Payment holidays for credit cards, car finance, personal loans and pawned goods have been extended for a further six months ahead of tougher coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions.
Customers who had not yet deferred a payment can now request one for up to six months, and those with short-term credit – such as payday loans – can defer for one month, with the FCA saying: “It is important that consumer credit customers who can afford to do so continue to make repayments,”
It continued: “Borrowers should only take up this support if they need it.”
The FCA had already brought in payment holidays for credit customers in April and extended them for three months in July, but it has now reviewed the rules – which apply across the UK – once again amid fears the introduction of the second national lockdown will hit many more people’s finances.
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The payment holidays will also apply to those with rent to own, and buy-now pay-later deals.
Anyone already benefitting from a payment deferral will additionally be able to apply for a second deferral, however the FCA did not comment at this time on whether people could still have interest on the first £500 of their overdrafts waived, and said it would make a fuller statement in due course.
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The FCA said: “We will work with trade bodies and lenders on how to implement these proposals as quickly as possible, and will make another announcement shortly,”
This comes following the announcement yesterday that mortgage payment holidays are also being extended for homeowners that have been financially affected by the pandemic, and borrowers who have not yet had a mortgage holiday can request from their lender a pause in repayments, that can last up to six months.
Those who have had their payments deferred already, can extend their mortgage holiday until they reach the six-month limit.
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During this period interest will still accrue on what borrowers owe.
Borrowers who have already reached the maximum six-month mortgage holiday and are still facing difficulty making repayments, are being advised by the FCA to speak to their lender about a “tailored support” plan.
You can find more information via The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) website here.
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AO Arena are hosting an ‘Evening 4’ Ricky Hatton in memory of the legendary Manchester boxer
Danny Jones
Manchester is set to host a night of remembrance and celebration in honour of the late, great, local boxer, Ricky Hatton.
Coming this summer, the AO Arena – where Hatton enjoyed so many of his iconic moments – will be holding the first-ever ‘Evening4Ricky’ later this year.
Held at the legendary sports and live entertainment venue just in time for summer, we still know very little about what the actual event will entail.
Sharing the news on social media, AO Arena said: “Join us for an unforgettable night of entertainment as Manchester comes together for Evening4Ricky.
“This will be a spectacular, unique celebration of the life, spirit and legacy of one of the city’s most beloved icons – Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton.”
With seats priced at £25, fans are being encouraged to join the early bird sign-up to secure access to discounted tickets.
They go on to add: “Hosted at the legendary AO Arena, home to so many of Ricky’s big fights, featuring a superstar cast of legends from the worlds of boxing, music, comedy and entertainment.”
So, we do at least know there’ll be some famous faces coming along to help make it a memorable Manc moment, just a few months on from the city and beyond uniting for his public funeral procession.
Ricky was beloved not only by the Greater Manchester community but was a popular figure and friend to many in the sporting and showbiz industries.
The homegrown ‘Pride of Hyde‘ tragically left us on 14 September 2025 at the age of just 46, but his passing has once again helped reassert the importance of having more conversations around wellbeing, suicide prevention, and most specifically, men’s mental health.
You can find more information and see how to grab tickets right HERE.
This isn’t the only charitable in memoriam event happening across the region in the coming weeks, either, as Mancs will be gathering to pay tribute to another fellow inspiring sportsman.
Printworks’ Vue cinema is the latest to get a comfort upgrade with new ‘Ultra Lux’ seats
Emily Sergeant
Cinephiles across Manchester are now able to enjoy the latest movie releases in ultimate comfort.
If you hadn’t already heard, over at the popularMediaCity Vue cinema complex, 75 brand-new ‘Ultra Lux’ seats were installed across seven screensat the end of last year, offering film fans what is, quite literally, the chance to sit in the best seats in the house.
And now,Printworks is getting in on the action as well, as a whopping 163 new ‘Ultra Lux’ seats have now been installed at Vue Manchester Printworks too.
Each seat provides the very-best view of the big screen and comes with a host of premium features.
Some of these exciting premium features include extra-wide armrests, a personal table forsnacks and drinks, your very-own beverage cooler – which is ideal for films with a particularly long run-time – and even backs and legs that recline independently, so you can find the most relaxing viewing position possible.
Ultra Lux seats have arrived at Vue Manchester Printworks / Credit: Vue Gallery / Supplied
Vue currently has 93 state-of-the-art cinemas throughout the UK and Ireland, totalling more than 850 screens – and Vue Manchester Printworks is the latest to benefit from upgraded seating.
This means that anyone heading to thecinema to see some of the latest and upcoming releases like Project Hail Mary, The Drama, Hoppers, Scream 7, How To Make a Killing, and so many more, can experience comfort like never before.
“We’ve invested in bringing Vue’s premium seating to our venues and can’t wait for customers to enjoy an even more comfortable cinema experience on their next visit,” commented Brodie Lyons, who is the Area Manager for the two Vue venues in Manchester.
“It’s truly the best way to immerse yourself in a film.”
Tickets for screenings at Vue Manchester Printworks and Vue Quayside Manchester start from £7.99, with upgrades to Ultra Lux available on selected tickets.
The Manc -
2nd November 2020 
