Mass Redundancies Announced at Lindsey Oil Refinery Hey everyone, let's talk about some rather sombre news coming out of the Lindsey oil refinery near Grimsby. A significant portion of the workforce, specifically one-third, which amounts to 134 directly employed staff, were informed of their redundancy after completing a 12-hour overnight shift . These workers are set to be officially redundant by the end of next month. Background: [...]
Claire's UK & Ireland goes into Administration Okay — so the big news recently is that Claire’s, the accessories-and-ear‑piercing brand that many of us remember from mall trips and birthday gift hunts, has gone into administration in the UK & Ireland. Let’s unpack what’s happened, how it got here, and what it might mean (with a sprinkle of nostalgia, because yes, I too had that glittery butterfly [...]
Starbucks Announces Store Closures in the UK: What It Means for the Future In a significant move as part of its ongoing strategy, Starbucks has announced plans to close several stores across the UK while also implementing job cuts in North America. This decision comes amid a broader restructuring effort aimed at revamping the brand's operations and enhancing profitability. Background of the Restructuring Plan Starbucks' global restructuring [...]
Dodgy Car Dealer Debts You buy a car, it breaks down within a month (sometimes even on the way home), and suddenly you’re told it was sold as seen. Then the battle begins. First off, a "sold as seen" car sale means that you’re agreeing to take the vehicle in its current condition, with no guarantees from the seller about its quality or if it's fit for [...]
Before I go on, when I say “construction,” I mean house builders, carpenters, electricians, decorators, landscape gardeners, plumbers, etc. You get the idea. Just writing this sends chills down my spine. Everybody seems to be trying to screw each other over! So, if the job went well for you, you’re one of the lucky ones. Every case I see involves either a cowboy builder or a [...]
Without a shadow of a doubt, landlords chasing after their tenants is the most common type of debt I've come across over the years. It’s like a never-ending saga! Honestly, these companies that do tenant pre-checks? Pretty lacklustre, if you ask me. I don’t know what kind of software they’re using for credit history checks, but it seems to only look at the tenant's last address. Any [...]
The Bank of England is expected to cut interest rates from 4.25% to 4.00% in an upcoming meeting, marking the fifth reduction since August 2024. This decision comes in response to rising unemployment and challenges posed by global trade tensions, particularly due to new tariffs imposed by the U.S. government. Key Points Economic Context: The UK economy has seen a contraction with a reported decline of 0.1% [...]
When it comes to debt recovery, there’s often a misconception that it’s all paperwork and polite phone calls. But anyone in the field knows that it can take some unexpected turns—especially when you're tasked with serving legal documents. This story offers a vital piece of debt recovery advice: always protect yourself, stay professional, and record everything. A Day on the Job – Serving Insolvency Papers in the [...]
On August 1, 2025, the UK Supreme Court delivered a significant ruling regarding car finance commissions that could have far-reaching implications for both consumers and lenders. The case revolved around whether it was legal for car dealers to receive commissions from lenders without informing customers, potentially paving the way for consumer claims totalling billions of pounds. Background of the Case The Supreme Court reviewed decisions from previous [...]
The New Legislation In a significant move set to reshape the landscape of business transactions, the UK government has unveiled plans aimed at tackling the pervasive issue of late payments to suppliers. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasized that “it's time to pay up”, highlighting the impact of late payments on the economy, which costs the UK approximately £11 billion annually and leads to the closure [...]
