They should be taken out and shot

[andrewducker]

I just opened some junk mail that had arrived here for tisme - offering credit - "No matter your credit history", at the low, low rate of 29.9% - but with the first week only costing £1!

Oh, and you had to buy from their store, where they were selling wide-screen TVs, over-priced computers and "authentic" leather beds.

So, they're aiming it at people with no money, a history of bad debt, a taste for stupidly expensive things, and no idea that 30% interest rates are a mindnumbingly horrible rip-off

They should all be fucking shot repeatedly through the head.

Comments

[andrewducker]

Oh, I realise that it's 30% because a fair number are going to default. On a purely risk-basis, it doesn't sound like an entirely unreasonable figure.

But once you get beyond a certain point, you find yourself trapped in debt-hell, unable to pay anything back, and having to take on bigger loans to deal with the fact you couldn't pay your current ones and got charged extra.

When you've completely trashed your credit history, have demonstrated you can't handle money, are clearly in debt and are _still_ about to buy a wide-screen high definition TV for £1500 - you've reached that point. You've held up your hands and said "I am an idiot, who should not be allowed to buy things." and any company taking your money knows full well that they are selling to idiots who want things they cannot afford.

They are taking advantage of people who clearly cannot help themselves, and I believe that this is wrong.

[bohemiancoast.livejournal.com]

Oh, now we agree. Yes, we live in a world where we convince ourselves that we'll be happier if only we have a better telly.

Of course, I *was* happier when I got a computer with a big wide screen. But that's *me*, and I'm not in debt*.

*Apart from the mortgage. We don't talk about the mortgage.

[andrewducker]

Yeah - I'm not convinced that banning it would work - but I still think that people who do it are scum.

I suspect I feel similarly about hard drugs - I think that banning them is wrong, but I also wouldn't feel kindly towards people who sold heroin.

And do, we don't talk about the mortgage. I don't talk about my debt either, although at least that's under control and is going down by £350 a month.