Regulatory body has not done enough to tackle ‘predatory’ companies, committee reports

Tough new laws aim to stop short-term lenders taking advantage of vulnerable people in financial need

Nationalised bank’s failure to follow new rules means borrowers are entitled to refund

Onus on consumers to spot overcharges on bills and claim refunds, discovers Louise Dransfield

The average family now owes nearly £10,000, as hard-pressed Britons go deep into debt to survive the recession, a report warns.

The payday lender Wonga has been criticised by the Office of Fair Trading for accusing some of its own customers of being fraudsters.

Businesses offering credit services must not mislead customers into believing they are a charity or government body by using names such as "helpline" or "debtline", the trading watchdog said today.

With the UK economy barely out of recession and unemployment at a 17-year high, you'd expect credit card providers to be treading a more cautious line to prevent bad debts and write-offs from eating into their profit margins.

New guidance from the Office of Fair Trading could herald the end of unwanted emails, texts and answer-machine messages offering debt management advice or credit-rating help.

Payday loan firm Yes Loans has had its licence revoked after using "deceitful and oppressive business practices", the trading watchdog said today.

Britain's payday lenders are to be investigated by the consumer watchdog amid fears they are preying on those in financial trouble.

The UK's largest pawnbroker, H&T, is targeting upmarket customers who have fallen on hard times, and is eyeing shops in affluent areas.

The UK's largest pawnbroker, H&T, is targeting upmarket customers who have fallen on hard times, and is eyeing shops in affluent areas.

British families are struggling under £8,000-worth of debt – even after three years’ of paying off loans and plastic cards.