A new report, commissioned by Circle Anglia, a provider of affordable housing claims that
over 100,000 of the UK’s poorest families will spend 2010 saddled with a combined debt of around £82 million after borrowing money from loan sharks to pay for Christmas 2009.
The Real Cost of Christmas report, written by think tank the Financial Inclusion Centre, found that an estimated £29 million in illegal doorstep loans were taken out over the holiday season, making it the worst Christmas in a generation for this type of borrowing.
Circle Anglia commissioned the research to highlight the issue after noticing an increase in the number of its residents being targeted by loan sharks, and has launched a campaign to raise awareness among residents, who find themselves in financial difficulty.
Evidence shows that on average people borrowed nearly £300 from loan sharks to cover the cost of Christmas, but with exorbitant interest rates averaging 825% (some rates can reach as high as 1,500%), they will pay back over £800. The average loan repayment period is a year, meaning that a large number of Britain’s poorest households will still be paying off their debt in Christmas 2010.
The report also found that illegal loan shark activity is on the up in the UK. Over the last three years the estimated use of loan sharks increased from 165,000 to over 200,000 households per annum – a 22% rise.
As the recession continues to bite, loan sharks have moved in with loans from illegal doorstep lenders at Christmas time accounting for up to half of all loans borrowed from loan sharks in 2009.
Consumer minister Kevin Brennan said: "The Government has created specialist Trading Standards illegal money lending teams around the country so that they can come down hard on loan sharks. The teams have helped more than 10,000 victims and written off more than £30 million of illegal debt. They have already secured around 50 years in prison sentences, helping to rid communities of these criminals. I’d encourage anyone who feels trapped by a loan shark to get help and advice as soon as possible."