Hi
From Credit Today
The number of highly educated, wealthy individuals becoming insolvent rocketed by 43 per cent during last year, according to research out today.
Experian said that the number of bust privileged City workers living in the exclusive postcodes of London such as Kensington, Chelsea, Regent’s Park and Hampstead has now risen to 202.
There was also a 36 per cent increase in the number of financially successful directors of companies, so-called ‘Serious Money’ types, becoming insolvent during 2009.
While the number of County Court Judgments (CCJs) was down across the majority of consumer groups in 2009, the biggest increase was in the ‘Serious Money’ consumer type, which saw its count of CCJs increase by 12 per cent.
Highly educated, high-earning middle-aged professionals saw CCJs increase by six per cent and well- off individuals (typically lawyers, board directors, accountants and tax consultants) living in picturesque rural locations such as South Woodham Ferrers in Essex, Pulborough in West Sussex and Nailsworth in Gloucestershire, saw a five per cent increase.
Phil Cotter, managing director for credit services at Experian, UK & Ireland, said: "Predicting risk in consumer lending has become more complex, with accounts once correctly considered medium to low risk and profitable increasingly entering collections due to the changing economic climate."
However, the older generation of people living on limited incomes in council estates of Northern and Midland industrial towns faced the highest number of insolvencies. Those living in the so-called" legacy of labour" consumer bracket witnessed a 10 per cent rise to 10,751 insolvencies.
The highest number of personal insolvencies occurred in Torquay, where 10 in every 1,000 adult residents became insolvent during 2009. Llandudno, Irvine, Falkirk and Skegness also saw high concentrations of insolvency, with around eight in every 1,000 residents becoming insolvent.
Hamilton saw the biggest rise in insolvencies, from four to seven in every 1,000 residents between 2008 and 2009, an increase of 57 per cent.
Regards
Andam Davies
