of the Data Protection Act.

FINCAD and SAS to Provide Banks with Enterprise Risk Management and Independent Valuations

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:09:20 +0100

FINCAD®, the trusted provider of derivatives analytics to leading global banks, and SAS, the leader in business analytics software and services, today announced the two companies have formalized an alliance to provide a solution for banks to address their enterprise risk management and independent valuation needs.

Thomson Reuters Goes Live with New Market Data Delivery Solution for TSE Arrowhead

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:59:50 +0100

Thomson Reuters today announced the live launch of a market data delivery solution for the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s new Arrowhead Platform. Clients saw flawless performance from Thomson Reuters direct and consolidated feeds so that they could immediately take full advantage of the increased performance and access to full depth of order book data provided by the Exchange.

Number of internet users now banking online exceeds 50% for the first time ever

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:12:47 +0100

With the continuing increase in the popularity of banking ‘remotely’ - either online or over the phone - Financial Fraud Action UK has published an updated security advice guide - Advice for phone and online banking users.

Small, young firms 'least likely to fail' says new research

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:28:35 +0100

Convention that dictates ‘big’ is better when it comes to withstanding insolvency is not born out by the facts, according to the credit insurer, Euler Hermes UK.

Fraud breaks the 2 billion pound barrier

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:51:29 +0100

Reported fraud in the UK exploded in 2009 and broke the £2billion barrier for the first time according to new research from accountants and business advisers BDO LLP. The amount lost by businesses and the public sector to larger frauds increased last year by a startling 76 per cent during the recession, with both the number and size of frauds increasing dramatically.

Hometrack awarded contract to supply Santander Group with valuation and risk services

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:35:08 +0100

Hometrack Data Systems, the UK's leading supplier of automated valuations, announced today that it has been awarded a broad ranging UK service contract to supply the Santander Group with valuation and risk information.

Equifax introduces superior credit scoring power for consumer lenders

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:02:32 +0100

Leading credit intelligence expert, Equifax, is addressing the challenges currently facing the consumer credit market. By thinking differently, Equifax has identified a new approach to using credit bureau data, with a new range of scoring products that set the benchmark for credit decisioning.

Macey-Dare returns to Marsh to lead International Political Risk and Structured Credit business

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:34:40 +0100

Marsh, the world’s leading insurance broker and risk adviser, has appointed Julian Macey-Dare as International Leader of its Political Risk and Structured Credit Practice.

FSA fines Northern Ireland mortgage firm for failing to prevent fraud

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:08:57 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has fined County Down mortgage intermediary Case Funding Centre (CFC) £35,000 for failures which led to at least 16 fraudulent mortgage applications being submitted to lenders.

Treasury Committee publishes response to pre-budget report

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:55:03 +0100

The Treasury Committee, which today publishes its report on the 2009 Pre-Budget Report, calls for greater Government clarity on its plans to reduce the structural deficit.

Avoiding the 'Seven Deadly Sins' of Online Fraud

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:50:24 +0100

Ori Eisen, Chief Innovation Officer at 41st Parameter, highlights seven 'online sins' which, if addressed, can deter the use of stolen credit cards and reduce identity theft and fraud. By addressing these points, companies transacting online can reduce the threat of fraudulent purchases or unauthorised account access and ensure a safer experience for their legitimate customers.

Total UK personal debt

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:52:57 +0100

Total UK personal debt at the end of November 2009 stood at £1,459bn. The twelve-month growth was 0.7%.

Learning and Skills Councill Chief Executive to Lead New Skills Agency

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:06:17 +0100

Learning and Skills Council Chief Executive Geoff Russell has today been appointed as the first Chief Executive of the new Skills Funding Agency.

Capital support from shareholder will help Coface to reinforce its commitment to customers

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:21:44 +0100

Capital support from shareholders will help Coface to reinforce its commitment to its customers in the recovery phase which is on the way.

FLA responds to credit searches report

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:38:21 +0100

Responding to the Treasury Select Committee report on credit searches that was published today, Fiona Hoyle, Head of Consumer Finance at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said:

The Commons Treasury Committee Report calls for investigation into credit market

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:34:31 +0100

The Commons Treasury Committee today publishes its report on credit searches, which calls on the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to investigate the fairness of this part of the credit market.

Small uplift in electoral roll registrations reported as Equifax uploads 2009 Data

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:14:57 +0100

Leading credit and business information specialist, Equifax, is currently collecting the 2009 electoral roll data from all the UK’s local councils to upload to its consumer credit database on January 1st 2010.

Compulsory liquidations cost UK plc Â£887 million

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:01:00 +0100

New research shows that companies entering compulsory liquidation owed monies totalling at least £887 million over the last year. Analysis by CreditPal, a new free online accounting service for Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs), reveals the cumulative debt of the 5,865 businesses in England and Wales that entered into compulsory liquidation in the twelve months from October 2008 - September 2009.

DecisionMetrics launches 'Recession Scores'

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:19:17 +0100

DecisionMetrics, (part of Callcredit Information Group), has lunched 'Recession Scores', to help lenders make more accurate decisions designed to protect consumers who may have suffered financially during the recession.

Bridge Business Recovery appointed to find buyer for The Health Lottery

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:41:41 +0100

Insolvency experts Bridge Business Recovery have begun the task of finding a suitable buyer for the Altala Group Ltd, the company behind the proposed Health Lottery, after it was placed in administration earlier this month.

Business confidence hits a two year high

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:01:00 +0100

Lloyds TSB's six monthly Business in Britain survey shows that British businesses are now more confident than at any point in the past two years, and are hopeful of a revival of fortunes in 2010 - although they remain cautious about the challenges that lie ahead - according to the latest Business in Britain survey from Lloyds TSB Commercial.

Equifax backs ICM call for crackdown on fraud

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:59:00 +0100

There probably hasn’t been a worse time for fraudulent transactions to hit a business - it is the last thing a company will want to deal with and could severely destabilise their finances while being rectified if it doesn’t send them under in the first place! Leading fraud prevention expert, Equifax, is therefore welcoming the Institute of Credit Management’s (ICM) call for new measures and tighter controls to combat corporate fraud.

Comment from EDB Business Partner on the changing focus in 2010 for banks and financial institutions

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:29:22 +0100

According to Mikael Krohn, VP at EDB Business Partner, the last year has been an incredibly volatile time in the world of risk management, however, it has also been the year when risk management was thrust firmly onto the agenda and became of crucial importance for global banks and commercial lenders.

CallMonitor Expanded to Include New Datasets

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:50:26 +0100

Credit Reference Agency Callcredit has today announced that it is further enhancing its award-winning daily alerts solution, CallMonitor. These upgrades are part of a continuous programme and will enable financial institutions to make quicker and more informed decisions about their customers throughout the credit lifecycle.

Action taken after details of 110,000 individuals are stolen

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:58:49 +0100

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has found Verity Trustees Ltd to be in breach of the Data Protection Act after the Trustees reported the theft of a laptop computer containing the names, addresses, dates of birth, salaries and national insurance numbers of around 110,000 individuals.

Action taken after tenants' personal files go missing

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:55:16 +0100

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has found the Orbit Heart of England Housing Association to be in breach of the Data Protection Act after 57 paper files containing personal data went missing during an office move.

FSA strengthens stress testing regime

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:41:02 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has strengthened its stress testing regime by requiring firms to improve their stress testing capability, enhance their capital planning stress testing and by introducing a reverse stress testing requirement for firms.

Aon Trade Credit comment on government's closure of top-up credit insurance to new applications

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:00:04 +0100

Susan Ross, director of Aon Trade Credit - the UK's largest credit insurance broker - and chair of the British Exporters' Association, comments on the Government's announcement that it is closing the top-up credit insurance to new applications.

Wall Street and the City reject reform but accept blame for crisis

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:42:52 +0100

Early findings of a global risk management survey which asks finance professionals what they think caused the banking crisis and what should be done about it, reveals that the City and Wall Street will not accept any measures to reform despite admitting blame for the financial crisis.

Skipton's Callcredit Information Group sale heralds future full of opportunity

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:44:45 +0100

Skipton Building Society today announces the successful sale of its majority stake in credit reference and marketing services subsidiary Callcredit Information Group (CIG), in a deal signalling positive opportunities for both businesses.

List Group launches FMR Grid for simultaneous analysis of risk across asset classes

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:24:46 +0100

List Group, the independent electronic trading provider behind 15 of Europe’s electronic markets, today launched its standard alone grid computing platform, FMR Grid. The powerful platform enables financial institutions to conduct complex risk analysis simultaneously across asset classes, significantly improving risk management performance and effectiveness.

Survey Uncovers Business Leaders' Predictions for Economic Recovery;

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:48:28 +0100

This week, international trade credit insurer Atradius, based in Hunt Valley, MD, released its Global Economic Crisis Survey based on more than 3,500 interviews with executives and senior managers from companies in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The survey was designed to learn business leaders' views on current economic indicators, including:

UK commercial property debt stands at Â£224bn as defaults double to Â£30bn

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:53:03 +0100

The commercial property lending boom is over and the market is taking its first tentative steps on the long road to recovery.

New Equifax Solution Helps Businesses Reduce Losses, Improve Profitability

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:32:39 +0100

Equifax Inc. has announced the launch of a new solution that gives companies increased control over the risk management of business customers as well as suppliers.

Saffron Building Society to launch online account application service with Experian

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:23:16 +0100

Saffron Building Society has selected Experian, the global information services company, to authenticate new savings account applications quickly and efficiently, as it prepares to launch its new online account opening service. The move reflects Saffron’s increasing multi-channel focus as it seeks to grow its customer base through its online services.

Online business network created for credit managers - CreditPal and ICM offer discounts for members

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:19:08 +0100

CreditPal, the new online credit reference service, provides the solution for the 9 out of 10 credit managers who state that up-to-date validated management accounts are “valuable” or “very valuable” when making credit decisions.

Equifax joins the London New Year's Day parade

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:26:44 +0100

Leading instant online credit information provider, Equifax, is aiming to help consumers better manage their finances in 2010 as a co-sponsor of London’s New Year’s Day Parade and Festival.

Head office staff made redundant at Borders (UK) Ltd

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:05:25 +0100

Joint administrators Phil Duffy, Geoff Bouchier and David Whitehouse of MCR, have announced that a total of 36 employees based at the London head office of Borders (UK) Ltd have today been made redundant.

Total UK personal debt

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:20:43 +0100

Total UK personal debt at the end of October 2009 stood at £1,458bn. The twelve-month growth rate fell to 0.7%.

Pickpockets and thieves target more than your wallet

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:18:39 +0100

As the festive shopping period hits top speed, the dangers of the season are ones no consumer can afford to ignore.

Banks 'Still Not Lending', Centric Commercial Finance Survey Reveals

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:51:28 +0100

65% of corporate financial advisers have stated that the 'the banks are not lending', according to an independent survey commissioned by Centric Commercial Finance. 72% said that cash flow was proving to be their clients' biggest challenge. Disappointingly, 56% of respondents claim that banks have removed or are restricting clients' facilities.

As Cyber Monday looms, Adeptra surveys UK and US attitudes to suspected fraud

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:10:31 +0100

In the run up to Cyber Monday, an Adeptra survey of 400 British and American consumers, reveals that American consumers take greater steps than the British to avoid becoming a victim of financial fraud, checking their bank and card statements more frequently.

Equifax helps businesses face up to fraud

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:04:41 +0100

In research conducted for National Identity Fraud Prevention Week this month, Equifax revealed a lack of awareness, among business owners, regarding some of the most prevalent types of corporate fraud. In response to this trend, Equifax is launching an updated version of its Corporate Identity Fraud Guide, offering businesses expert help and advice on understanding and tackling the risks.

Bureau van Dijk brings new data and products to Online 2010

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:51:22 +0100

Bureau van Dijk (BvD), a leading publisher of company information and business intelligence, will be showing its enhanced product range at this year’s Online Information exhibition at London’s Olympia. Enhancements cover both data and products.

Government to implement Walker reforms on pay and governance

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:01:00 +0100

The Government will move quickly to implement the reforms of bank pay and governance proposed today by Sir David Walker.

Atradius survey reveals what British businesses really think about the economic crisis

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:16:19 +0100

Atradius, the leading trade credit insurer, has surveyed 3500 businesses around the world on how they have been impacted by the economic crisis and their views on the future. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the British have a less favourable view in many respects than their foreign counterparts. Key findings were as follows:

Almost a third of job losses are the result of company liquidations

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:05:20 +0100

New research shows that the last year has seen an estimated 164,000 people in England and Wales lose their jobs as their employer has gone into liquidation. With the number of unemployed rising by 569,000 over this period, liquidations account for 29% of the total increase.

Automotive finance and insurance fraud leap in third quarter

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:52:48 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today launched the first Experian Fraud Index, a new quarterly data update highlighting the evolving nature of the fraud threat facing the UK’s financial services sector.

2009: Laptops are the Bank Robber's 'Weapon of Choice' - 2010: What's the fraudster's next target?

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:42:03 +0100

2009 has seen record numbers become victims of online fraud – whether through ID theft, unauthorised account access or Card-Not-Present fraud – and it appears, as we head towards a new year, criminals are getting bolder.

Credit information gap 'continuing to hamper recovery prospects'

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:33:10 +0100

A widening gap between the supply and demand for relevant up to date credit information relating to small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) is hampering the prospects for a sustained UK economic recovery says Graydon UK, a commercial credit agency.

FRSGlobal announces new version of RiskPro Credit Risk

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:13:18 +0100

FRSGlobal, the only global provider of risk and regulatory compliance solutions on a unified platform with coverage for over 40 countries, today announced the release of the latest version of its Credit Risk TNG module within its unified risk and profitability analysis solution, RiskPro, to help the banking, insurance and corporate sectors strengthen risk management insight.

Webroot alerts online shoppers to holiday cyber threats

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:53:21 +0100

Data-Stealing malware is on the rise as consumers plan to buy more gifts online this year.

New ISO standard for effective management of risk

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:31:50 +0100

A new International Standard, ISO 31000:2009, Risk management – Principles and guidelines, will help organizations of all types and sizes to manage risk effectively.

Aon Limited appoints new UK chief operating officer

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:57:28 +0100

Aon Limited, the UK’s leading risk and insurance firm, has appointed Simon Allen as chief operating officer, subject to FSA approval. He will also sit on the Aon Limited board.

Norwich & Peterborough awards new contract to Equifax

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:59:34 +0100

Norwich & Peterborough Building Society (N&P), has extended its current partnership with leading credit risk management expert, Equifax. The new four year deal strengthens the longstanding relationship between N&P and Equifax – the two companies have been working together for almost 15 years – and will see Equifax delivering a range of solutions to support N&P’s continued focus on the consumer mortgage and banking markets.

Leading Meals-on-Wheels supplier in Administration

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:29:07 +0100

Philip Duffy and Steven Muncaster of insolvency practice MCR, have been appointed Joint Administrators of a leading supplier of meals-on-wheels food to local social services departments across the UK.

New buyer rating tool benefits Atradius customers

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:50:15 +0100

Customers of leading trade credit insurer Atradius will now benefit from the addition of Atradius Buyer Ratings, a bespoke tool developed to help them to accurately assess both risks and opportunities within their buyer portfolio. As a special launch offer, all existing Atradius policy holders will be offered the product free of charge.

Bad debt Britain: nine out of ten UK companies record a rise in bad debt

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:52:41 +0100

New research just published by Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, reveals that 91% of UK companies have seen an increase in defaulted payments from creditors in the last 12 months.

The Government welcomed the news of an increase of 6,000 people in work this quarter

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:19:03 +0100

The Government welcomed the news of an increase of 6,000 people in work this quarter, although figures published by the Office for National Statistics also show that ILO (International Labour Organisation) unemployment has risen more slowly than many expected. At 30,000 this quarter’s rise is the lowest in more than a year. ILO unemployment is 2.46 million (7.8%), reinforcing the fact that the UK labour market is performing better than most major economies.

Exact approved by the FSA

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:51:15 +0100

Exact has today confirmed that its application to be regulated by the FSA has been approved.

Low earners pushed closer to crisis by recession

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:22:48 +0100

The recession risks driving the UK’s 14.3 million low earners closer to crisis as the downturn compounds their already vulnerable position. This is particularly true for the 7.2 million working low earners who will continue to be exposed to job loss long after the recession is technically over.

Statement on money laundering controls in overseas jurisdictions

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:31:13 +0100

This notice constitutes advice issued by HM Treasury about risks posed by unsatisfactory money laundering controls in a number of jurisdictions.

NEOVIA Financial Implementing Solutions From Actimize For Enhanced Card And Banking Fraud Prevention

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:43:00 +0100

Actimize, a NICE Systems company and the largest and broadest financial crime, compliance and risk management solutions provider to the financial services industry, today announced its Remote Banking and Card Fraud prevention solutions are being implemented by NEOVIA Financial Plc (LSE: NEO), a leading global online payments business.

Top statistician takes up new role at the University of East Anglia

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:46:13 +0100

Highly-regarded statistician Elena Kulinskaya has been appointed as the first Aviva Chair in Statistics at the University of East Anglia (UEA).

Telcos' data breach notification amendment is passed

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:52:42 +0100

The European Council has approved a data breach notification rule for Europe's telecoms firms. The amendment to an EU Directive will force telcos to tell customers if they lose their data.

BBC Watchdog: suspected breaches involving passports

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:48:55 +0100

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has been contacted by the BBC programme 'Watchdog' about data security problems uncovered in the Home Office passport service. Mick Gorrill, Assistant Information Commissioner, has issued a statement on the story, which aired on the 5 November 2009.

New measures to strengthen the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:43:46 +0100

The level of authorisation required by local authorities to sign off investigatory techniques will be raised to prevent them being used for trivial matters.

MCR Launches New Fraud Investigations Team

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:47:37 +0100

A new fraud investigation team comprised of dedicated, expert forensic services to the private and public sectors, has been launched by corporate insolvency and restructuring firm MCR.

CIBC selects FRSGlobal's liquidity solution

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:41:02 +0100

FRSGlobal today announced that Canadian bank; Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) has chosen FRSGlobal's liquidity solution. The combination of FRSGlobal's stress testing and regulatory reporting will enable the firm to monitor, manage and report liquidity as well as build and develop a library of stress tests in accordance with the FSA’s requirements. ...

Equifax Tackles E-Mail Accuracy with eConnectAppend

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:51:43 +0100

The benefits of email marketing are clear, offering marketers significant costs savings, as well as a fast and highly responsive approach to customer communication. However, to date, customer management by email has proven difficult to implement due to a lack of accurate and available email addresses.

Nationwide responds to Treasury Select Committee review of credit search market

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:18:46 +0100

We are delighted that the Treasury Select Committee is looking at the impact of multiple credit searches on consumers as part of its investigation into the credit search sector.

Newcastle-under-Lyme accountancy firm prosecuted

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:57:15 +0100

The failure to pay a £35 fee has led a local firm to incur fines and costs totalling £1776.40. Moores Chartered Management Accountants, a local accountancy firm, has been prosecuted by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for offences under the Data Protection Act.

Financial Sector fraud could hit Â£1 billion in next two years

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:28:34 +0100

Financial sector fraud could hit £1 billion in the next two years as the full effect of the recession is realised, a mortgage fraud specialist has warned. The level of reported fraud in the sector in 2007 was £37million, increasing to £388 million last year. Mortgage fraud accounted for £4m in 2007, £36m in 2008 and this is likely to treble in the next 12 months.

Increases in fraud reveal a bleak landscape across UK

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:21:56 +0100

At the end of the third quarter of 2009, data provided by the 260 Member organisations of CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, proves that fraud continues its inexorable rise.

Credit where credit is due

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:31:46 +0100

The importance of your business having a healthy and accurate credit score has significantly increased with the heightened financial pressure of the economic downturn, according to Steve Manwaring, Director at corporate restructuring and insolvency specialists, MCR.

Leading employers get on board to drive new FSSC strategy

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:07:02 +0100

Following the recent appointment of Liz Field as Interim Chief Executive, the Financial Services Skills Council (FSSC) today announced that Legal & General’s Adrian Clark and Santander’s Bernadette Brown are to join its board of directors. These senior level employer appointments are made as the Council begins to implement its new approach, developed in consultation with the industry.

Recession getting worse for low earners

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:08:56 +0100

Despite recent talk of return to growth, today’s ONS figures show that the recession is far from over for low earners with larger declines in overall growth in key low earner industries compared with the previous quarter.

London leads the property recovery - RICS latest Commercial Property Survey for Q3 2009.

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:43:53 +0100

A positive majority of surveyors in the UK are now reporting rising enquiries and lettings activity for the first time in over 2 years, with London leading the commercial property recovery says, RICS' latest Commercial Property Survey.

Banking industry warns about a growing card fraud scam

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:08:50 +0100

Financial Fraud Action UK, the voice of the industry for financial fraud matters, today (21 October 2009) advised about the recent rise in popularity of an old-style phone scam. The fraudsters dupe unsuspecting cardholders into handing over their card and revealing their PIN by pretending to be from either their bank, card company, or even the police.

Equifax launches Switchers

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:16:31 +0100

Understanding what triggers a consumer to look for a new product or service and targeting them at the right time can be complex. To help consumer marketers tackle this challenge, leading marketing services provider, Equifax, has launched Equifax Switchers - a new addition to the range of alerts and triggers within ConnectSelect, Equifax’s consumer marketing database.

Formicary launches new version of Riskseer to transform and improve risk management processes

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:03:50 +0100

Formicary, a specialist technology integration company for the financial services industry, has launched the latest version of RiskSeer - its integrated Independent Price Verification application.

Nearly half of homebuyers struggle to get a good mortgage first time round

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:57:34 +0100

The latest survey from leading instant online credit information provider, Equifax, reveals that the difficulty in getting a good mortgage deal at first request is still a major issue for the home buying market.

Business failures peak in sight but recovery 'will be two-speed'

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:12:07 +0100

Despite more than one in 60 businesses going bust this year, the rise in total business failures is set to end early in 2010 as the UK economy returns to growth and financial strain on businesses eases, according to the latest Industry Watch report by accountants and business advisors, BDO LLP.

Three in four 'dodgy' directors go unpunished

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:05:32 +0100

R3, the trade body for Insolvency Professionals, is calling for the Insolvency Service to be allocated greater resources to pursue more cases referred to them by Insolvency Practitioners (IPs). Last year, out of the 4,752 referrals by IPs, the Insolvency Service disqualified 1,252 directors, or about 26%. Six years ago 45% of directors were disqualified.

Record number of tax refund scam emails reported

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:10:00 +0100

A record 83,000 scam emails offering fake tax refunds were reported to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in September. The online attacks, known as ‘phishing’, have continued this month, with an unprecedented 10,000 reports of the fraud made to HMRC on one day alone.

Creditsafe completes website redevelopment

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:25:54 +0100

Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, has today announced the completion of its £500,000 website redevelopment, which with improved functionality and data gives its customers a radically enhanced experience while retaining the system’s renowned intuitive easy to use interface.

Flexibility and agility 'required to succeed post-credit crunch'

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:34:10 +0100

Speaking at the ICAEW’s Finance Director’s conference, Rodger Hill, Head of Financial Management at KPMG said:

UK recovery still fragile, though unemployment rises are slowing

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:26:43 +0100

Commenting on the labour market figures published today by the ONS, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Unemployment rate rises to 7.9% for 3 months to August

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:23:38 +0100

According to new figures just issued by the Office for National Statistics, the employment rate and the number of people in employment have fallen. The number of vacancies is unchanged.

London Metropolitan Business School and Risk Specialists collaborate to produce risk solutions

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:15:47 +0100

The recent financial crisis has weakened the UK economy and left shareholders and the public unsure of what actions are necessary to avoid worsening the downturn. Suddenly people are demanding more reliable measuring and reporting of the risks that organisations take in order to justify their salaries and bonuses.

Business failures drop quarter on quarter across the UK for the first time for over a year

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:28:26 +0100

Leading business information provider, Equifax, has released its Business Failures Report for the third quarter of 2009. Although year on year, there are still increases in failures in most sectors and regions of the UK, the number of businesses going under in Quarter 3 has dropped in every part of the country and every business sector compared to Quarter 2.

Recession raises fear of identity theft

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:05:25 +0100

Lloyds TSB has launched a campaign to raise awareness of ID theft, providing a range of advice on how to protect your identity.

FSA action highlights continuing employee fraud issues

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:15:51 +0100

Following the news that Seymour Pierce has been fined £154,000 by the UK's Financial Services Authority (FSA) for failing to prevent an employee stealing from the stockbroker and its clients, Actimize believes that the FSA's action highlights not only the need to monitor employees for evidence of fraudulent behaviour, but also the feasibility of such a program today.

97% of employees doubt businesses' ability to protect their customers from identity fraud

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:21:40 +0100

National Identity Fraud Prevention Week, the major annual awareness drive, begins today – and this year, campaign partners from across the public-private sector divide have come together to warn Britain’s businesses of the risk identity fraud poses to them, their employees, their customers and their suppliers.

HM Treasury announces call for evidence, to inform Review of Money Laundering Regulations 2007

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:51:31 +0100

HM Treasury has today published a call for evidence on the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and of the UK’s anti-money laundering policies and procedures under them. The Call is designed to help inform a review of the Regulations, and look at how effective and proportionate the UK’s anti-money laundering rules are.

The Anonymous Attacker:CIFAS releases Special Report into identity fraud and account takeover fraud

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:37:29 +0100

CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, in collaboration with a number of private and public sector bodies has released a report entitled The Anonymous Attacker today at the beginning of National Identity Fraud Prevention Week. The Anonymous Attacker combines research, statistics, maps, prevention tips, case studies, and opinion pieces on how consumers and businesses are affected by the twin threats of identity fraud and account takeover fraud.

Financial Fraud Action UK announces latest fraud figures

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:34:09 +0100

Financial Fraud Action UK, the voice of the industry for financial fraud matters, (previously known as APACS 3) today (7 October 2009) publishes the latest payment industry fraud losses for the first half of 2009, in conjunction with The UK Cards Association and the Cheque and Credit Clearing Company.

More victims of crime protecting themselves from identity fraud

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:43:12 +0100

While there are numerous products available to those whose identities have already been compromised, Protective Registration is a preventative measure for those who are victims of crime or at particular risk of identity fraud. With identity fraud one of the fastest growing crimes in the UK, it is no wonder that 19,100 individuals have taken out CIFAS Protective Registration in 2009 to date.

2014: the future of risk management according to Aon

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:27:25 +0100

Increased demand for in-house risk managers, ERM exploring opportunities and better risk data will characterise the future risk world, according to Aon, the leading global insurance broker and risk advisor.

CML responds to Bank's credit conditions survey

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:06:42 +0100

Responding to the publication of today's Bank of England Credit Conditions Survey, The Council of Mortgage Lenders' (CML) economist Paul Samter commented:

Company directors can now be better protected from ID fraud

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:59:20 +0100

Leading ID fraud expert, Equifax, is alerting Company Directors and Company Secretaries that they can better protect their personal address details as a result of the new Companies Act which came into force today.

Total UK personal debt

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:31:08 +0100

Total UK personal debt at the end of August 2009 stood at £1,457bn. The twelve-month growth rate continued to fall, by 0.1 percentage points to 0.8%.

Banks are Brought Down by Overblown Bureaucracies

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:56:54 +0100

Bureaucratic management systems that enable executives to take risks without responsibility are largely to blame for the economic crisis, according to a new study funded by the Advanced Institute of Management Research (AIM Research). Poor risk management was at the heart of the sub-prime meltdown in 2007, can be blamed for Lehman Brothers' failure and it continues to haunt the banks today.

Creditsafe Creditnet expands into Spain and Norway

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:03:11 +0100

Creditsafe, the business credit information experts, has announced the expansion of Creditnet, its international credit referencing solution, to include companies from Spain and Norway. The expansion means that instant credit reports are now available to Creditsafe subscribers for businesses through most of Europe.

EC Public Hearing on 'Responsible Lending and Borrowing'

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:34:26 +0100

A Public Hearing has now followed up the EU Consultation on Responsible Lending and Borrowing which closed at the end of August.

Businesses need to be prepared for Companies House data

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:25:53 +0100

1st October 2009 sees the final changes to The Companies Act 2006 which received Royal Assent on 8th November 2006, effectively replacing existing company legislation. This includes several significant changes to the data to be held on Company Directors at Companies House.

As cheque usage falls, payments industry publishes important security reminders

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:28:51 +0100

In response to the fact that we are using cheques less often than ever before, the Cheque and Credit Clearing Company has today published a reminder guide to help people avoid common pitfalls and safeguard themselves from fraud when writing and receiving cheques.

Yodlee Fights Online Payment Fraud Using Actimize

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:16:51 +0100

Yodlee, a leading provider of personal financial management (PFM) and payments solutions, today announced that following careful due diligence it has selected and partnered with Actimize, the largest and broadest financial crimes, compliance and risk management solutions provider to the financial services industry and a NICE systems company (NASDAQ: NICE), to integrate Actimize’s real-time fraud monitoring and prevention technology into Yodlee’s innovative online payments solutions.& ...

Draycir Launches Credit Guardian for SMEs

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:58:13 +0100

Credit Guardian launches to enable small and medium-sized businesses to make more informed business decisions to minimise the risk and impact of bad debt and late payment.

Top Ten Tips to Adopting A Healthy Approach to Risk

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:17:51 +0100

Craig Ferri, Managing Director at leading Risk and Decision Analysis Software Company Palisade, has listed his top ten tips to 'Adopting a Healthy Approach to Risk'.

Thales secures Global Refund's 16 million annual transactions and supports PCI DSS compliance

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:50:38 +0100

Thales, leader in information systems and communications security, announces that Global Refund has deployed Thales hardware security modules (HSMs) from the nCipher product line to help the company secure its financial transactions and achieve compliance under the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) for the sales tax refunds it delivers to 30,000 travellers each day.

Coface continues to play its role, supporting companies despite the crisis

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:53:31 +0100

The worsening of the credit crisis, starting in the fourth quarter of 2008, has dug into Coface's claims rate and has substantially affected its net profit, standing at a loss of €103m over the first half year of 2009. Coface* has nevertheless managed over this half year to:

0.5 per cent interest rates expected until at least Q4 2010

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:58:14 +0100

The Bank of England’s current policy of pumping currency into the economy and maintaining interest rates at 0.5 per cent is expected to continue until at least the final quarter of next year in order to balance low inflation and counter a likely increase in taxes, according to the latest Business Trends report by accountants and business advisers BDO Stoy Hayward LLP.

CCTA Granted 'Accredited Trade Association' Status by DVLA

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:51:51 +0100

The Consumer Credit Trade Association (CCTA) is proud and delighted to announce that it has been granted Accredited Trade Association status by the DVLA.

icenet partners with Sola To Expand Service To Short Term Lenders

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:45:35 +0100

Instalment lending software specialist, icenet has entered into apartnership arrangement with Sola Software a provider of application sourcing and integrated underwriting technology to jointly target the short term lending sector. ...

Switzerland agrees to exchange tax data

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:04:27 +0100

A Protocol delivering comprehensive exchange of information up to OECD and international tax standards between Switzerland and the UK, which covers UK taxes of all kinds, was signed in London today by The Financial Secretary to the Treasury, the Right Honourable Stephen Timms MP and the Swiss Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Alexis P Lautenberg.

Recovery has started but economy still faces huge risks

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:59:29 +0100

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today published its September 2009 Economic Forecast. Despite a further downward revision in GDP expectations for this year, the BCC is more upbeat about economic growth in 2010, and has reduced its forecast for peak unemployment.

APS selects Equifax to help grow pre-paid business

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:20:00 +0100

Leading anti-money laundering expert, Equifax, has signed a significant new three year deal to become first choice supplier of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) ID verification solutions to Advanced Payment Solutions (APS), the UK’s leading pre-paid card issuer.

Motor finance fraud down as industry prevents Â£60m+ fraudulent deals

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:24:11 +0100

The motor finance industry helped cut cases of motor finance fraud by 29% in the second quarter of 2009, despite an increase in attempted fraud.

Merger creates largest anti-financial crime vendor - Actimize and Fortent

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:10:27 +0100

NICE and Actimize today announced a $73.5M acquisition of Fortent, a UK founded pioneer of modern statistical-based Anti Money Laundering and Financial Crime solutions to financial institutions, including 15 of the world's 30 largest financial firms, and government agencies.

Taking the initiative in the fight against mobile phone crime

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:42:04 +0100

Action to prevent criminals abusing new mobile phone technology, which allows them to be used like debit, credit and pre-pay cards, has been agreed by the Government, mobile phone and card payments industries, Home Office Minister Alan Campbell announced today.

2,460 manufacturers to go out of business in 2009

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:26:58 +0100

Manufacturing output remains significantly below pre-recession levels and there will be a high of 2,460 business failures in 2009, compared to the 1,600 recorded in 2008, according to the latest Industry Watch report by accountants and business advisors, BDO Stoy Hayward LLP.

Insider fraud on the increase

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:54:15 +0100

Analysis of the staff frauds filed during the 12 months from July 2008 to June 2009 reveal some interesting shifts in the frauds identified by Members of the CIFAS Staff Fraud Database. Of particular note are:

Half a million more working-age people in workless households

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:48:33 +0100

The number of working-age people in workless households in April-June 2009 was 4.8 million, up 500,000 on a year earlier, figures from the Labour Force Survey show. The number of children in workless households rose by 170,000 to 1.9 million.

Travelling abroad? Be aware of cross-border fraud

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:37:12 +0100

This summer, as British travellers prepare to spend their summer holidays exploring some of the more economically attractive parts of Europe, they’d better pack credit cards from banks using the most advanced fraud management solutions. Otherwise, they may find themselves victims of fraud – or stranded without access to cash.

Â£41m fraud hits building society

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:08:38 +0100

The Chelsea Building Society has revealed it has lost £41m ($67m) as a result of mortgage frauds involving some of its buy-to-let loans.

Changes to the Government's Trade Credit Insurance Top-up Scheme.

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:39:44 +0100

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) have announced further changes to the Government’s Trade Credit Insurance Top-up Scheme.

'New criteria for credit insurance scheme good news but it's still failing to hit the mark'

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:53:42 +0100

Commenting on news that the Government has widened criteria and dropped charges for its trade credit insurance scheme Edward Rimmer, chief executive at leading independent invoice financier Bibby Financial Services, said:

Recession sparks 300% increase in business monitoring

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:36:45 +0100

Equifax has seen the use of some of its business monitoring alerts increase threefold in the past year. Equifax believes this phenomenal rise demonstrates that businesses have really switched on to the importance of staying up to date with the status of customers and suppliers, in order to protect cash flow and safeguard against bad debt.

TDX Group signs British Gas residential contract

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:14:53 +0100

British Gas has embarked upon a four-year relationship with TDX Group, the UK’s leading provider of analytics-based debt management products and solutions. The relationship will see TDX Group manage British Gas’ late final debts following British Gas’ own internal customer recovery treatments of its residential customers.

Callcredit Information Group strengthens management team

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:39:02 +0100

After a successful year of continued organic growth credit and marketing services company Callcredit Information Group has appointed two new recruits to its senior management team.

EDB comment on the recent Tower Group report

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:12:49 +0100

Mikael Krohn, VP of EDB Business Partner, said: "A recent TowerGroup report shows that risk management allocation of FSIs' total global IT spending is predicted to rise from 6.5 per cent in 2009 to almost 7 per cent by 2012, pointing towards a better understanding of the critical importance of expert operational and strategic risk management.

Marsh launches trade credit insurance service to help firms maintain cover during recession

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:54:24 +0100

As UK companies continue to encounter problems renewing their trade credit cover, Marsh, the world’s leading insurance broker and risk adviser, has launched a new service to help these organisations stabilise or improve the credit limits issued by insurers. The service will enable companies to continue trading effectively with suppliers and customers during the recession.

Financial worries of festival goers

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:49:18 +0100

Whether you’re basking in glorious sunshine or up to your knees in mud, festivals have always been a place to unwind and listen to your favourite bands. But chilling out and not being as vigilant as you should be at festivals has lead to music fans falling victim to financial criminals.

Labour Market Statistical Bulletin - ONS

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:24:54 +0100

The summary of the latest briefing note for Labour Market Statistical Bulletin from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), shows that the number of unemployed people, the unemployment rate and the claimant count have all increased, whilst the employment rate and the number of employed people have fallen.

Company liquidations up 39% since 2008

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:54:12 +0100

Today, 192.com, the UK’s leading people, business and place finder, announces the addition of Company Credit Reports to its new website making it the first directory to provide direct access to company credit risk scores online.

2Checkout.com Extends Commitment to 41st Parameter's Internet Fraud Detection Solutions

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:14:30 +0100

41st Parameter® Inc., the leading provider of fraud detection and prevention technology, today announced a three-year extension of services from 2Checkout.com (2CO), provider of turnkey e-commerce solutions and payment processing for approximately 40,000 businesses around the world.

Credit squeeze abates as businesses find it easier to get new loans - CBI

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:08:06 +0100

Businesses are finding it easier to obtain new credit for the first time this year, and expect the situation to improve at a similar rate over the coming three months, the CBI said today (Monday).

Phil Jenks joins Exact

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:14:22 +0100

Phil Jenks, leading authority and one of the most respected and accomplished mortgage industry figures has joined Exact Mortgage Experts as Non-Executive Director.

Accountants reveal UK's recovery sectors

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:31:44 +0100

A study of 1,000 UK accountants, commissioned by independent Invoice and Asset Based Lender Venture Finance, has revealed professional services are topping a chart of recession recovery sectors as the least financially stressed group in the current economic conditions. The creative industries came second in the list, with the retail sector third.

Chancellor should raise QE programme ceiling to Â£180bn

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:26:53 +0100

Commenting on the choices facing the MPC today, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Co-operative Financial Services slashes credit card fraud rates with Adeptra Auto-resolution

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:23:36 +0100

Adeptra, the recognised leader in automated contact and resolution services to companies engaged in consumer credit and risk management, today announced that Co-operative Financial Services’ (CFS) adoption of its Auto-resolution technology to tackle fraud, has led to unrecoverable card fraud losses falling by 70%. Since implementation, CFS has reported a 35% reduction in fraud.

Bridge Business Recovery appointed joint administrators to Trak Group

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:06:25 +0100

James Bradney and Alex Cadwallader of Bridge Business Recovery have been named joint administrators to Trak Group, a privately-owned construction company based in Hemel Hempstead. The company was established in 1995 and carried out construction work within the leisure, residential, industrial and commercial sectors across the UK.

Pace of quantitative easing should be stepped up

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:51:01 +0100

Commenting ahead of the MPC’s August meeting next Thursday, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

OFT launches anti-money laundering registration

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:18:57 +0100

Registration starts today for businesses supervised by the OFT under Government anti-money laundering regulations which aim to reduce the possibility of legitimate businesses being used for money laundering or terrorist financing.

Fraud continues to leave a trail of damage

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:20:00 +0100

An analysis of fraud trends during the first half of 2009 reveals a continuing surge in fraudulent activity. The 260 organisations that are Members of CIFAS - The UK's Fraud Prevention Service - report:

Government action to tackle VAT fraud on carbon credits

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:02:59 +0100

The UK Government today introduced legislation to remove VAT from supplies of emissions allowances (also known as carbon credits) traded within the UK, in order to prevent the risk of VAT fraud, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Timms announced today.

Europe a fraud hotspot for British tourists

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:18:25 +0100

Independent research commissioned by credit reference agency Callcredit has revealed that a fifth of the UK population has fallen victim of identity fraud while on holiday. 9pc of those were defrauded while travelling in Europe and 8pc had their identity stolen while ‘staycationing’ in the UK.

Crackdown on car crime

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:56:07 +0100

Home Office Minister, Alan Campbell MP, will today visit the Association of Chief Police Officers’ Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (AVCIS) in Ryton, West Midlands after the Government agreed to provide £300,000 of funding to help combat car fraud and theft.

Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme falls short, says FLA

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:54:10 +0100

Commenting on today’s report by the Business and Enterprise Committee report on the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme, Julian Rose, Head of Asset Finance at the Finance & Leasing Association, said:

June '09 small business figures for the high street banks

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:46:25 +0100

Lending to small businesses rose by £391 million in June, whilst almost 50,000 new small business banking relationships were established. Deposits from small business grew by £577 million.

Bisnode divests operations in ICC

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:47:42 +0100

Bisnode has signed an agreement to divest its operations in credit solutions company ICC to D&B UK. ICC is a leading provider of business-critical information for risk and credit decision-making and operates in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

HML launches monthly mortgage data report

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:32:20 +0100

A new monthly data set and quarterly commentary to help mortgage investors and lenders understand the current risks in mortgage asset pools is being launched by HML Business Intelligence, the specialist modelling and analytics arm of HML. "The Mortgage Investor" report will provide mortgage lenders and investors with critical insights into the performance of live residential mortgage assets from origination to the current day.

CIFAS figures show ID theft by police force area

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:45:34 +0100

Figures from CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service provide evidence of the levels of identity theft and facility takeover frauds in police force areas in the UK.

MPC must increase quantitative easing programme

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:05:45 +0100

Commenting on the MPC minutes published today by the Bank of England, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

Cutting down fraudulent use of credit cards is just a phone call away

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:42:48 +0100

With an estimated one in three people affected by credit card fraud in the UK, a new anti fraud service which can cut down misuse by an estimated 80% is being launched.

New Credit Intelligence to Help Exporters Avoid Bad Debts

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:10:51 +0100

Exporters, looking for greater certainty when it comes to payment from prospective customers, can benefit from a new opinion service from Euler Hermes UK, the country's biggest credit insurer.

Some banks imposing blanket bans on pub and restaurant loans, warns FPB

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:07:19 +0100

The Forum of Private Business (FPB) today urged banks not to deny credit to its members simply because they run pubs or restaurants. The small business support and lobby group believes some banks may be automatically refusing loans to firms in the industry due to misplaced fears over their viability.

Business failures continue to rise year on year

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:26:27 +0100

Leading business information provider, Equifax, has released its Business Failures Report for the second quarter of 2009. As was the case with Quarter One, the year on year comparison is stark, with an overall increase in businesses going bust hitting nearly 40%.

Take home pay shows growth for the first time in six months

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:43:00 +0100

The VocaLink Take Home Pay Index, released today, shows the first signs of growth in pay levels after six back-to-back months of decline.

Baseline Capital rebranded to HML Business Intelligence

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:10:43 +0100

HML, the financial outsourcing provider, has announced it has rebranded its Baseline Capital subsidiary as HML Business Intelligence with immediate effect. The announcement comes 6 months after HML acquired the company, which provides residential mortgage data analysis and performance metrics.

IGI Insurance targets growth with senior business development recruit

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:07:17 +0100

Specialist UK general insurer, IGI Insurance, has signed up Steve Devine, chairman of Protect, the association of UK creditor insurers, to spearhead a move into the payment protection market. Mr Devine will also be responsible for growing the company’s established GAP insurance and warranty business.

Worst of recession is over but recovery is not guaranteed

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:01:31 +0100

The results of the Quarter 2, 2009 British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Economic Survey confirm that the worst of the recession is over.

Data from 5,600 companies shows welcome progress in both the manufacturing and service sectors with most key indicators improving in the last quarter. However, almost all the critical measures remain in negative territory and many are still weak by historical standards.

ICO response to report by the Campaign for Freedom of Information

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:38:29 +0100

A spokesperson for the ICO said:“We are fully aware of the issues raised in the report by the Campaign for Freedom of Information. The FOI caseload has been discussed in two sessions of the Justice Select Committee in January and February this year.

Bankers recognise the need for change

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:33:07 +0100

Bankers are not complacent and recognise the need for change, the British Bankers' Association said today. In response to the Chancellor's promise of a much tougher regulatory system to prevent a repeat of last autumn's financial crisis the BBA said:

The UK Cards Association responds to Government's Consumer White Paper

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:28:37 +0100

Paul Rodford, Head of Card Payments, at The UK Cards Association has responded to the Government's Consumer White Paper.

ClickandBuy chooses GB Group to give online shoppers greater security at the checkout

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:14:24 +0100

GB Group, the leading provider of identity management solutions (www.gb.co.uk <http://www.gb.co.uk/> ), has today announced a three year deal with e-Payments provider, ClickandBuy (www.clickandbuy.com <http://www.clickandbuy.com> ) to offer customers using the online checkout service with greater identity protection. ...

Figures show London is the capital of fraudulent activity

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:08:13 +0100

Research by CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service reveals that London - including Greater London - is the key hotspot for fraudulent activity.

British consumers have adapted to recession and are creating their own green shoots

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:42:37 +0100

A new Equifax survey reveals that over 60% have reduced or kept debt level the same, whilst 60% have changed shopping their habits to manage finances. More than 40% expect their own financial situation to be better in 6 months.

First signs of optimism returning to some parts of Financial Services

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:20:38 +0100

Many parts of the UK’s financial services sector expect business volumes to rise in the next quarter after 21 months of falls, while optimism about the overall business situation has risen for the first time in two years. But banking remains under pressure. That is according to the latest CBI/PwC Financial Services Survey out today (Monday 29th June).

Tracesmart improves depth of mortality data used in identity checks

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:51:25 +0100

In order to offer their customers increased protection against impersonation of the deceased (IOD) fraud, Tracesmart have considerably increased the coverage of mortality data they hold.

Risk Management Leaps Forward with Palisade Corporation's New DecisionTools Suite 5.5

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:10:07 +0100

Palisade Corporation has just released an enhanced new version of its DecisionTools Suite, the best-selling decision support package available for Excel.

Failure to share financial information exacerbates creditworthiness crisis for UK SMEs

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:44:12 +0100

Nearly two thirds of UK small firms are carrying a credit rating which may negatively affect their ability to obtain credit finance and favourable credit terms from suppliers, according to new research from Graydon UK, a leading credit risk management agency.

Equifax invests in the Telco and Retail market

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:07:30 +0100

Leading credit and business information provider, Equifax, has announced the appointment of Neil Compton as Client Sales Director for its Telco and Retail team.

Hometrack together with GMAC-RFC drive transparency into RMBS markets

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:25:04 +0100

Hometrack, the UK’s leading supplier of Automated Valuations (AVM’s), announced today that it has revalued all underlying property collateral on the RMAC RMBS securitisations for originator GMAC-RFC.

Credit professionals scale the heights for Macmillan

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:21:43 +0100

On Friday 19th June 2009, a team of 54 people - 36 clients and 18 staff from Leeds-based credit reference agency, Callcredit - will set off on the ambitious Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge to help raise money for cancer support charity Macmillan.

CPI down to 2.2 per cent as food inflation slows

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:49:24 +0100

Consumer Prices Index (CPI) annual inflation – the Government’s target measure – fell to 2.2 per cent in May, down from 2.3 per cent in April.

New CBI forecast - still no real recovery until 2010

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:01:20 +0100

The UK economy is stabilising, with the worst of the quarterly falls in GDP behind us, but it will take until the beginning of next year before we see a return to growth, the CBI said today (Monday).

Young, single renters biggest target for ID fraudsters

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:51:15 +0100

New research from CreditExpert, the ID fraud protection service from Experian®, reveals that identity fraudsters across the country are turning their attention from the wealthy to lower income victims living in rented accommodation where their personal details are most vulnerable.

Equifax invests in business development

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:45:33 +0100

Equifax is continuing to invest in business development expertise with the appointment of Julian Rimmer as a Principal Consultant for the Equifax Business Development team.

List Group announce new appointments to bolster its sales and marketing team

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:23:57 +0100

List Group, a leading financial technology provider, today announced the appointment of Antonio Attanasio as Chief Marketing Officer and Marco De Matti as Sales Manager to raise its profile globally.

Extension to Government's trade credit insurance top-up scheme

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:20:10 +0100

Business Secretary Peter Mandelson today announced changes that will mean many more firms can now purchase top-up cover as part of the Government's trade credit insurance scheme.

JaywingDMG appointment brings renewed sales focus

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:08:29 +0100

JaywingDMG has appointed Barry Smith to lead the development of its data proposition, including products like Signals and Smartlists.

A false dawn for the economy: paralysis in Government is deepening the UK's economic plight

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:48:11 +0100

The British Retail Consortium has today published their Retail Sales Monitor for May 2009. Contrary to recent positive predictions, the figures document a fall in UK retail sales values of 0.8% on a like-for-like basis, and an increase of only 0.8% on a total basis, from May 2008.

Atradius have responded to today's announcement on trade credit insurance top-up scheme.

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:15:37 +0100

Atradius have responded to today's announcement on trade credit insurance top-up scheme by business secretary Peter Mandelson's where he said that changes will mean many more firms can now purchase top-up cover as part of the Government's trade credit insurance scheme.

Industry Expert Appointed Customer Services Director, Simplexo

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:39:42 +0100

Adrian Cooper has been appointed as Customer Services Director by leading enterprise search vendor, Simplexo.

BSA welcomes FSA's positive approach to building societies in its plans for a new sourcebook

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:45:22 +0100

Commenting on the FSA’s publication today of a consultation paper on a new specialist sourcebook for building societies, that will enhance the supervisory guidance available on societies’ financial and credit risk management, Brian Morris, Head of Savings Policy at the BSA said:

Equifax offers Free Data Quality Audit

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:36:46 +0100

Accurate data has always been crucial for the best return on investment in marketing activity, but the current economic climate is making it even more important for businesses to ensure their databases contain the best quality information. A high turnover of businesses going under as well as new businesses starting up is making it particularly important for organisations to ensure that business to business marketing databases are completely up to date.

'Scary and crippling' victims of facility takeover fraud speak out

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:16:32 +0100

Fraud victims are preyed upon by organised criminals, faceless fraudsters and sometimes even those close to them. While identity fraud has until lately been favoured by fraudsters, the current recession has seen an alarming swing to facility (or account) takeover fraud, with damaging consequences for the victims.

Bank of England likely to adopt 'wait and see' approach for next couple of months

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:13:27 +0100

In advance of an announcement from the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Thursday 4 June, John Hawksworth, head of macroeconomics, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, said:

Credit crunch grip weakening as conditions start to stabilise - CBI

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:16:09 +0100

Access to finance remains a serious problem for businesses, but the rate of deterioration in credit conditions slowed further over the past three months, and conditions are expected to stabilise in the months ahead, the CBI said today (Tuesday).

One in four Financial Services workers have pay cut

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:23:26 +0100

26% of Financial Services workers have had their pay cut since the recession began. 12% have experienced a reduction in hours, the lowest in the UK, and one in three (33%) have lost benefits, the highest in the UK, according to a survey of over 1,600 workers by the Keep Britain Working campaign (keepbritainworking.com) published today, Monday 1st June.

Recession's biggest casualties found in UK's industrial heartlands

Thu, 28 May 2009 16:16:55 +0100

Whilst London is seen as the epicentre of the recession, the latest Insight Report from Experian sheds new light on the distance the recession’s shockwaves have travelled. Published today, Experian’s report reveals that the biggest casualties are to be found in the UK’s industrial and manufacturing heartlands, far away from the middle-classes.

RICS UK Construction Market Survey, Q1 2009

Thu, 28 May 2009 15:54:20 +0100

Workloads in the first three months of the year continued to weaken across the board, but some key areas, including housing, saw an easing in the pace of the decline, says the RICS construction market survey.

Borrowers at risk from distorted image of PPI

Thu, 21 May 2009 11:25:33 +0100

40 per cent of payment protection insurance claims over the past 12 months have been for accident and sickness, according to independent PPI provider Paymentcare.co.uk.

Risk of deepening recession is more pressing than future inflation threat

Wed, 20 May 2009 12:50:34 +0100

Commenting on the MPC minutes published today by the Bank of England, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Corporate Data Theft doubles since 2006

Tue, 19 May 2009 17:46:32 +0100

Analysis by law firm Mishcon de Reya and KPMG shows that corporate data theft cases in the UK have doubled between 2006 and 2008.

Fraud threats change but the damage remains

Tue, 19 May 2009 10:53:32 +0100

Research carried out by CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, among its 260 Member organisations, reveals that two of the largest fraud threats facing businesses during the recession are facility takeover and online fraud.

Online fraud is becoming increasingly popular amongst fraudsters

Mon, 18 May 2009 17:34:10 +0100

To many, the thought of shopping from the comfort of your own home would seem a much safer option than venturing out onto the high street. This is not the case according to recent statistics issued by The Office of Fair Trading (OFT), which reports that 30 per cent of internet users do not shop online because they are afraid of handing over their credit details over the internet.

Keele University ensures successful telethon with ALBANYverify

Mon, 18 May 2009 17:29:06 +0100

Keele University, located near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, has selected ALBANYverify from market-leading e-transaction software author to ensure fast, accurate verification of UK bank account details.

TSYS and Experian to offer integrated decisioning system worldwide

Fri, 15 May 2009 16:25:11 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, and TSYS, today announced the integration of Experian’s latest customer strategy management system, Probe SM Generation 3, with TSYS’ TS Prime processing platform.

New Actimize ATM-Debit Research Report

Tue, 12 May 2009 16:26:52 +0100

New Actimize ATM-Debit research finds that 45 percent of financial services respondents believe they have seen mass compromised card data used in fraud attacks against their organisations.

LendProtect UK Limited selects Bank Wizard Absolute from Experian

Wed, 06 May 2009 13:45:07 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced that it has been appointed by LendProtect to implement Bank Wizard Absolute, its real-time bank account verification service, as part of LendProtect’s identity verification and credit risk management platform for the consumer finance industry.

Economy forces fraudsters to change tactics

Wed, 06 May 2009 00:01:00 +0100

Automotive finance sector is targeted as organised criminals seek to steal little but often. Analysis from Experian®, the global information services company, shows how the deteriorating economic climate is changing the nature of the fraud threat faced by financial services organisations in the UK.

Graydon UK & Validis announce intention to launch Enhanced Credit Information Service

Tue, 05 May 2009 15:20:01 +0100

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK are set to be given the opportunity to seize greater control over the information provided about them to prospective creditors by credit reference agencies. This will help increase their access to both finance and credit insurance cover which has been hit hard during the current economic crisis.

Recession appears to be pushing more consumers into commiting fraud

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:37:07 +0100

An unfortunate consequence of the economic downturn is an increase in fraud. And leading ID fraud expert, Equifax, believes that the latest figures from CIFAS, the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, provide a very clear indication that even this early into the recession, fraud is certainly on the increase.

Stenham Appoints New Head of UK Property

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:33:16 +0100

Stenham, the global investment management group, has appointed Andy Taylor as Head of UK Property.

Specialist police unit marks seventh anniversary by crashing through Â£315m savings barrier

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:09:10 +0100

The Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU) – the specialist police squad that tackles cheque and card fraud crime in the UK – marks its seventh anniversary on Wednesday (29 April 2009).

Online confirmation of identity for 65 million German nationals now possible

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:13:08 +0100

GB Group, the leading provider of identity management solutions, and SCHUFA, Germany’s largest credit reference agency, have today announced a strategic partnership to offer GB clients an unrivalled identity verification capability for the German market.

New HMRC powers could lead to costly investigations

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:10:58 +0100

UK companies could face additional, unexpected accountancy fees due to new tax investigation powers from HMRC.

UK insolvencies continue to rise, businesses still not adjusting to the downturn

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 11:40:19 +0100

The latest PwC analysis into corporate insolvency numbers show that the downturn is showing no signs of abating as more than 5,483 companies became insolvent in the first three months of 2009. This represents a 14% increase on the previous quarter and a huge 57% increase of the same quarter of 2008.

Equifax Reports First Quarter 2009 Results

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:49:28 +0100

Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX) today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. The company reported revenue of $452.9 million in the first quarter of 2009, a 10 percent decrease from the first quarter of 2008, of which 6 percent was due to the unfavorable effect of foreign exchange rates.

MEGA to exhibit at UK public sector risk management event

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:47:20 +0100

MEGA, the international company that provides integrated governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) and business process analysis (BPA) software solutions, will be demonstrating the latest version of its highly rated software for GRC applications in the exhibition section of the annual conference of Alarm, the public risk management association.

Another PEP scandal

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:44:52 +0100

I'm writing in response to the charges of money laundering offences against MEP Tom West, and in order to alert you to the connection with EU Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rules relating to Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).

Good credit scores could be crucial to the car scrappage scheme working

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:04:34 +0100

Equifax is highlighting that the Government’s Car Scrappage Scheme will only work if lenders lend to those who currently own 10 year old cars.

Is Insurance at risk of being the latest victim of the Credit Crunch?

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:51:25 +0100

More than 2,000 cases of insurance fraud are being detected every week according to a report issued by The Association of British Insurers last week. The report revealed that insurance fraud is up 17 per cent compared with 2007 figures, with 107,000 fraudulent claims totaling £730 million.

Neural Technologies named one of Britain's fastest growing private companies

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:27:40 +0100

Neural Technologies has been named one of Britain’s fastest growing private companies by The Sunday Times PricewaterhouseCoopers Profit Track 100 report.

Support with credit insurance 'essential in Budget'

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:51:10 +0100

Commenting on reports that small and medium-sized enterprises could receive support in next week’s Budget from new government guarantees on trade credit insurance, David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Aon comments on the government's proposed credit insurance scheme

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:37:02 +0100

Aon comments on the government’s proposed credit insurance scheme, expected to be announced in the budget next week. Susan Ross, director at Aon Trade Credit – the UK’s leading credit insurance broker – who has been campaigning for government action and calling for insurance broker involvement, said:

Atradius launches 'Buyer Trade Review' days to help businesses maintain cover

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:43:10 +0100

Leading trade credit insurer Atradius this week launches a new initiative to help businesses under threat of having their trade credit insurance cover withdrawn.

Hometrack carry out over 5 million portfolio property valuations in 12 months

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:21:01 +0100

The use of Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) for portfolio analysis has surged since the start of the credit crisis as lenders reassess the quality of their loan books. Hometrack, the UK’s leading provider of AVMs, has, as part of its portfolio service, carried out over 5 million valuations on residential properties over the last 12 months alone.

Callcredit's Systems ready for Debt Relief Orders

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:06:52 +0100

Callcredit, the UK’s most innovative credit reference agency, has today announced its readiness for the newly-introduced Debt Relief Orders (DROs). The company’s products and systems have been automatically updated to efficiently process DROs with no interruption to clients’ service.

KPMG Appoints Michael Crawford as Associate Partner

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:06:31 +0100

KPMG has appointed Michael Crawford as Associate Partner to the Financial Risk Management group where he will lead the insurance risk, governance and capital team covering Life, General Insurance and Bancassurance.

EBA Atradius Growth Strategy Award Winner

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:36:23 +0100

Webmart’s strong leadership and superior organic growth strategy has resulted in it receiving the Atradius Growth Strategy of the Year Award at the European Business Awards.

G20: world leaders must take home action lists

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:10:24 +0100

Effective change to reverse the economic downturn will only come if G20 leaders return home with a clear list of actions, the British Bankers’ Association said today.

Experian appoints managing business information division

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:47:13 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced that it has appointed Kirk Fletcher as Managing Director of its Business Information division in the UK and Ireland.

Creditsafe new ratings model

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:40:27 +0100

Creditsafe, the business and credit information expert, today announced the launch of its new credit rating model for UK businesses, making it the most up-to-date in the market and the first to take full account of the current financial crisis. The new statistical model offers customers an even more accurate assessment of businesses’ financial performance and an industry leading assessment of credit risk.

News from SecurityIP Data Loss Prevention

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:34:57 +0100

Security IP has been appointed by Awareness Technologies Inc to handle the UK launch of InterGuard, an innovative suite of data loss prevention (DLP) countermeasures. While traditional security solutions protect companies from external threats such as viruses and hacking attempts via firewalls, DLP deals with threats that originate from inside the organisation. These threats can be caused by intentional malicious behaviour, or simply careless administration and weak management procedures.& ...

Searching for information costs Corporate UK Â£6.2 bn a year

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:47:39 +0100

The UK economy is wasting the equivalent of £6.2 billion in time searching for information residing in corporate IT systems, according to research conducted by Simplexo, an open source enterprise search specialist.

Atradius launches March 2009 country reports to help businesses through tough trading times

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:32:52 +0100

Atradius, the leading global credit insurer, has published a series of country reports which detail the economic and business environment on a range of countries across the globe.

List Group's quantitative operational risk analysis software to help banks meet stricter regulatory

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:30:28 +0100

List Group, a leading financial technology provider, today announced it is working with risk management experts across the globe to deliver more sophisticated operational risk analysis software, as regulators prepare to adopt stricter capital adequacy requirements.

Fraud figures reveal some interesting gender patterns

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:35:07 +0100

If men truly are from Mars and women from Venus, then figures from CIFAS – The UK’s Fraud Prevention Service - confirm this by showing some remarkable differences between the sexes when it comes to fraud.

Banking & Finance industry - how can we go back to lending again?

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:24:24 +0100

The collapse of confidence in the banking industry over the past 18 months has highlighted the need for fundamental changes that the industry needs to undertake beyond improved risk management tools and moving towards an enterprise-wide approach to risk management. Risk managers such as Michael Gelband at Lehman Brothers, who advised against a huge buying of a collection of sub-prime mortgage lenders within Lehmann, were recently put into the spotlight and emphasised a need for financial institu ...

The UK's Flawed Reliance on Chip and PIN

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:40:53 +0100

Chip and PIN has been hailed an undoubted success as instances of face-to-face fraud on the UK high street diminished. But with fraudsters using alternative means to take advantage of less secure payment systems overseas and online, figures in other areas of fraud suggest that the UK should avoid over-reliance on chip and PIN as a primary means to tackle fraud.

Risk management must move up boardroom agenda say businesses

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:38:56 +0100

Senior business leaders from some of Britain’s top organisations have called for greater consideration of the issue of risk management at board level, in new research from Eversheds international law firm.

Coface maintains solid growth

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:02:37 +0100

Since the last quarter of 2008, the global credit crisis has entered a second phase. Coface is confronting the crisis with:

- a 7.1% increase in turnover in 2008 (6.5% at constant structure)
- a credit insurance loss ratio of 73% - an increase of 24 points
- a net profit of €94m (down from €204m in 2007), the decrease being limited by improved services and factoring contributions

CCJs at record levels in 2008

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:05:18 +0100

The total value of county court judgments against consumers in England and Wales was nearly £3 billion, the second highest total on record. The number rose by four percent to 827,900 in 2008, the second highest total ever, according to figures published today (March 18 2009) by Registry Trust Ltd. The number of consumer CCJs together with the total value makes 2008 a record year.

Jaywing expanding Smartdecisions with new refined and updated version

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:25:06 +0100

Data specialist Jaywing is expanding Smartdecisions with new refined and updated versions. The product enables users to make smarter credit decisions by making multi-bureau searches; these new enhancements provide three levels of access, further improving the functionality and usability of Smartdecisions.

Â£123 million of motor finance fraud prevented in industry crack down

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:44:17 +0100

A crack down on car finance fraud last year saved the motor finance industry £123 million. Finance companies’ efforts to combat attempted frauds at the application stage resulted in a 36 per cent drop in the number of fraud cases reported in Q4 2008, compared with the same period in 2007.

Creditsafe Group appoints New Strategic Sales Director

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:14:05 +0100

Creditsafe Group, the business information experts, today announced the appointment of Raj Kakar-Clayton to the position of Strategic Sales Director. Raj will have responsibility for driving strategic sales and key account management across the group’s operations in the UK, and will provide support to heads of sales in other Creditsafe operations across Europe.

Experian launches Risk Audit Plus, a new web-based risk management tool

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:45:50 +0100

Experian, the global information services company, have launched Risk Audit Plus, a new web-based risk management tool to give organisations an up-to-the-minute view of the credit risks and opportunities in their business customer base.

Coface relies on Exalead for its new universal service, EasyNumber

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:07:29 +0100

Exalead, European leader of search solutions and information access software in the enterprise and on the web, today announced that Coface, ranked #2 in Credit Management Services (enterprise information and debt management), has selected Exalead CloudView as an information access platform to launch EasyNumber, its new on-line search and business identification service.

Graydon UK warns against European Commission account filing proposals

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:50:50 +0100

European Commission proposals removing the obligation of companies with turnovers below €1m to file accounts at Companies House could further reduce access to finance for micro-businesses in the UK, according to commercial credit agency, Graydon UK.

Aon launches Cost Reduction Initiative

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:09:05 +0100

As global companies demand ‘quick wins’ in the face of capital constraints and expected insurance premium increases, Aon Global Risk Consulting is launching a Cost Reduction Initiative for EMEA businesses to help drive down their total cost of risk.

UK Businesses Insolvency & CCJ Statistics from ICC

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:20:48 +0100

The ICC monthly insolvency report gives the latest count of businesses and regions affected by insolvency in the UK - Executive Summary for December 2008.

Crosby: finally, the voice of risk speaks

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:43:01 +0100

It has been fascinating seeing the views of a senior risk manager on such public view in the wake of Sir James Crosby’s resignation at the FSA - says Eliana Boudet, (Head of Risk Management and Regulation) at Ineum consulting.

Experian warns employers of career cloning fraud risk

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:09:30 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today warned employers to beware of organised criminals using cloned career histories to secure employment in order to commit insider fraud.

Heath to lead Aon's Risk Control team for UK corporates

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:11:33 +0100

Aon Global Risk Consulting has appointed Graham Heath as director of Risk Control UK. In this role, Graham will help UK corporate clients to improve their business performance through effective management of their risks.

Neural Technologies implements Fraud Management Solution for Trilogy group

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:52:22 +0100

Risk management software solution provider, Neural Technologies, today announced that it has completed the installation of its Minotaur™ fully integrated Fraud Management Solution for Trilogy International Partners at the latter’s Ft Lauderdale data centre.

Real-Time Insolvency e-Alert - be the first to know

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:15:26 +0100

ICC, the acknowledged authority in the provision of UK company, risk and financial information, now delivers real-time insolvency information directly to your inbox.

Future secured at Hudson & Middleton Limited

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:06:46 +0100

The administrators of Hudson & Middleton Limited, one of the oldest potteries in England, have announced that they have sold the business and its assets to Hudsons Fine Bone China Limited, preserving 22 jobs at the firm’s base in Stoke-on-Trent.

New MD for ICC in the UK

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:34:06 +0100

Paul Byrne has been appointed new MD for ICC in the UK and Ireland. Paul has been MD for ICC in Ireland since 2006. Paul is a highly successful Managing Director with previous experience of developing and leading companies from a broad range of industries in the UK and Ireland.

Equifax puts focus on B2B marketing sales team

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:00:15 +0100

Leading consumer credit, business and marketing information provider, Equifax, is aligning its Marketing and Commercial Risk strategies through the promotion of Business Development Manager, Simon Bennett, to Business to Business Marketing Sales Manager.

ESF releases RMBS Issuer Principles for Transparency and Disclosure

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:01:51 +0100

The European Securitisation Forum (ESF), an affiliate of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), has released the “RMBS Issuer Principles for Transparency and Disclosure” (the Principles), a set of voluntary guidelines for issuers of European residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS).

Online crime and fraud costs small businesses Â£800 a year

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:40:05 +0100

Small businesses lose up to £800 a year to fraud and online crime, according to a survey by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which is calling for more action to tackle online crime.

Global supply chain disruption threat doubles

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:04:48 +0100

Global supply chains are becoming more vulnerable to potential disruption to trade in 42% more countries in 2009 than last year. According to Aon’s Political Risk Map, the number of countries with the 'supply chain vulnerability' icon has increased from 38 to 54 due to risks ranging from government embargo or interference with a supplier through to strikes, terrorism and sabotage.

Figures prove the need for online caution

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:47:33 +0100

The dangers of internet scams are highlighted by the disturbing 207% rise in the number of facility takeover frauds recorded by Members of CIFAS – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service. This involves fraudsters gaining access to, and using, accounts held by innocent victims.

Orange Poland upgrades its fraud management capability with Neural Technologies

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:25:16 +0100

Orange Poland is celebrating the ‘go live’ of its new fraud management solution provided by risk management software vendor Neural Technologies (Nt).

Manduca appointed as Aon Limited non-executive chairman

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:52:46 +0100

Aon Limited has appointed Paul Manduca as non-executive chairman. Paul has been an independent non-executive director of Aon Limited for three years and brings over 35 years of multi-sector business experience, along with a track record of achieving results in the organisations he has worked with.

FSA statement re: HBOS

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:07:19 +0100

Further to our earlier statement, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has issued the following fuller account of the issues relating to the risk function at HBOS, raised at the Treasury Select Committee on 10 February 2009.

Jonathan Pattinson joins HML as risk director

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:06:30 +0100

HML today announces the appointment of Jonathan Pattinson as the company’s new risk director. He will join HML on 30 March 2009 from Northern Rock, and has had a wide ranging career in key areas such as audit, risk and compliance.

Vanquis bank signs new five-year deal with Experian

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:03:09 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today announced a new five-year, multi-million pound deal with Vanquis Bank in the UK. Experian will provide the bank with services to assist its customer acquisition and management activities.

21% of UK mortgage holders have borrowed more than 90% LTV 'at risk of negative equity'

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:07:24 +0100

Research from Fairinvestment.co.uk has found that 21 per cent of UK mortgage holders borrowed a mortgage Loan to Value (LTV) of 90 per cent or more – potentially putting them at risk of negative equity.

Data breaches reported to ICO

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:16:14 +0100

New figures show a significant increase in the number of data breaches reported to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Nearly 100 breaches have been reported to the ICO in the last three months (376 to end January 2009, compared with 277 as at end of October 2008).

Independent review of corporate governance of UK banking industry

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:05:58 +0100

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury today announced a review to recommend measures to improve the corporate governance of UK banks, particularly with regard to risk management.

Creditsafe Country expands into Northern and Eastern Europe

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:19:01 +0100

Creditsafe, the business information experts, has announced the expansion of Creditsafe Country, its international credit referencing solution. In addition to the company’s instant access to its own home markets offline reports are now available for businesses through much of Northern and Eastern Europe.

FSA publishes Financial Risk Outlook

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:51:32 +0100

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) today published its Financial Risk Outlook (FRO) outlining the main risks facing firms, consumers and the regulatory system in the economic downturn, in particular the challenges created by banking sector and real economy deleveraging.

The British unit of Icelandic investment group Baugur placed into administration.

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:44:04 +0100

The British unit of Icelandic investment group Baugur, which owns stakes in a large number of high street retailers, was on Friday placed into administration. Baugur said it did not oppose the High Court petition from BG Holding's main creditor, Landsbanki, appointing PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as administrators.

ICO response to the House of Lords Constitution Committee Surveillance Society report

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:29:14 +0100

Jonathan Bamford, Assistant Commissioner at the ICO, said: “Several years ago we warned about the dangers of sleepwalking into a surveillance society.

Experian publishes UK business insolvency statistics for 2008

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:36:59 +0100

Experian®, the global information services company, today published its insolvency data for 2008. Its analysis shows that there were 23,879 business failures over the 12 months to the end of December 2008, representing a 30% increase on 2007.

Central and Eastern European companies upbeat about longer-term outlook

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:59:26 +0100

A November 2008 survey, undertaken by the Economist Intelligence Unit on behalf of leading global credit insurer Atradius shows that despite concerns about the regional economy, companies do not expect a significant deterioration of their business in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in the next three years.

Iceland bank seeks protection from creditors

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:27:09 +0100

The Icelandic retail investor Baugur, which owns stakes in Hamleys, House of Fraser and the Iceland frozen food chain, has asked for protection from creditors.

Secure data sharing an oxymoron?

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:48:53 +0100

Public service delivery relies on the right information being available to the right people without compromising security. Regulatory compliance, such as the Freedom of Information Act, also requires that data be shared. But, as soon as it is, the risk of data leakage increases.

Do not compromise AML compliance when cutting IT budgets

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:31:14 +0100

SMA Financial, SWIFT Regional partner for UK, Eire and Channel Islands today recommended that, despite the current economic uncertainty created by the global credit crunch, financial institutions and corporates still need to remain vigilant over the threat of money laundering.

Callcredit direct triumphs again at legal technology awards

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:06:30 +0100

Credit reference agency Callcredit Direct has picked up a top industry award for its electronic identity verification product CallML, for the second time in three years.

Political Stability Next Victim of Credit Crunch

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:08:14 +0100

2009 will see the political consequences of the global credit crunch start to have an impact, according to the 16th annual Political Risk Map, launched today by Aon Risk Services, a division of Aon Corporation.

ABI welcomes Lord Mandelsons confidence in the trade credit insurance market

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:50:30 +0100

Nick Starling, the ABI’s Director of General Insurance and Health, has commented on the announcement by Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson, that the Government is working on a possible scheme to help improve the availability of credit to businesses.

The credit crisis no longer spares any zone

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:30:44 +0100

During the 13th Country Risk Conference, Coface announces the downgrading of 22 country ratings. For the first time, two of the biggest emerging countries are negative watch-listed simultaneously: China and Russia.

Ian Lonergan appointed Exact CEO

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:05:51 +0100

Exact are pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Lonergan to the role of Chief Executive Officer. Ian previously held the position of Chief Financial Officer at Exact.

FAC launches services to tackle 'Friendly Fraud' for online merchants

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:50:10 +0100

First Atlantic Commerce Ltd. (FAC), a leading international, online multi-currency payment and risk management solutions provider, unveils a comprehensive suite of ‘card-not-present’ consumer pre-authentication and data risk management solutions aimed at reducing or mitigating RC23 and RC83 chargebacks associated with online payment ‘friendly fraud’.

Grayling warns of credit crunch crime wave

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:37:04 +0100

The Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Grayling, slammed Labour for their inaction on crime after a new set of "alarming" statistics were released. The figures show an increase in burglary, fraud and forgery and an eighteen percent increase in robberies with a knife.

Fraud on the increase

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:39:59 +0100

The analysis of fraud trends during 2008 by CIFAS - The UK's Fraud Prevention Service - reveals an unsettling 16% growth in fraud throughout the UK. Particular trends include:

Callcredit reinforce commitment to protecting personal data

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:56:46 +0100

Callcredit, the UK’s most innovative credit reference agency, furthered its commitment to protecting consumer data on 28th January by signing the Information Commissioner’s Personal Information Promise.

Tracesmart join the British Bankers Association

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:31:53 +0100

Cardiff based Tracesmart, leading suppliers of asset reunification and identity verification services, has announced that it is now a professional associate member of the British Bankers’ Association (BBA).

Unemployment rate rises to 6.1%

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:35:17 +0100

There has been a fall in both the number of people in employment and the employment rate. The number of unemployed people, the unemployment rate and the claimant count have all increased.

Predictive power pays as Experian signs up Payzone

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:46:38 +0100

Payzone, the leading European consumer payments and cash distribution network, has selected Experian®, the global information services company, to help it grow its retail business customer base, while undertaking accurate risk assessment on non-limited businesses.

Government Asset Backed Security Guarantee Requires Transparency

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:18:29 +0100

Risk transparency will be vital if taxpayers are expected to underwrite asset backed securities as part of the government’s plan to kick-start the securitisation market, according to Exact, mortgage asset quality assessor and servicer.

British business ill prepared for downturn long before the credit crunch

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:17:37 +0100

Research from Graydon UK, a leading credit risk management agency, reveals that the working capital and financing challenges currently faced by a growing majority of UK businesses cannot be blamed solely on the impact of the global credit crunch.

40,000 companies face insolvency in 2009

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:09:06 +0100

More than 40,000 companies will be declared insolvent in 2009 says the Credit Management Research Centre (CMRC) at Leeds University Business School. Forecasting models developed by the CMRC indicate that insolvencies will rise by 35 per cent compared with 2008 and by more than 62 per cent compared with company failures in 2007.

Company insolvencies set to increase by 35% in 2009

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:08:35 +0100

UK Risk & Insolvency Report forecasts further rise in company insolvencies driven by the collapse in revenue/operating surpluses and high leverage The collapse of company sales and high levels of company debt are the key drivers of corporate insolvencies currently in the UK.

Risk ignorance 'greatest 2009 challenge'

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:53:15 +0100

70% of UK risk managers have declared that making sure the employees in their organisation are risk savvy is their biggest challenge in light of new pitfalls according to research conducted by Aon, the leading global provider of risk management services.

Aon Global UK appoints new director

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:20:59 +0100

Aon Global UK has appointed Fiona Davies as a director to drive business growth and relationship management with multinationals.

PRMIA Announces Associate PRM Award Winner

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:50:35 +0100

The Professional Risk Managers’ International Association (PRMIA) today announced that Dhiraj Anand, a Business Analyst with RBS in India, is the winner of the PRMIA Associate PRM Emerging Market Award.

Country risk: Emerging economies caught in the storm

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:32:31 +0100

Euler Hermes has published its analysis of country risk in a global economic crisis. Country risk takes on another dimension in a recessionary environment.

Fair Isaac Announces Keynote Speakers for InterACT 2009

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:28:38 +0100

Fair Isaac Announces Keynote Speakers for InterACT 2009: The New Face of Risk, March 10-13 in New York City. World-Renowned Economic Authorities to Address Financial Crisis.

ifs School of Finance celebrates 130 years of success

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:44:28 +0100

This year marks the 130th anniversary of the ifs School of Finance. The ifs School of Finance was founded as the Institute of Bankers in 1879 to provide qualifications for the banking industry.

Bank rate cut by half a percentage point

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:45:10 +0100

The Bank of England cut interest rates by half a percentage point on Thursday to a record low of 1.5 percent as it battles to keep Britain from falling into a deep slump, and experts say borrowing costs will fall again next month.

UK Risk & Insolvency Report forecasts further rise in company insolvencies

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:41:47 +0100

County court judgments have risen by 29 per cent over the past 12 months signaling further corporate distress for UK plc as companies struggle with tightening cash flow and ready access to bank debt.

New Head of Compliance and Internal Audit for Lowell Group

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:14:18 +0100

Lowell Group, the Leeds-based debt purchasing specialist, has appointed Sam Marsden as its new Head of Compliance and Internal Audit. Sam has 10 years experience in financial services with GE Money UKU across a broad range of areas, including risk management, internal audit and debt collection.

Latest Credit Action debt statistics

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:18:16 +0100

Total UK personal debt at the end of November 2008 stood at £1,456bn. This has slowed further to 4.1% in the last 12 months which equates to an increase of ~ £56bn.

2008 electoral roll data added to Equifax database

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:56:26 +0100

New Electoral Roll data already available to lenders for credit and identity checks as leading credit and business information specialist, Equifax, completed the uploading of the 2008 electoral roll data from all the UK’s local councils on 1st January 2009, making the powerful identity verification information available to lenders immediately.

UK GDP set to fall more than in 1990s recession

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:23:53 +0100

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has published its January 2009 Economic Forecast update, the first of the year, which predicts cumulative GDP falls totalling 2.9 per cent over the five quarters between Q3 2008 and Q3 2009; this compares with cumulative GDP declines of 2.25 per cent predicted in the November forecast.

Creditors get better access to information in company failures

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:42:27 +0100

New rules that will require administrators to reveal to creditors the name of the buyer and the price paid when carrying out a 'pre-pack' administration will be introduced on 1st January 09. Pre-pack administrations tend to be used where commercial pressures require urgent action.

First-time buyer home affordability has improved significantly in 2008

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:29:42 +0100

The new Halifax First-Time Buyer (FTB) Affordability Review tracks housing affordability in 406 local authorities (including 32 London boroughs) across the UK. A local authority (LA) is classified as affordable if the average house price for a FTB is lower than the price someone on average earnings in the area can pay based on the historical average house price to earnings ratio of 4.0.

Fair Isaac Announces Release of Debt Manager 7

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:40:34 +0100

Fair Isaac Corporation, the leading provider of analytics and decision management technology, today announced the immediate availability of Fair Isaac Debt Manager solution 7, the first available product of the Fair Isaac Decision Management Suite.

Jaywing closes the net on fraudsters with Smartfraud

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:00:32 +0100

Data specialist Jaywing, a member of Digital Marketing Group plc, has launched Smartfraud; a new tool based on known frauds and other key data which gives banks and lenders easy to implement postcode level insight to determine consumer fraud potential.

Serious security problems with Internet Explorer

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:10:41 +0100

A flaw has been found in Microsoft's Internet Explorer which could allow criminals to take control of people's computers and steal their passwords, internet experts say.

Tracesmart visitors will be first to access new Electoral Roll Search 2009

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:39:07 +0100

Cardiff based company Tracesmart, is the first online people search facility to make the 2009 edited Electoral Roll available to the general public. To ensure their customers have access to the most up-to-date records available, Tracesmart has uploaded the new electoral data in record time this year, easily out-manoeuvring the competition and significantly benefiting their loyal customer base.

East London tops UK fraud hotspots

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:59:47 +0100

East London has today been unveiled as the region most at risk of ID fraud in the British Isles, according to a new fraud ranking developed by credit reference agency Callcredit . The news comes as a further blow for East London, which only last month was named as the most indebted area in the UK.

Credit crisis demonstrates the importance of strategic risk management

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:13:43 +0100

A recent seminar held by The Institute of Operational Risk examined the causes of the sub-prime and credit crisis and identified the most important lessons from this crisis for Bank Directors, Chief Risk Officers and Operational Risk Managers.

Fraud spectre looms increasingly large for financial services sector

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:18:04 +0100

The financial services sector is increasingly concerned about its susceptibility to fraud, with almost a third of sector businesses (31%) anticipating the issue will affect them in 2009, according to new research from international law firm Eversheds LLP.

Neural Technologies named Large Technology Supplier of the Year

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:19:02 +0100

Risk management solution provider Neural Technologies was last night presented with an Organisational Excellence Award from the British Computer Society (BCS). The company was named Large Technology Supplier of the Year in a glittering ceremony held at Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Credit data firm to cut 300 posts

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:50:56 +0100

Nottingham-based credit information firm Experian is to slash 300 jobs across the UK and Irish Republic in the New Year. The company said it would consult with its 4,000 employees before making the cuts at the end of March 2009.

New website for fast judgement checks

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:29:17 +0100

A new website - Trust Online has been launched this month (December) to give people immediate access to millions of judgment records in the British Isles and Ireland. Trust Online has been developed by Registry Trust - the non-profit company which gathers information from six jurisdictions, including the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines for England and Wales under contract to the Lord Chancellor.

Credit agency warns businesses to keep up their defences against fraud

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:52:13 +0100

Commercial credit agency Graydon UK today urged businesses to remain wary to the threat posed to their security by fraudsters, warning that new Government figures revealing a rise in fraud convictions merely scratch the surface of what is one of the UK's fastest growing crimes.

New Experian report outlines key credit risk management strategies for the industry

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:50:48 +0100

Experian, the global information services company, have published a new report providing expert recommendations for credit risk management in today's turbulent economic climate, containing emerging market insights and suggested strategies from the company's industry experts,

Credit card industry announces important data sharing enhancement

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 18:22:43 +0100

Additional data will help the credit industry to identify customers who may be at risk of getting into financial difficulties and to deliver on commitments in the revised Banking Code.

Car frauds explode

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 18:02:58 +0100

Since the start of 2008 there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people attempting to obtain car finance fraudulently, according to research.

PPI conclusions under fire

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Lenders have hit out at a decision by the Competition Commission to announce remedies for the payment protection insurance (PPI) market, claiming that it has gone well beyond its remit and the evidence it has which shows customers will only consider taking cover when they borrow and not afterwards.

CIFAS celebrates 20 years of fraud prevention

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:00:00 +0100

CIFAS, the UK's Fraud Prevention Service, has been preventing fraud for 20 years, with members sharing information on identified frauds in the fight to prevent further fraud.

Credit insurer warns UK firms to be more open about their difficulties

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Companies experiencing difficulties during the recession need to be more open about their problems, 'or face the consequences', according to a UK credit insurer.

One day national strike to affect Companies House

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Industrial Action by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) will result in a one day national strike, scheduled to take place on Monday 10 November 2008.

Businesses need clear data breach strategies

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 01:00:00 +0100

A credit information provider has offered advice for businesses as the Information Commissioner criticises organisations that have lost consumer data.

Latest figures show UK's fraud landscape has changed

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Figures from the UK's Fraud Prevention Service at the end of the third-quarter of 2008 confirm that the UK's fraud landscape has changed.

Consumer publication investigation into credit files welcomed

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:00:00 +0100

An online credit information provider has welcomed the findings of a report by the UKs largest consumer publication into the role of credit information.

Economy shrinks in 3rd quarter making recession all but inevitable

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:00:00 +0100

The country's economy shrank 0.5% in the third quarter of 2008, the first contraction in 16 years, substantially more than expected and with the current quarter likely to prove as bad if not worse, a recession is all but inevitable.

Mortgage lending hits 17-year low

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Gross mortgage lending reached an estimated £17.7bn in September, a decline of 10% from August and 42% from September last year, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).

Financial regulator fines mortgage company directors

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Two directors have each been fined £30,000 by the financial regulator for shortcomings in their mortgage business. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has fined two directors from Abbey Mortgages Limited, based in Bexleyheath and Stokesley, £30,000 each for shortcomings in their mortgage business which put financially vulnerable customers at risk and the firm at risk of being used for mortgage fraud.

Fraudsters' website shut in swoop

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:00:00 +0100

A website used by criminals to buy and sell credit card details and bank log-ins has been shut down after a police operation, the BBC has learned.

International forum Darkmarket ran for three years and led to fraud totalling millions of pounds. Nearly 60 people connected with the site have been arrested in Manchester, Hull and London, as well as Germany, Turkey and the US. The Serious Organised Crime Agency said it was "a one-stop shop" for criminals.

Warning over new EU accounts rules

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Creditors have warned that they want a single set of accounting rules and that a current European Commission review of fair value accounting threatens to undermine transparency and comparability.

The Commission is due to host a meeting in Brussels tomorrow to discuss accounting reform, including further relaxation to fair value.

Credit checks are critical in current climate

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Small businesses are urged to invest in new credit checks on their customers to ensure they are aware of any potentially bad apples.

According to Clive Lewis, head of SME issues at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW): Knowing who you are dealing with is the key to survival in the current turbulent economic climate.

The release of deceased data by the General Registrar welcomed

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:00:00 +0100

The UK's Fraud Prevention Service (CIFAS) has welcomed the weekly release of death records for the first time to stop fraudsters from using these identities.

Card fraud losses increased by 14% in first six months

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Total card fraud losses increased by 14% in the six months to June 2008 compared with the first half of 2007 according to new figures from the UK payment association.

Payments industry growth in 'money mule' fraud activity

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:00:00 +0100

More than 870 recruitment adverts for money mules have been detected in the first half of the year.

Bank charges and lending restrictions could get worse for small businesses

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:00:00 +0100

A business lobby group is concerned at reports that high street banks are beginning to reduce credit facilities and increase overdraft charges.

The UK's Fraud Prevention Service receives award from Home office

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:00:00 +0100

The Home Office has awarded Specified Anti-Fraud Organisation (SAFO) status to CIFAS, the UK's Fraud Prevention Service.

Banks are still lending to small businesses despite the credit crunch.

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Figures from the British Bankers Association (BBA) have shown that lending by the main high street banks providing small business services has grown.

Tighter lending criteria and falling house prices discourage first-time buyers

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Loans to first time buyers continued to decline in July compared to June although remortgaging rose and lending for house purchase held steady during the same period.

More companies have taken up trade credit insurance as a result of the crunch

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:00:00 +0100

The economic downturn has encouraged more companies to take up trade credit insurance for added protection.

Commission nominates members of Expert Group on Credit Histories

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:00:00 +0100

The group's objective is to identify solutions that will maximise the circulation of credit data within the EU. The experts will present their report with recommendations by 1 May 2009.

New mortgage approvals in July are at a record low

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:00:00 +0100

The number of new mortgages approved for home buyers fell in July to just 33,000 - down by 71% on a year ago.

Small firms struggled to access finance even before credit crunch

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Small businesses struggled to access finance in the months before the credit crunch began to bite.

Personal details of more than a million bank customers sold on eBay

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Personal details of more than a million bank customers have been found on a computer sold on eBay for £35.

Barclays unveils overdraft buffer zone

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Barclays current account customers have been notified of changes to their accounts that will see them receive an automatic additional borrowing buffer zone which will allow them to go over their credit limit at a set penalty fee.

Cooperation to help victims of fraud

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Victims of identity fraud will find the task of setting their credit record straight much easier with a new Victims of Fraud service, unveiled by the UK's three largest consumer credit reference agencies.

Data controller prosecution

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:00:00 +0100

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has successfully prosecuted a London accountant for offences under the Data Protection Act, reminding creditors of their need to register as data controllers.

Consultation on irresponsible lending is launched

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:00:00 +0100

A public consultation on the scope of the Office of Fair Tradings (OFT) project looking at irresponsible lending in UK consumer credit markets has been launched.

Crime maps to go live

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Interactive maps on police websites will allow for greater tracking of regional crime statistics, according to a government review, and may prove a useful resource for credit professionals.

Approvals for new home loans fall to a record low in June

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:00:00 +0100

New Bank of England data showed approvals for new home loans fell to a record low in June pointing to further
sharp falls in house prices in the months ahead.

Banks suffer as fraud levels reach all time high in first six months of 2008

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Total fraud levels have increased by 50% in the first six months of 2008, with the financial sector suffering more
than half.

Government "should crack down on business crime"

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:00:00 +0100

A business forum has said government should be doing more to prevent business crime which has increased by over £2bn since 2004.

Mortgage fraud fight recognised

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Mortgage lenders efforts to tackle fraud have been recognised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), in a public letter which recognises the priority that the industry has given to fraud issues even in the current challenging market conditions.

SMEs being "exploited" over credit terms

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:00:30 +0100

Large companies are exploiting small businesses by delaying invoice payments and imposing new terms and settlement fees on owners, a major trade body has claimed.

Landlords warned of tenant late payment risks

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:59:47 +0100

A major industry trade association is warning landlords of the real risk of rental arrears if they fail to carry out appropriate checks on prospective tenants or face increasingly slow payments.

Mortgage lending declines

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:00:00 +0100

Gross mortgage lending declined to an estimated £23.8bn in June, down 3% from May and 32% from June 2007, according to research.

Southern fraud hotspots revealed

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:45:00 +0100

Research by CIFAS has found that London and the South-East are the key hotspots for fraudulent applications across all product sectors.

Electoral roll sales may be banned

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:44:00 +0100

Councils are to be banned from selling home addresses off the electoral register to the credit reference agencies, under new proposals.

ID theft becomes UK's top safety fear for 2008

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:35:00 +0100

Identity theft has overtaken street crime and fears of being mugged or attacked to become the nation's top safety fear.

Call for new approach to sharing personal information

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:28:00 +0100

Government and industry were urged today to transform the way they use and share our personal information, in the wake of recent high profile data-losses.

Alarming results highlight serious risks of UK recession

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:21:00 +0100

The results of an economic survey for the second quarter show a serious risk of recession in the UK.

Fight Against Money Laundering Goes Online

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:51:00 +0100

A guide taking readers through the complexities of the international standards, directives and regulations set up to defeat money laundering and terrorist financing has gone online.

Warning given over tax refund scam

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:44:00 +0100

Consumers and businesses alike have been warned against providing personal bank and credit card information when promised a tax refund by a scam email.

Debtors will not review financial positions

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:03:00 +0100

Despite the testing market conditions, less than a third of consumers have reviewed their finances in light of the credit crunch and a fifth of people claim it is a term created by the media.

Major fall in mortgage approvals

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:57:00 +0100

A 14% fall in mortgage approvals to 179,000 in May is further confirmation that the market for home loans is shrinking quickly, according to analysts.

Credit union rules slackened

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:55:00 +0100

The government has revealed plans aimed at boosting the number of borrowers on low wages who use credit unions.

Risk

Laurent Mignon appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Coface

Experian speeds up insurance decision making with new data service

SFP gives New Millennium Group a fresh start

Billing Error and Fraud could cost Operators nearly $300bn annually by 2016, Juniper Report Finds

Harrisons appointed administrators to Castle Personal Insurance Brokers Limited

Full data sharing by payday lenders is the right way forward for consumer financial inclusion

CIFAS Staff Fraud report reveals complex set of dangers

Debt problems divide London

CRIF Partner with Tracesmart to enhance fraud prevention solutions

FICO Map Reveals Winners and Losers in Fight Against European Card Fraud

Equifax Helps ReAssure Connect With 'Lost' Customers

Coface Media Alert - 'And if Greece were to quit the eurozone?'

Wonga launches business loans â comment from insolvency trade body R3

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Experian unveils next generation decision management software

Atradius publishes ten-point plan for exporting to China

Insolvencies rise amongst wealthy, rural dwellers and pensioners

SFP appointed administrator of two food production companies

Duff and Phelps, joint administrators of Rangers Football Club, issued the following statement today

World growth: resilient in 2012 before rebounding in 2013 in a context of uncertainty

Slough overtakes London as identity fraud capital of UK, reveals Experian

SFP appointed administrators to Pallet Distribution Services Limited

Halving prices doubles demand for judgment information

Jet flies in at Laser UK

SFP completes sale of Else Northern Limited

Equifax Focuses on Data Needs of Utilities

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Kick-off for Lee Manningâs presidency of insolvency trade body

Statement: Port Vale (Valiant 2001) Football Club Limited

Equifax Reports First Quarter 2012 Results

Annual results - Callcredit Continues to âBuck the Trendâ in Difficult Market Conditions

Atradius - Economic outlook

Comment on ONS figures and double-dip recession from Begbies Traynor

Halved prices double demand for judgment information

Rocketing fraud levels driven by data warns CIFAS

Banking industry police unit tops Â£400 million in estimated fraud savings since launch

Financial crimes and fraud investigations faster, more streamlined with SAS

Risk Management wins seat at boardroom table in financial institutions across EMEA

Rangers administratorsâ statement

FICO Launches New Solution to Combat $50+ Billion Insurance Claims Fraud Problem

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Duff & Phelps Ltd. appointed Administrators to Allied Floors Limited

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Outbox and FICO bring advanced analytics and decision management technology to Polish market

FSA statistics show boiler room fraudsters are making greater efforts to con consumers

Noddle launches campaign to get Britain in better financial & physical shape

Mortgage fraud increases for fifth successive year, reveals Experian

Equifax leads the market by providing full access to credit report services on smart phones

Thomson Reuters launches new forward-looking model to assess credit risk

Plumber jailed for tax fraud

Provisional liquidator for Tullett Brown Limited and three related companies

Another âSupport publishingâ company closed down after Government investigation

Protecting against illegal trading activity

41% of people believe online banking and shopping is akin to playing Russian Roulette

Rangers administratorsâ statement

UK rental market booming with rental properties up by 10% annually

European consumers and small businesses 'will fall further behind in credit payments'

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Duff & Phelps conclude going concern sale of Automat American Brasserie

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Equifax launches Tenancy Verification solution

One arrested as FSA continues to clamp down on unauthorised business

One arrested as FSA continues to clamp down on unauthorised business

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Bank account fraud highlights need for security reviews

SFP keeps window open to potential buyers for JDW Systems Limited

Survey issues financial health warning to one in five English Football League clubs

OFT launches on-line register of supervised businesses

44 jobs secured as buyer is found for AMI Blaymires Limited

FSA review into anti-bribery and corruption systems and controls in investment banks

Experian comments on today's cost of fraud findings from the NFA

Annual Fraud Indicator - SAS comment

David Wilson, senior partner for Begbies Traynor comments on Bradford Bulls

European Bankers Project 2012 Economic Recession in FICO-Efma Survey

Coutts fined Â£8.75 million for anti-money laundering control failings

As retail quarter comes to a close, insolvencies 'show no signs of dissipating'

Medium sized firms demonstrate greater resilience during February

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Time: the biggest loss to victims of fraud, reports CIFAS

Wonga launches business loans â comment from insolvency trade body R3

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Kick-off for Lee Manningâs presidency of insolvency trade body

Annual results - Callcredit Continues to âBuck the Trendâ in Difficult Market Conditions

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Another âSupport publishingâ company closed down after Government investigation

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Coface accelerates its profitable growth in 2011â¨

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Rangers administratorsâ statement

Majority of tenancy fraud cases ânot caughtâ, according to Callcredit research

Fraudscape: CIFAS report lays bare the UKâs fraud problems

FICO and Equifax Warn Banks That âHidden Fraudâ Is on the Rise

âCalm before the stormâ, warns The Debt Advisor as repossessions continue to fall

Futureâs looking bright for conservatory firm

âWinter of discontentâ for retailers with continued rise in insolvency