The Future of Lending: Trends Shaping Consumer Credit in 2026
Open banking, AI affordability checks, the FCA's Consumer Duty and incoming BNPL regulation — the trends reshaping UK consumer credit in…
Rachel Stone
Rachel Stone
Personal Finance Editor
Rachel Stone writes about borrowing, budgeting, credit and consumer rights, with a focus on clear, practical guidance and pointing readers to trustworthy help.
Credit Utilisation: The Number Quietly Shaping Your Score
Credit utilisation is the share of your available credit you are actually using, and it has an outsized effect on your credit score. This…
Rachel Stone
Payment Arrangements and Plans: A Practical Guide
What a payment arrangement is, how to set one up with a lender, how it can affect your credit file, and where to get free, impartial debt…
Rachel Stone
How Lenders Must Support Customers in Financial Difficulty
What the FCA's Consumer Duty and forbearance rules require when borrowers struggle, the support options lenders should offer, and how firms…
Rachel Stone
Secured vs Unsecured Loans: What's the Difference?
Secured loans are tied to an asset such as your home; unsecured loans are not. This UK guide explains how collateral changes the risk, the…
Rachel Stone
APR Explained: The True Cost of Borrowing
APR is the single yearly figure that captures the real cost of borrowing. This UK guide explains how APR differs from the interest rate…
Rachel Stone
Direct Debits Explained: How They Work and Your Rights
A plain-English guide to how Direct Debits work in the UK, the protection of the Direct Debit Guarantee, how to cancel one, and how they…
Rachel Stone
How to Make a Budget That Actually Works
A practical UK guide to budgeting: how the 50/30/20 rule and zero-based budgeting work, how to track your spending, and the habits that…
Rachel Stone
How to Read Your UK Credit Report
A plain-English guide to your UK credit report: what is on it, how to check it for errors, the three credit reference agencies, and how to…
Rachel Stone