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This is sad but understandable in the pantomime world of national newspaper front pages, in an age where people are quick to point the finger of blame at a big company and sympathise with the struggling consumer.

Black and white tales of good and bad have always proven popular, grey tales of a large number of home loan providers not wanting to turf people out of their homes when a cooling housing market may mean they do not recoup all their cash would not shift as many newspapers.

While one-sided stories may be expected from some, what was sad but less understandable was the FSA's decision to state specialist lenders systemically operate a one size fits all approach to arrears management.

At the heart of the FSA's own mortgage rules is the fact the onus is on the lender to work hard to reach a reasonable agreement with a customer in difficulty. Unlike many regulations this rule is clearly not just about protecting the consumer as it also makes good business sense.

As the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association pointed out, in troubled times when arrears are mounting, it is in the interests of all parties to find an effective solution to overcome homeowners' problems.

While lenders clearly have to make commercially viable decisions when managing arrears, keeping people in their homes if they are simply going through a tough patch and could meet repayments again is preferable in a market like this one.

But in some situations delaying the sale of the property means the debt will continue to rise with no realistic chance of the borrower ever clearing it and this means repossessions will always be a sad and somewhat inevitable fact of life.

Even with the best of intentions, some borrowers will have convinced themselves they can afford an abode that is beyond their means.

What should have been championed by the FSA is those lenders that are leading the way to alert mortgage advisers to their clients who fall into this category and could be saved from their own poor financial management.

Accord took the decision to issue a letter to the introducing intermediary alongside the letter it sent out to clients informing them they have gone into arrears. The lender argued not only do those with payment difficulties need someone to help them assess their situation, they also need to draw up a plan to move forward.

Debt does not have to be insurmountable, it only becomes that if consumers allow themselves to become overcome by it.

Imla is right to state when arrears are mounting it is in the interests of all parties to address the problem. The FSA, lenders and intermediaries should work together to highlight those who are doing a great job at handling customers in arrears and encourage others to see the rewards of following such examples. The regulator should recognise cas studies if good arrears management on its website sadly will not be picked up by the press in the same way comments on specialist lenders will be used to tar and feather everyone.