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| Financial stress 'worst in north' | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| People in Manchester and Glasgow feel under more financial pressure than other Britons, research from credit reference agency Experian has found. | People in Manchester and Glasgow feel under more financial pressure than other Britons, research from credit reference agency Experian has found. |
| Nearly three out of 10 people in Manchester and Glasgow say they suffer from high levels of financial stress. | Nearly three out of 10 people in Manchester and Glasgow say they suffer from high levels of financial stress. |
| The research, commissioned for the BBC, also revealed that the south-west of England is the UK's bankruptcy hotspot. | |
| Six out of the 10 towns in the UK recording the highest level of bankruptcy per head are based there. | Six out of the 10 towns in the UK recording the highest level of bankruptcy per head are based there. |
| Debt profile | Debt profile |
| Experian built a debt profile of the UK for the BBC. | Experian built a debt profile of the UK for the BBC. |
| They looked at more than 300 UK towns and boroughs to see which parts were struggling the most with debt. | They looked at more than 300 UK towns and boroughs to see which parts were struggling the most with debt. |
| I think it is a growing problem nationwide; people not working out a budget and living within it Liz McVey, Consumer Credit Counselling Service | I think it is a growing problem nationwide; people not working out a budget and living within it Liz McVey, Consumer Credit Counselling Service |
| In particular they charted the prevalence of bankruptcies, Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) and people feeling stressed by their finances. | In particular they charted the prevalence of bankruptcies, Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) and people feeling stressed by their finances. |
| Some of Experian's data underlines yet again the UK's north-south economic divide. | Some of Experian's data underlines yet again the UK's north-south economic divide. |
| For example, out of the ten locations containing the highest percentage of people defined as affluent all are in London and the South East | For example, out of the ten locations containing the highest percentage of people defined as affluent all are in London and the South East |
| At the other end of the scale, out of the locations with the highest percentage of people defined as living on the breadline most were in the Midlands, north of England and Scotland. | At the other end of the scale, out of the locations with the highest percentage of people defined as living on the breadline most were in the Midlands, north of England and Scotland. |
| Likewise, people in the big cities of Manchester and Glasgow suffer the most from financial stress. | Likewise, people in the big cities of Manchester and Glasgow suffer the most from financial stress. |
| In other words, people in these locations are most likely to perceive themselves as finding it hard to make ends meet. | In other words, people in these locations are most likely to perceive themselves as finding it hard to make ends meet. |
| Stress signs MOST FINANCIALLY STRESSED LOCATIONS IN UK ManchesterGlasgowNottinghamKnowsley, MerseysideMiddlesbroughHullLiverpool Source: Experian | Stress signs MOST FINANCIALLY STRESSED LOCATIONS IN UK ManchesterGlasgowNottinghamKnowsley, MerseysideMiddlesbroughHullLiverpool Source: Experian |
| Liz McVey, the manager of the Glasgow office of the Consumer Credit Counselling Service, told BBC News she had seen signs of growing financial stress. | Liz McVey, the manager of the Glasgow office of the Consumer Credit Counselling Service, told BBC News she had seen signs of growing financial stress. |
| "We have doubled the number of counsellors in the past year, just to cope with the demand from people in debt difficulty. | "We have doubled the number of counsellors in the past year, just to cope with the demand from people in debt difficulty. |
| "There are a number of factors at play. Younger people are stretched to the limit, due to trying to afford a new home. In addition, homeowners have been increasingly taking out second mortgages in order to pay back credit card and loan debt," she said. | "There are a number of factors at play. Younger people are stretched to the limit, due to trying to afford a new home. In addition, homeowners have been increasingly taking out second mortgages in order to pay back credit card and loan debt," she said. |
| "What they are finding is the interest rates on these second mortgages are quite high and as they get into difficulty, they find that credit becomes even more expensive. | "What they are finding is the interest rates on these second mortgages are quite high and as they get into difficulty, they find that credit becomes even more expensive. |
| "However, I would not single out Glasgow. I think it is a growing problem nationwide; people not working out a budget and living within it," Ms McVey added. | "However, I would not single out Glasgow. I think it is a growing problem nationwide; people not working out a budget and living within it," Ms McVey added. |
| But when it comes to levels of bankruptcies and IVAs, the north-south divide becomes blurred. | But when it comes to levels of bankruptcies and IVAs, the north-south divide becomes blurred. |
| For example, bankruptcies are particularly prevalent in the South West of England. | For example, bankruptcies are particularly prevalent in the South West of England. |
| Sole traders | Sole traders |
| The seaside town of Torquay has the highest proportion of bankruptcies per head in the UK, closely followed by Plymouth, Newton Abbot, Barnstaple, Weymouth and Truro. | The seaside town of Torquay has the highest proportion of bankruptcies per head in the UK, closely followed by Plymouth, Newton Abbot, Barnstaple, Weymouth and Truro. |
| In addition, three of the five counties with the highest level of bankruptcies were in the South West. | In addition, three of the five counties with the highest level of bankruptcies were in the South West. |
| But according to business leaders in the South West, this can be partly explained by the nature of the local economy. | But according to business leaders in the South West, this can be partly explained by the nature of the local economy. |
| "We have a higher proportion of sole traders down here - they have a greater tendency to come and go," Nigel Hutchings, chief executive of the South West chamber of commerce, told BBC News. | "We have a higher proportion of sole traders down here - they have a greater tendency to come and go," Nigel Hutchings, chief executive of the South West chamber of commerce, told BBC News. |
| "In addition, towns like Torquay are very seasonal. They have to make enough money in the summer months to last throughout the year. | "In addition, towns like Torquay are very seasonal. They have to make enough money in the summer months to last throughout the year. |
| "Overall, the South West economy is doing well, although there are always areas of deprivation," Mr Hutchings added. | "Overall, the South West economy is doing well, although there are always areas of deprivation," Mr Hutchings added. |
| As for IVAs, these have the highest prevalence in towns along the M4 corridor. | As for IVAs, these have the highest prevalence in towns along the M4 corridor. |
| Aldershot in Hampshire has the highest rate of IVAs per head in the country. | Aldershot in Hampshire has the highest rate of IVAs per head in the country. |
| Controversy | Controversy |
| IVAs have recently become mired in controversy. | IVAs have recently become mired in controversy. |
| HOW TO GO BUST Bankruptcy: the traditional way of escaping overwhelming debt. Ends after one year, but you are likely to lose all your assets, including your house, to pay something to the creditorsIVA: A deal between you and your creditors, overseen by an insolvency practitioner. Less stigma, less chance of losing your home, but involves paying some of your debts in one go or over a number of years Q&A Personal insolvencies | HOW TO GO BUST Bankruptcy: the traditional way of escaping overwhelming debt. Ends after one year, but you are likely to lose all your assets, including your house, to pay something to the creditorsIVA: A deal between you and your creditors, overseen by an insolvency practitioner. Less stigma, less chance of losing your home, but involves paying some of your debts in one go or over a number of years Q&A Personal insolvencies |
| Under IVAs, the debtor - normally through an intermediary - comes to an arrangement with creditors to pay back part of what is owed. | Under IVAs, the debtor - normally through an intermediary - comes to an arrangement with creditors to pay back part of what is owed. |
| Debtors do not lose their homes, as can happen under bankruptcy. But they can find that they have to live to a very tight budget until their debts are repaid, while their credit record is also damaged. | Debtors do not lose their homes, as can happen under bankruptcy. But they can find that they have to live to a very tight budget until their debts are repaid, while their credit record is also damaged. |
| Lenders have argued that IVAs are becoming too common, with a whole multi-million pound IVA management industry springing up, spending large amounts of money on TV advertising. | Lenders have argued that IVAs are becoming too common, with a whole multi-million pound IVA management industry springing up, spending large amounts of money on TV advertising. |
| The Office of Fair Trading is currently examining how IVA management firms advertise for clients. | The Office of Fair Trading is currently examining how IVA management firms advertise for clients. |
| The most recent set of government insolvency figures suggests that the rate of increase in the numbers of people going bust is largely due to people taking out IVAs. | The most recent set of government insolvency figures suggests that the rate of increase in the numbers of people going bust is largely due to people taking out IVAs. |