Personal Finance Story of the Year
For his story in Money Mail, Daily Mail, Ben Willkinson collects his trophy from Chelsey Wheeler, Deputy Head of News and Issues at Direct Line Group and awards host Kerry Godliman
Winner: Plague of the Debt Vultures by Ben Wilkinson, Money Mail, Daily Mail
The story of the year element of the Headlinemoney Awards allows journalists covering different areas of financial services to showcase their very best work from the preceding 12 months. From a strong array of personal finance stories, three stood out in particular after the scoring phase. After the judges' deliberations, the winner was Ben Wilkinson for his investigation into how IVA firms have been operating to the detriment of consumers struggling with money issues.
“I felt this article brought light to a well-trodden subject: debt,” observed one judge. “Getting the Insolvency Service to move so swiftly demonstrates the article’s impact,” said another.
Shortlist
£1 billion lost to doomed property schemes, Adam Williams, Telegraph Media Group
A fake name, fake address and zero bank checks – how I bought bitcoin from the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange in one minute, David Byers, The Times
If the MoS can easily identify the weasels who stole £239,000 from Catriona's account, why on earth can't the misnamed Action Fraud?, Rachel Rickard Straus, The Mail on Sunday
Lack of reforms to Child Maintenance Service leaving women ‘fearing for their lives', Katie Binns, The i paper
Plague of the debt vultures, Ben Wilkinson, Money Mail, Daily Mail
'She Groomed me for £10,000': scandal at FSCS as employee goes rogue,Harry Brennan, Telegraph Media Group
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