Products

Insider Intelligence delivers leading-edge research to clients in a variety of forms, including full-length reports and data visualizations to equip you with actionable takeaways for better business decisions.
Reports
In-depth analysis, benchmarks and shorter spotlights on digital trends.
Learn More
Forecasts
Interactive projections with 10k+ metrics on market trends, & consumer behavior.
Learn More
Charts
Proprietary data and over 3,000 third-party sources about the most important topics.
Learn More
Industry KPIs
Industry benchmarks for the most important KPIs in digital marketing, advertising, retail and ecommerce.
Learn More
Briefings
Client-only email newsletters with analysis and takeaways from the daily news.
Learn More
Analyst Access Program
Exclusive time with the thought leaders who craft our research.
Learn More

About Insider Intelligence

Our goal at Insider Intelligence is to unlock digital opportunities for our clients with the world’s most trusted forecasts, analysis, and benchmarks. Spanning five core coverage areas and dozens of industries, our research on digital transformation is exhaustive.
Our Story
Learn more about our mission and how Insider Intelligence came to be.
Learn More
Methodology
Rigorous proprietary data vetting strips biases and produces superior insights.
Learn More
Our People
Take a look into our corporate culture and view our open roles.
Join the Team
Contact Us
Speak to a member of our team to learn more about Insider Intelligence.
Contact Us
Newsroom
See our latest press releases, news articles or download our press kit.
Learn More
Advertising & Sponsorship Opportunities
Reach an engaged audience of decision-makers.
Learn More
Events
Browse our upcoming and past events, recent podcasts, and other featured resources.
Learn More
Podcasts
Tune in to eMarketer's daily, weekly, and monthly podcasts.
Learn More

Zilch partners with debt charity to help customers get through cost-of-living crisis

The news: British buy now, pay later (BNPL) fintech Zilch partnered with debt advice charity StepChange to identify and support customers in financial distress, according to a press release.

  • After customers are flagged for missing repayments, Zilch suspends their credit, and they are referred to StepChange for free advice.
  • StepChange will also work with Zilch’s vulnerability team to improve the firm’s debt advice referral processes.
  • Zilch will make donations to support the charity’s UK operations.

Why now? The UK’s cost-of-living crisis and the highest interest rates since 2008 are making it harder for consumers to repay debts.

  • More than 3 million low-income households can’t afford to heat their homes, per the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
  • About 2.3 million households missed an essential payment in January—up 400,000 month over month, according to Which?.

This is pushing some shoppers to borrow more: Consumer debt rose by one-third in 2022, per the money.co.uk debt index. That’s helped boost the growth of flexible payment options like BNPL. But critics allege that BNPL exploits users and can increase debt problems.

Will it work? Partnering with StepChange can help Zilch’s customers manage their debt, and the fintech’s stance could win it new users and bolster its reputation. It could also keep Zilch ahead of impending legislation and cut the chance of FCA penalties.

However, needing to involve debt charities highlights BNPL’s major flaw: It can potentially exacerbate shoppers’ financial woes by normalizing unsustainable borrowing. And supporting struggling users won’t eradicate this problem.

Keep reading: Find out more about the challenges BNPL firms face in our Era of Uncertainty: Buy Now, Pay Later report.

This article originally appeared in Insider Intelligence's Payments Innovation Briefing—a daily recap of top stories reshaping the payments industry. Subscribe to have more hard-hitting takeaways delivered to your inbox daily.