There are currently no arrangements in place for sharing of information about an individual customer’s financial circumstances or receipt of social tariffs, between companies, regulators, government or other organisations. This means that it can be challenging to identify customers who are experiencing financial vulnerability across the three sectors, and warning signs are rarely brought together in a coordinated or systematic way.76 Ofgem told us that it has work ongoing with debt charities to standardise information from consumers so that all household finances and debt challenges are taken into account in repayment plans.77 Written evidence submitted to us highlights that, with suitable privacy safeguards, there is scope for more and better sharing of information to identify those in financially vulnerable circumstances. The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute suggests that better data sharing could help to target and potentially even automate support to prevent individuals’ financial problems from worsening.78 76 WEB0017 77 Q 71 78 WEB0014 19 3 Gaps in the broader consumer protection landscape Alternative dispute resolution in water