Debt Talk

January is hard.The celebrations are over, the bills have arrived, and for many of us, savings have quietly disappeared. As we wait, often painfully, for the next pay cheque, January becomes the month of fresh starts, New Year’s resolutions, and, if we’re honest, a few broken promises.I’m Ripon Ray, your host, and in this episode of the Debt Talk Podcast, we focus on January Financial Planning and how money is closely linked to the promises we make to ourselves at the start of the year.To help us navigate the challenges of January 2026, I’m joined by three expert guests:Shakira Taylor, a fitness instructor working on the frontline, shares insights on staying active and motivated beyond January. She reminds us that fitness isn’t just about quick wins; sustainable, gradual progress is what leads to lasting health and real rewards.Joe Marley from Alcohol Change talks about Dry January, alcohol habits, and wellbeing. He shares practical tools, including the Alcohol Change app, and explains how cutting down or giving up alcohol can improve wellbeing while saving money. In fact, the average person can save up to £60,000 over a lifetime by giving up alcohol.Nick Hill from the Money & Pensions Service connects healthy habits with healthy finances. He highlights simple budgeting tools, such as “jam jar” planning, and encourages small, manageable changes. Nick also reminds listeners that free, confidential debt advice is available through the MoneyHelper Debt Advice Locator, particularly for those struggling after festive overspending.Our guests also share top tips for Debt Talk listeners, offering practical ways to get through January with confidence.Coming up next: Our next episode explores “The Cost of Valentine’s, Marriage and Divorce', a timely discussion as post-New Year divorce rates begin to rise.

As we move into the next episode of the Debt Talk podcast, Financial Abuse & Our Communities, we do so against the backdrop of growing public concern about domestic abuse in the UK, particularly the recent cases where coercive control, economic exploitation and intimate partner violence have escalated into fatal harm. This makes our conversation with front-line experts even more urgent.Dr Clare Wiper, Assistant Professor in Criminology at Northumbria University and co-author of the report “Designing Out Economic Abuse in the UK’s Banking Industry: A Call for Action”, highlights how deeply financial systems can compound the risks victims face. She stresses that many of the changes required to protect survivors are not radical—but depend on professionals asking the right questions, recognising red flags, and putting effective, trauma-informed safeguards in place, especially when victims are trying to separate financially from an abuser.Helen Ganney from Christians Against Poverty (CAP) explains that economic abuse often sits beneath the surface of other crises. For many clients, debt advice is not the first intervention they need; only once safety, housing, immigration or family issues are stabilised can they begin to address the financial control, coerced debt or economic isolation that frequently accompany domestic abuse. She notes that this complexity places a huge strain on frontline services already operating beyond capacity.Shirina Ali, Advice Manager at the Limehouse Project, a minority-led grassroots organisation in East London, emphasises how economic abuse intersects with language barriers, insecure immigration status and the threat of having no recourse to public funds. Many in the communities she supports only realise they are experiencing domestic abuse when they seek help to understand Universal Credit letters or ask if they are entitled to financial assistance. For these survivors, leaving an abuser often means leaving an entire community and support network behind.All three guests share practical tips for professionals and community workers, urging stronger collaboration, better knowledge-sharing and coordinated responses to meet the overwhelming demand in a sector that remains critically under-resourced.Stay tuned for our next episode: ‘January Financial Planning’.

In this month’s Debt Talk podcast, Ripon Ray explores one of the most pressing challenges in modern Britain: the real cost of digital inclusion. As technology becomes central to everyday life, what happens to those left behind? How do we bring marginalised communities into the digital mainstream without deepening inequality or compromising privacy?Joining the conversation is Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, who unpacks what true digital inclusion means in today’s society. From a student needing online tools for geography lessons to individuals struggling to upload documents or access essential services, Elizabeth illustrates the profound impact of being digitally excluded. She reveals staggering figures on how many people remain disconnected and the steep social and economic cost of bridging that divide. Elizabeth also delves into the government’s proposed digital ID initiative, raising critical questions about the price of inclusion and the potential erosion of personal privacy in a data-driven Britain.Rachael Tomaney, representing Napier AI, brings a vital perspective on how digital exclusion intersects with financial crime. She explains how individuals with limited digital literacy can unknowingly become conduits for money laundering and scams, as criminals exploit their vulnerability. With the rise of Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud, Rachael stresses the importance of balancing innovation with protection — ensuring that while automation and AI enhance security, human oversight remains essential to prevent exploitation.Together, our panel offers practical insights and top tips on tackling digital exclusion, from community-level engagement to policy-driven reform, ensuring that digital transformation uplifts, rather than marginalises, those most at risk.Stay tuned for our next episode: “Financial Abuse and Its Impact on Communities.”

Welcome to Debt Talk, with me, your host Ripon Ray. Today, we’re diving into one of the most urgent social policy challenges of our time — the cost of housing. To unpack this complex issue, I’m joined by Assia Awaleh from Sapphire Independent Housing, an expert with deep insight into the history and realities of social housing in the UK.Assia takes us on a journey through the evolution of social housing — from its capitalist roots, when employers provided homes for their workers, to the post-war era, when local authorities stepped in to rebuild communities devastated by bombing. She explains how the landscape shifted dramatically in the 1980s with Margaret Thatcher’s Right to Buy policy, which moved vast amounts of public housing into private hands. Ironically, many of those homes are now being rented back to low-income families at unaffordable prices.We then turn to the future. Following the tragedies of Grenfell and Awaab Ishak — the two-year-old boy who died in 2020 due to mould in his home — there are new legal protections for tenants. From October 2025, social housing landlords, including councils and housing associations, will be legally required to fix reported hazards such as damp and mould. Tenants will have the right to take legal action if landlords fail to act.Assia also addresses the stigma surrounding social housing and reminds us that many tenants are on low incomes or benefits — and there is no shame in that. Housing associations exist precisely to support those in financial hardship. However, for tenants on zero-hour contracts or precarious jobs, fluctuating income makes rent and budgeting even more difficult. That’s where housing associations step in — helping tenants access benefits and manage their money.Finally, Assia calls for greater tenant participation, urging residents to join landlord committees — whether in social or private housing — to ensure their voices shape how housing is managed and improved.Join us next time on Debt Talk, when we explore another pressing issue of inequality and access: “The Cost of Digital Exclusion.”

In this month’s Debt Talk podcast, we discuss: Cars & Their Costs.To explore the topic, Ripon Ray speaks with:Alison Tooze, from the British Association of ParkingSam Nurse, CEO of Money Advice HubAlison Tooze emphasised the importance of preventing parking-related crises and outlined steps drivers can take to reduce the risk of receiving fixed penalty notices or penalty charge notices. She noted that while the number of cars on the roads is increasing, available parking spaces are shrinking. Alison also stated that her members are responsible for managing parking spaces, which adds to the complexity of balancing road use and parking availability.She explained the differences between tickets issued under criminal and civil law, how each is recovered, and the associated costs. Alison described how disputes can arise when road users believe tickets have been wrongly issued, and she outlined the process for challenging them. She noted that appeal decision-makers can also take mitigating circumstances into account.Sam Nurse highlighted the importance of participating in a public consultation on the new Private Parking Code of Practice, which is seeking views on proposals to raise standards in the private parking sector. She pointed out that many parking facilities are oversubscribed, leading to people parking in prohibited areas. Other related pressures include the sharp rise in insurance costs—up by 200% in recent years. Sam noted that many of their clients are struggling to cover essential bills alongside car-related fines.Both guests shared Top Tips for Debt Talk listeners on how to manage car-related costs and avoid unnecessary penalties.The next Debt Talk podcast will focus on: Health & Costs.

Once an unknown territory, crypto and other digital assets have now become part of everyday life in Britain — and across the globe. On this episode of the Debt Talk podcast, Ripon Ray explores the complex intersections of cryptocurrency, digital finance, and gambling harms.To help unpack this topic, Ripon is joined by:Ismail Malik – Executive Chairman of Blockchain Lab and CEO of InfraStaking, which develops AI-generated digital assetsMatt Zarb-Cousin – Co-founder of Gamban and prominent gambling reform campaignerIsmail Malik sheds light on how crypto products are being treated by governments across the UK, EU, and the US. He explains how cryptocurrencies and digital assets have evolved, the business models behind them, and how consumer protections differ internationally.Matt Zarb-Cousin explores the growing overlap between digital finance and gambling harm. He questions whether gambling regulators are fit for purpose in protecting vulnerable communities, and discusses how products like Gamban offer layers of protection — while noting that more action is still needed.Both guests share practical tips for listeners, especially for those struggling with gambling, on how to stay safe and informed in the digital financial landscape.Next podcast is on: 'Cars and their costs'.

According to UK government data for the year ending 2023, there were an estimated 2.4 million separated families and 3.8 million children living in those households. More than half of divorced families had formal child maintenance arrangements—a figure that highlights the growing intersection of family separation and financial strain.This month’s Debt Talk with Ripon Ray dives deep into the theme: ‘Family Planning, Divorce & Debt’, bringing forward real-life stories that reveal how personal relationships, cultural expectations, and legal frameworks collide—often with emotional and financial consequences.Bilckis Khanom, a British Bangladeshi woman, bravely shares her story of marrying outside her religious and cultural upbringing. Although she married under Islamic law, her separation left her feeling isolated—both emotionally and socially. She discusses the legal and personal challenges she faced, and the profound impact of being disconnected from her community during a vulnerable time.Matt Peloquin, an American father previously married to a Chilean diplomat, speaks about his experience navigating the Chilean court system. He claims that custody decisions favoured Chilean nationals, leaving him at a disadvantage as a foreign father. His child maintenance payments were significantly higher than those expected from local citizens. Out of this experience, he founded Support Fathers' Rights, an organisation campaigning for equitable treatment of fathers across borders.Ella Betts from Christians Against Poverty offers a powerful perspective on the financial control and abuse that can occur during separations—especially when joint bank accounts and shared debts are involved. She outlines practical tools such as account freezes and access to ‘breathing space,’ but stresses that solving debt is only part of the solution. Collaboration between organisations is essential to offer holistic support during such critical moments in people’s lives.All our guests also share TOP TIPS for listeners—practical advice for anyone who may be facing similar circumstances, or supporting someone who is.Next episode: ‘Crypto, Digital Assets & Gambling’ — exploring the risks, realities, and financial consequences of the digital money world.

Just over 13% of the UK population are self-employed. Is being self-employed the way forward or are we forced to take the path in some sectors? In this month’s Debt Talk podcast, Ripon Ray spoke with three guests from many different perspectives.James Harris has been self-employed for nearly 25 years in the creative sector. He explained how funding in his sector has been reducing since the 1990s. There are also very few fashion shows compared to when he began his career. His biggest worry is personal finance since Universal Credit introduced the Minimum Income Floor leading to him getting into rent and other arrears.Andy Chamberlain - Director of Policy from the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-employed Limited - explained the direction of travel within the context of self-employment in the UK. He emphasised that more self-employed professionals are in the construction and literary creative industries. People in their 40s are more likely to be self-employed in these sectors instead of newly joined workers. He explained that employers should not deliberately choose to hire self-employed just to avoid giving workers their legal rights.Sam Nurse - CEO of Money Advice Hub - emphasised that being self-employed can be a challenge due to many factors which may include lack of bookkeeping experience or not filing financial reports on time to relevant authorities. She recognised that Universal Credit’s Minimum Income Floor ended up discriminating against self-employed, unlike employees who claim welfare support.The panelists also gave Debt Talk Listeners top tips. The next podcast is on ‘Foodbanks and the Welfare support.’

Imprisonment is an option for many councils in England to enforce council tax debt as a last resort if residents are wilfully refusing or are culpably neglectful to pay. On this month's Debt Talk podcast, Ripon Ray explored the ‘Prison & Council Tax’.He invited Chris Daw KC and Russell Hamblin-Boone to join him to find out whether it is fair and cost-effective to imprison communities for non-payment of council tax.Chris Daw KC, a criminal law expert, explained the history of debtors' prisons in the UK and how the measures were used against impoverished communities. He emphasised how Margaret Thatcher’s government introduced imprisonment as an option based on politically driven ideology and how this policy could be changed just by removing imprisonment from the legislation. He highlighted how costly it is to put someone in prison.Russell Hamblin-Boone outlined the changes in the enforcement industry and how it has adapted to meet the council's needs and identify financial and other vulnerabilities. He emphasised the importance of partnering with private enforcement agent companies to recover council tax as an alternative to putting someone in prison as opposed to central government debts.My panellists have also provided top tips to Debt Talk listeners in order to move forward both on a national issue and on the issue of private enforcement agents.The Debt Talk podcast is on the: ‘Insecurities of being Self-Employed’.

Consumer credit data held by credit reference and other organisations have become an essential part of the financial market, both in lending and borrowing and debt collection to make the financial sector sustainable. In this month’s Debt Talk podcast, Ripon Ray discussed a crucial topic: ‘Credit Ratings & Debt.’ To navigate the essential subject, he has representatives from two major global credit reference agencies - Experian and Equifax, the Registry Trust, which holds data on a money judgement, and the debt collection and purchaser trade body representative - Credit Services Association.James Jones from Experian spoke about its origin and current role in the financial services market. He explained the parameters in which credit reference agencies are data holders and how the agency gets information from lenders to make their data up-to-date and accurate for legitimate interest. He explored how the profiles of individuals are formed based on data collected and ways they develop credit scores based on algorithms. He also explained how the work of the credit credit reference agencies is regulated by the Information Commissioner Office (ICO) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).Craig Tebbutt from Equifax UK, outlined how they obtain information on court judgements and Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) and what remedies are available to consumers when there are data collection and information accuracy disputes. He emphasised the importance of checking credit reports frequently and contacting the agencies when the data is inaccurate. He then explained where technological development and innovation lie from the product development perspective within personal finance and debt.Chris Dick from the Registry Trust explained the difference between the data held by a credit reference agency and the trust. He distinguished how criminal court judgements are different from money judgments. When there are disputes and issues related to the data it holds, the data will go back to the courts or relevant judges concerned for correction. He also explained how innovation was developed from the data captured by the organisation.Chris Leslie from the debt collections and purchasers trade body Credit Services Association explained the types of information their members would receive from the initial credit and how they would use the data from the credit reference agencies to identify individuals and their financial resilience to pay. Depending on consumer behaviour, a purchaser would act appropriately, check their affordability and explore income maximisation. When consumers have assets such as a mortgage or avoid paying, the purchaser may take legal action as a last resort to recover the outstanding balance.My panel members also provided TOP TIPS to Debt Talk listeners either to improve their credit ratings or find ways to resolve their debt problems if they have defaulted.The following podcast is on Debt Talk, which is on ‘council tax debt and imprisonment’.

January is a month of cold weather, dark mornings, and possible failure in our New Year resolutions, which combine to create a perfect recipe for ‘January Blues’. To understand the cause of such blues, Debt Talk host Ripon Ray invited three guests from the mental and debt, financial inclusion, and open banking sectors.Charlene Marks, Head of Mental Health & Money Advice at Mental Health UK, confessed that there is a genuine reason for feeling gloomy this month: our finances have taken a beating during the festive period and the New Year. She explained that there is a commercial reason for calling it and it is linked with travel agents utilising the period to encourage the sale of travel abroad. There are vulnerable communities seeking advice from her organisation, and many alike are impacted by severe mental health, depression, bipolar disorder and other mental health issues and debt are intertwined, as she explained eloquently.Gareth Evans, founder of Cash Perks, sees this period as a new period of opportunity. He developed a product that helps transfer funds to anyone in the UK via SMS message and allows cash instantly without needing a card or bank account if they are financially struggling. But the question for him is where to look when you need support. Local councils are a great point of start with since his product assists many councils in transferring funds to struggling communities, either if they are suffering from January Blues or otherwise.Tope Akande, co-founder of Bucks Trybe, a product designed for immigrants in the UK, emphasised that marginalised communities and young British adults are excluded from mainstream lending. He states that building their credit record by addressing non-conventional transactions—such as the Bank of 'Mums and Dads'—with open banking would assist communities with a better future in the financial market and access to credit.Debt Talk panel members have also provided TOP TIPS listeners to think of strategies to ease the pressure of January Blues.My next podcast is on: 'Credit ratings whilst indebted’.

As we head towards this winter and people begin to prepare to celebrate Christmas festive period, lenders start to lend more than in other periods of time and customers borrow more; many no doubt will also suffer in silence due to the changes in winter fuel payment introduced by the current government. The subject for this month on the Debt Talk podcast is: 'Christmas festive worries'. To navigate the subject with Ripon Ray, there are two distinguished guests: Michael Agmoh-Davison, who is one of the organizers for the Unite the Trade Union, and Alison Berry, the debt coach lead for Christian Against Poverty.Michael Agmoh-Davison explained the current state of poverty in his community in Northern England and as a trade union representative for Unite the Union. He also described why his union decided to challenge the current government's decision not to assess the impact the change would have on pensioners and communities with disabilities in court. He also shared the importance of campaign work, which is needed beyond judicial review to protect the interests of communities in financial hardship.Alison Berry challenged the myth that most clients that Christian Against Poverty supports are about overspending but are actually about borrowing to mitigate their deficit budget, either keep their roof over their heads or keeping their home warm. This winter will be even more challenging for pensioners since it is the first winter, and many will need winter fuel payments.My panel members also provided Debt Talk listeners with TOP TIPS to assist communities who may struggle this winter and need advice and support when budgets are challenging.The next Debt Talk podcast is on ‘January Blues’. If you want to speak about a topic of your choice related to the theme of the podcast, you can get in touch with Ripon Ray here: ripon.ray@yourdoctordebt.com

Globally, Britain has a two-tier system: a thriving financial services sector on the one hand but millions of people who cannot access essential financial services on the other. Would the current Labour government make any difference to the millions of struggling residents excluded from the financial services market to help reduce such an exclusion? To navigate on the Debt Talk podcast on this month’s subject: ‘Financial Exclusion & lending’, with Ripon Ray, there are two panel members to share their experience and knowledge:Fran Boait, Co-Executive Director of Positive Money, outlined the severity of financial exclusion due to branch closures, which not only impact low-income households but also marginalised communities, those who live in remote rural places, and small businesses. A fairer method needs to be developed within the context of digital currency, and alternative lending needs to be emphasised for the benefit of the wider public.Shirina Ali, Manager of Limehouse Project in London, gave practical examples of how marginalised communities—such as Bangladeshi and Somalian—were impacted by branch closures by many banks in the UK. Many of her community members who are financially struggling do not trust mainstream lenders. They rely on word of mouth from their community members instead. She emphasised the importance of building trust with the local community and financial institutions. Therefore, how these institutions communicate with these community members must be clearer while encouraging financial education.They also provided Debt Talk listeners with TOP TIPS for those considering developing policies impacting excluded communities.The next podcast is on: ‘Hidden Worries during Christmas.’

As the winter unfolds, there is going to be an inevitable increase in fuel bills due to the high usage of gas and electricity especially for those who are on prepayment meter. During this time, the fuel cost is also to go up and access to fuel support is to be removed for pensioners who are not on pension credit by the current government. In this month’s Debt Talk podcast, Ripon Ray spoke about: 'Pensioners & winter fuel payment'. To navigate the subject, two panellists took part on the podcast to raise awareness of the impact of removal of Winter Fuel Allowance.Ian Samuel, a pensioner, and a Labour Party member shared his personal experience of not getting the support in this winter and his fear that many other pensioners, who already struggled with existing system, are to find themselves in further financial hardship. As a former social worker, he heard first-hand how low income pensioners struggled with prepayment meters whilst on pension credit. Recently he had a health scare which made him feel the vulnerability of being a single man living on his own. He wrote to his Member of Parliament and passionately campaigned against the removal of Winter Fuel Allowance. He explained how several councils have set up local hubs to encourage the uptake of pension credit.Matthew Cole, Head of the Fuel Bank Foundation recognised the need for the government to manage public finances. However, he was not convinced whether this was the right way to go about do it. He explained that the measure was implemented without exploring the impact it would have on low income pensioners who would miss out by just a £1 over the threshold. He emphasised that the government could have explored the tapering system as is the case with universal credit, a means tested benefit for working age population. Regardless of the stigma attached, he emphasised the importance of claiming pension credit because it would give access to other financial support, such as council reduction and housing benefit from local councils.Both panel members also provided TOP TIPS to Debt Talk Listeners to address the challenges faced by pensioners for this winter.My Debt Talk podcast is on: ‘Financial exclusion & lending’.

One of the important changes in the last decade is the rise in the consumption of products and services on Buy Now Pay Later, as many low-income households are using these products to buy household items.In this month’s Debt Talk podcast, Ripon Ray discusses ‘Indebted with Buy Now Pay products’. To address this pressing subject, Sean Breen from the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland and Gulsah T from Bromley Citizens Advice highlight some of the issues faced by communities struggling with buy-now-pay-later products and services.Sean Breen, Director of Financial and Postal Service from the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, explains that, based on their research, most consumers are from low-income households. They are already struggling with their finances and must be made aware of the consequences of non-payment, such as not being covered by the Financial Ombudsman Compensation Scheme. Many of them are also prone to being attracted to illegal money lenders.Gulsah T, Head of Advice Services, at Bromley Citizens Advice, highlights the changes in the types of clients they see. Where among many debts, they have seen an increase in young people purchasing buy now pay later and how education is crucial in highlighting the cost of default in payment of buy now pay later can be to the individual credit rating and a claim in court since the Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate them.The next podcast is on ‘Pensioners & winter fuel payment’.

Thousands of unpaid carers have been fined due to falling foul of earnings rules in the UK. Some of them also faced prosecution. The Department of Work and Pension (DWP) is recovering the overpayment of carers’ allowance from their existing benefit or salaries. On this month’s Debt Talk podcast, Ripon Ray explored: ‘Carers & benefit overpayment’ with distinguished guests from a funder and civil society organisations.Rory Ewan, Senior Analyst from Policy in Practice, spoke about financial and non-financial challenges carers face in the UK. He explained the nature of carers’ role and how they have fallen foul of the criteria for carers allowance. He also describes how income received under carers allowance is different from universal credit. Universal credit has a taper system where carers lose the whole of their allowance if they earn a pound above the legal threshold. The DWP then use drastic enforcement action to recover the debt which leaves carers in further poverty and with some faced with criminal prosecution.Abby Jitendra, Senior Policy Adviser from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) explained the UK's carers' state. They are mostly women, low-paid and deemed to fall within the vulnerability category. JRF carried out several research into the causes of poverty and carers and they are financially penalised for caring and also marginalised from the labour market leaving them with insecurity. Abby also highlighted the importance of changes in the benefits system to support carers in the long term.Both panel members provided Debt Talk listeners with TOP TIPS to consider policy change to improve the lives of carers in the UK. My next podcast is on: 'Indebted with By Now Pay Later products.’

Labour's landslide victory in the General Election raises questions about what the policy development will be for leaseholders' benefit in the United Kingdom. In this month’s Debt Talk podcast with Ripon Ray, three distinguished individuals share their knowledge on another important subject, ‘Leasehold & charges’.Suz Muna from the Social Housing Action Campaign says that renting and leasehold are two sides of the same coin where leaseholders are very much trapped in an exploitative situation from developers, freeholders, and management companies. Many of the leaseholders are living in unsalable homes whilst service charges are rocketing up. She argues for the abolition of leaseholds.Nicolas Kissen, senior adviser and a solicitor at the Leasehold Advisory Service, explained the rights leaseholders may have against stakeholders when there are high charges, bad behaviour and cladding in properties.Matthew Connell, Director of Policy and Public Affairs for the Personal Finance Society emphasised exploring different insurance and service products for leaseholders and explaining free money advice when leaseholders need support.They also provided TOP TIPS to the new Labour government to make policy changes to improve the conditions for leaseholders who are struggling with service charges.The next podcast on Debt Talk is on: 'Carers & benefit Overpayment'. If you want to get involved, get in touch with Ripon Ray - ripon.ray@yourdoctordebt.com

Thames Water considered a rise of 40% whilst its parent company is on the verge of liquidation. Southern Water requested Ofwat last October to increase its bill to consumers by 66% on top of the rise in inflation. In this month's Debt Talk podcast, Ripon Ray explored 'UK waters & our bills’.Eugenio Vaccari - Senior Lecturer from Royal Holloway, London, who researches sustainable restructuring procedures, explored the legal framework in which Thames Water and its parent company work and the potential challenges faced from the perspective of shareholders, government and sustainability of the water companies for the public interest.Andrew White - Senior leader for Social Policy of the Council for Consumer Water which represents the interest of consumers in the water sector explained the the impact of the rise in cost for vulnerable communities and explained that there is a genuine need to have a social tariff to support struggling consumers. He also explained how important it is to collaborate to raise awareness of the cost of water while there are families with deficit budgets.My panel members have also provided TOPS TIPS to listeners to drive changes as the general election looks in the UK.My next podcast is on: ‘Leasehold & Charges.’

Another thought-provoking podcast on Debt Talk is ‘Poverty & ethnicity premium’. This time, leading experts from academia, think tanks, debt advice, and funders spoke about issues that matter in financial services.Maria Booker from Fair By Design explained the poverty premium and how communities are paying more and being financially discriminated against because many can’t afford to pay by direct debit and are also on low incomes. This is particularly the case with paying for insurance and fuel or customers who pay a fee for withdrawing cash from a cashpoint when they have no alternative option.Sara Davies from Bristol University explored how many customers are directly impacted by services in the retail finance sector based on her research on those digitally excluded or affected by disability. However, when one product has been regulated, others seem to come into the market to exploit vulnerable customers.Jerry, during MBE from Money A&E, passionately spoke about how direct and indirect discrimination exists when the system disadvantages minority communities. He emphasised that Muslim South Asian communities may find that financial products are not Sharia compliant and the Afro-Carribean community may end up paying more towards mortgages compared to their white counterparts. He argued for representing such communities in product development processes to drive change.Ayesha Begum from Fair4All Finance, which published ‘Levelling the playing field—Building inclusive access to financial services for people from minority ethnic groups’, explained that minority communities face multiple barriers and exclusion in financial services while also experiencing frequent financial shocks compared to their white counterparts. When mainstream lenders do not support some minority communities, they turn to their community or fintech companies due to a lack of trust from mainstream lenders.My guests also provided TOP TIPS to listeners of Debt Talk for regulators, policymakers, customers and businesses. The following podcast will be on ‘UK Waters & Our Bills.’ Thank you for listening to the Debt Talk podcast with your host, Ripon Ray.

Introducing Consumer Duty principles by the Financial Conduct Authority resulted in a dramatic shift from treating customers fairly to focusing on customer outcomes, which requires a readjustment of thinking for many regulated firms in Britain. To navigate such an insightful subject on the Debt Talk podcast, Ripon Ray invited distinguished experts from research and consultancy, debt recovery, and the advice sector.Kathy Ellison from Savanta, a research and consultancy firm, explained how some regulated firms had changed their governance structure, consumer terms and conditions, communications and marketing, and in dealing with vulnerable consumers. Savanta's research showed that although many firms have significantly addressed regulatory expectations to benefit consumers, some work is still needed to improve consumer outcomes.Bob Winnington of the Money Advice Liaison Group emphasised the importance of delivering world-class service. He explained how the group brought different regulated communities within the financial services market together to encourage firms to share best practices in a highly competitive environment.Alex Pitcher from Step Change emphasised that Consumer Duty enabled them to revisit their consumer advice journey through the organisational process. They had to explore diverse ways of communicating with their clients whilst considering their client profiles and meeting regulated funders' expectations to demonstrate how their mission is aligned with the best outcome for consumers in debt advice.They also provided TOP TIPS to listeners who require extra support and firms struggling with implementation today. The following podcast is as pressing as the current one. It is on 'Poverty and ethnicity premium'.If you want to provide feedback on the content of this and other podcasts, do not hesitate to contact Ripon Ray: ripon.ray@yourdoctordebt.com