IT’S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE ASKED TO WORK ON AN ITEM WITH COLLETTA SMITH. HER KNOWLEDGE AS THE BBC’S COST OF LIVING CORRESPONDENT IN THE HEART OF THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS ALLOWS US TO BRING SOME REAL TAKE HOME INFORMATION TO THE SHOW. WITH ALMOST 3 MILLION LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS HAVING BEEN DECLINED A LOAN IN THE PAST FEW YEARS AND UP TO 2.6 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS NOW HOLDING A LOAN WITH A LOAN SHARK, PAYDAY LENDER, DOORSTEP LENDER OR A PAWNSHOP, I HELPED COLLETTA TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO SPOT A LOAN SHARK, HOW TO REPORT THEM, AND SAFER WAYS YOU CAN BORROW MONEY IF YOU REALLY NEED IT.

ROLE: RESEARCHER