Consumer Finance

UK consumer finance regulations

The UK has one of the most comprehensive regulatory regimes and the degree of regulation from Europe and the UK FSA and OFT is getting greater. The risk of fines from the authorities as well as the cost of operations continues to increase.

The Consumer Credit Act 2006 is intended to increase consumer protection when taking out credit. It builds upon the Consumer Credit Act 1974 by creating an Ombudsman scheme which can be used if they are unhappy with their lender's dispute resolution service, whether the lender consents or not. Complaints may also be raised against other types of credit related companies, such as debt-collection agencies. It also increases the power of the OFT in consumer credit, and allows borrowers to challenge in court.

Corporate finance - our guide

Corporate finance is a generic term which refers to the way in which large companies manage their financial affairs, and can be extremely complex.

Finding the right finance company

The term finance company is a label applied to organisations which handle financial activity on behalf of business or consumer clients.

Getting a good commercial loan

Many new or successful businesses owners will often require some form of financial support in order to stimulate business growth.