UK — Refuge reported a 78% increase in referrals for cases of technology-facilitated or economic abuse between April 2025 and March 2026. During this period, 967 referrals were made to Refuge's specialist unit, rising from 542 in the prior year. The number of referrals involving victims experiencing economic abuse increased from 198 to 414.

Refuge's economic abuse specialists observed an increase in cases involving car finance over the past two years. Economic abuse can manifest as restricting access to money, preventing a partner from accessing bank accounts, or coercing individuals into taking out loans or credit. Refuge issues support letters to lenders to advocate for the write-off of coerced debts and is urging the UK government to establish a working group comprising specialist support services, car finance providers, and credit reference agencies.

"My ex-partner was controlling in many ways, but economic abuse was a big part of this," said Zara, a Refuge service user. "It was then that I was informed I was liable to pay an early termination fee of around £11,000. I couldn't afford this, so I missed a number of these payments, which then impacted my credit score."

Francesca Ferrier, Senior Economic Empowerment Partnerships Manager at Refuge, stated, "Many car finance providers and credit reference agencies lack the skills and resources to identify the signs of economic abuse, leaving survivors facing obstacles to resolving debt and rebuilding their financial independence." Ferrier added, "The government must bring together car finance providers, credit reference agencies and specialist economic abuse services to better understand the risks survivors face and develop a coordinated, robust response that ensures survivors receive the support and protection they deserve."

Research conducted by Ipsos UK for Surviving Economic Abuse indicated that 36% of girls and young women aged 16 to 24 had experienced economic abuse from a current or former partner within the past year. This research estimated that 1.3 million young women across the UK faced economic abuse from a current or former partner in the last year. Nearly one in three girls aged 16 to 18 experienced economic abuse in the previous 12 months, and almost one in five in this age group reported that the abuse began within the first month of the relationship.

Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of Surviving Economic Abuse, stated, "Our research shows that millions of teenage women and girls are being controlled, isolated and manipulated by abusive partners, often from the earliest days in a relationship." She also noted, "Worryingly, half report adverse impacts on their mental health."