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BBC News Article / Program

Just been reading this...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5029530.stm

quite interesting, nothing we didn't already know though?

It's on Tv tomorrow "The Whistleblower. On Monday, 5 June 2006"

I would say that whilst I agree that banks are very underhand in their tactics for getting people in debt, they are also after all a business like any other trying to survive and make money in a highly competitive market. They don't actually FORCE people to spend money and take out loans, just blaming the banks for the massive debt crisis doesn't really look at the broader picture in my view.
Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow.

Comments

  • keith_lard
    keith_lard Posts: 517 Forumite
    Sky News have covered this story as well

    http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-13526965,00.html

    Taken from the article............

    "The banks are basically neglectiong their duty of care. They are putting profits before human life, almost"
    If you want to see a rainbow, you have to get used to the rain.
  • brranger
    brranger Posts: 250 Forumite
    If the banks and CC companys were not willing to lend to us as we already had large debt then we would all end up on our high rate cards and loans with no chance of getting 0% offers and repaying the debt early.

    Its a double edge sword. people must be in more control of what they spend.
    Thought I saw the light at the end of the tunnel....Then got hit by a train! :A
    Lightbulb Feb 2006 :o
    Debt free Nov 2011
  • Mc4ndy
    Mc4ndy Posts: 142 Forumite
    brranger wrote:
    If the banks and CC companys were not willing to lend to us as we already had large debt then we would all end up on our high rate cards and loans with no chance of getting 0% offers and repaying the debt early.

    Its a double edge sword. people must be in more control of what they spend.

    Yes, agreed. Banks however don't have 0% rates and deals because they like lending money to people for free. They want to get you as a customer then try make you borrow more, or sell you something else, or hope you default on the 0% payment terms.
    Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow.
  • Pity the programmes are on at 9:15am as I'll be at work for the whole series!
    Quit smoking 18/08/07
  • john_kent
    john_kent Posts: 425 Forumite
    When I worked for a data company that sold data to companies , a loan company (that advertises on day time tv) were always asking for high risk customers. certain address`s were marked "Not for Finance Client" as the whole companies profit was based on success for their customers. So houses where finance was unlikely to sell (Council estates so cant be secured to house etc....) were removed. There were then address which wee highly rated as defaulters.

    Also , when working for a bank , I had access to a high level document (Archive) which stated that Chip and Pin would be a "Acceptable Smokescreen to increased charge and credit card intrest"

    basically this document highlithed that the banks would annalyse spending patterns. If Mr smith went to the pub every friday and asturday , but come week three after getting paid he didnt , the banks would sell him a credit card and then , on the thursday of week 3 , he would get a leaflet saying "Hey Chip and Pin is gret , but to make thing sbetter , you cna use the card to draw money at ATM`s with the same PIN"

    They are a business. ANd they are making money from people missery.
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