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Tiffy's MSE Advent...
Tiff_2
Posts: 3,046 Forumite
Hi guys!
Sorry this is late but I've had a case of grinches in the pc.
Where was I? Oh, that's right.....
Sorry this is late but I've had a case of grinches in the pc.
Where was I? Oh, that's right.....
''On the seventh day of December, Tiffy said to me...
Don't Get Scrooged This Christmas!
I wish I'd actually done this as my first Tiffy MSE Advent post, especially in view of the current financial climate and I really hope that it doesn't come too late for anyone considering these options. This really is one of my pet hates and there's not much else that can rub my fur up the wrong way, more than the subject of doorstep credit. I find myself getting a tad sarcastic when on this subject, so apologies in advance for that.
I'd also like to make it clear that yes, I do understand that people have choices and do this of their own free will, that the collectors are only employees and it's not their fault, and that the companies claim to be of service to those people with bad credit, on benefits, etc. when no-one else will help them and that it's exactly this time of year that makes these offers so very tempting, and that in a very real emergency, a small £50 loan, (that used to be the general minimum), can help some. But don't forget that the longer you take to pay it back, the more you will be paying in interest and a £50 loan can easily become a £150 debt. It's the practise and ethics of such companies that I have the problem with.
I found two sites on t'internet from such companies,
, and I have quoted them below as they were laid out, as examples.
Any comments I make will be in brackets - and in orange ink so you can tell them apart - and maybe these comments might even be thoughts or questions we need to be asking ourselves when tempted by these ads. Here you go guys - Contestant number 1...
Don't Get Scrooged This Christmas!
I wish I'd actually done this as my first Tiffy MSE Advent post, especially in view of the current financial climate and I really hope that it doesn't come too late for anyone considering these options. This really is one of my pet hates and there's not much else that can rub my fur up the wrong way, more than the subject of doorstep credit. I find myself getting a tad sarcastic when on this subject, so apologies in advance for that.
I'd also like to make it clear that yes, I do understand that people have choices and do this of their own free will, that the collectors are only employees and it's not their fault, and that the companies claim to be of service to those people with bad credit, on benefits, etc. when no-one else will help them and that it's exactly this time of year that makes these offers so very tempting, and that in a very real emergency, a small £50 loan, (that used to be the general minimum), can help some. But don't forget that the longer you take to pay it back, the more you will be paying in interest and a £50 loan can easily become a £150 debt. It's the practise and ethics of such companies that I have the problem with.
I found two sites on t'internet from such companies,
, and I have quoted them below as they were laid out, as examples. Any comments I make will be in brackets - and in orange ink so you can tell them apart - and maybe these comments might even be thoughts or questions we need to be asking ourselves when tempted by these ads. Here you go guys - Contestant number 1...
''The NEW P........ Visa Pre Paid Debit Card (New? Card? And they've used the 'V' word! Ooo - what's this then?
)
It's the modern and safe way to take your P........ loan
Imagine having instant spending power and the freedom to shop where you want. (Do I have to rub a lamp or something?
) Use it over the phone, on the Internet or on the High Street. You can even use it abroad - great for your holidays! (I'm on Income Support - what holidays?! Hey, maybe I can go on holiday!!!
)
It's safe, secure and it's not a credit card
Imagine having instant spending power and the freedom to shop where you want. (Do I have to rub a lamp or something?
) Use it over the phone, on the Internet or on the High Street. You can even use it abroad - great for your holidays! (I'm on Income Support - what holidays?! Hey, maybe I can go on holiday!!!)It's safe, secure and it's not a credit card
- The P........ Visa Card is a debit card so you can't go over your limit. You can spend as much or as little of your loan as you want, when you want (I won't even have to go to sleep - now it's on a card, I can shop at all hours! This is good practice too because you might have plenty of sleepless nights ahead of you!
It's all nice and respectable too because it's on a debit card - that might make the loan a lot easier to be spent even faster, and then you might have to go back for more!) - Cards are available in values of £300 (Hah! This hints that I might be able to get more than one card - the fools!
) - It lets you shop safely from the comfort of your home - on the phone or over the Internet (Lead me not into temptation...
) - You can withdraw cash as and when you need it from cash machines and banks
- You'll have your very own PIN (Personal Identification Number) to make sure only you can use it (No-one else would want your debts!)
- You can check your balance; so that you always stay in control of your finances. (Which are probably already in trouble if you're borrowing at an interest rate of 189.2%. And also this means that you can update your health insurance to cover you for the coronary you're about to have in 6 months time!
) - It works in exactly the same way as a P........ loan where your Agent will collect your repayments each week at a time convenient for you. (And some who have been known to phone you and call at your house until they catch you in, if you miss a few payments, several times at any time of day or night. Which, by the way, is illegal if it actually reaches this stage of being very unreasonable because then it's called harassment!)
Example: Loan amount: £300
57 weekly repayments of £9
Total amount payable £513
Typical 189.2% APR''
These people were kind enough though to print their rate in a beautiful bold large-sized font for us - I didn't increase the font size. Actually, they should all do it this way - maybe it'll help to focus our attention on the really important part.
It can be very enticing to some peeps who see the words 'debit card' and think that this makes it a modern, safe, better and improved deal, more respectable if you like just because it's on a nice plastic debit card.
But it isn't that at all - it's still that same old spotty
leopard you know and love, that's just had a superficial makeover. You're still paying the same rate of 189.2% and you'll still have their highly persistent rep knocking on your door every week!
And what's worse to me is that the leopard has slyly increased it's spots, by producing this portable version of the 'little devil on your shoulder' for you, so you'll find temptation even easier to give in to.
Believe me, by making everything so much easier, that £300 is going to go a lot faster than the cash that we like to feel in our hands for as long as possible!
Just a one off lender you might think?
And here's another one from the web - Contestant number 2...
S.........
Let us help you get the cash you need (HELP-YOU...CASH-YOU-NEED!)
We're waiting to help you with a choice of convenient cash loans. (Awww - you're too kind.
)
And you'll enjoy affordable weekly payments collected from your home at a time to suit you! (I don't think 'enjoy' is necessarily the right word to use. I don't think I'll enjoy someone appearing on my doorstep every week, in front of the neighbours, with their large accountants' ledgers that seem to be mandatory equipment for them.
)
APPLY ONLINE NOW (Stop shouting at me on the interweb!) Borrow up to (You've got my attention...
)
£500 cash (CASH AGAIN! Ooo - and even more cash!)
To spend as you wish (Where do I sign? Even my ex-OH never let me do that!)
3 easy steps to get the things you want... ('k...)
1. Apply online NOW (The damn AutoFill function on the pc isn't working - must type faster!)
2. Get a fast decision, we'll call you back within 24hrs (They are more likely to call you back in 24 minutes. Please note how keen they were, and how easy it was, for them to get hold of you - this same response time will probably be matched should you fall into arrears.)
3. We'll deliver your cash within 48 hours of a completed application being submitted (So I've just got to submit the application and pretty much regardless of what I put on it, it's all mine?
)
We've already helped 100,000's of customers to... (Ahh, bless you - I believe everything you're telling me.
)
57 weekly repayments of £9
Total amount payable £513
Typical 189.2% APR''
These people were kind enough though to print their rate in a beautiful bold large-sized font for us - I didn't increase the font size. Actually, they should all do it this way - maybe it'll help to focus our attention on the really important part.
It can be very enticing to some peeps who see the words 'debit card' and think that this makes it a modern, safe, better and improved deal, more respectable if you like just because it's on a nice plastic debit card.
But it isn't that at all - it's still that same old spotty
leopard you know and love, that's just had a superficial makeover. You're still paying the same rate of 189.2% and you'll still have their highly persistent rep knocking on your door every week!
And what's worse to me is that the leopard has slyly increased it's spots, by producing this portable version of the 'little devil on your shoulder' for you, so you'll find temptation even easier to give in to.
Believe me, by making everything so much easier, that £300 is going to go a lot faster than the cash that we like to feel in our hands for as long as possible!
Just a one off lender you might think?
And here's another one from the web - Contestant number 2...
S.........
Let us help you get the cash you need (HELP-YOU...CASH-YOU-NEED!
)We're waiting to help you with a choice of convenient cash loans. (Awww - you're too kind.
)And you'll enjoy affordable weekly payments collected from your home at a time to suit you! (I don't think 'enjoy' is necessarily the right word to use. I don't think I'll enjoy someone appearing on my doorstep every week, in front of the neighbours, with their large accountants' ledgers that seem to be mandatory equipment for them.
)APPLY ONLINE NOW (Stop shouting at me on the interweb!) Borrow up to (You've got my attention...
)£500 cash (CASH AGAIN! Ooo - and even more cash!
)To spend as you wish (Where do I sign? Even my ex-OH never let me do that!
)3 easy steps to get the things you want... ('k...
)1. Apply online NOW (The damn AutoFill function on the pc isn't working - must type faster!)
2. Get a fast decision, we'll call you back within 24hrs (They are more likely to call you back in 24 minutes. Please note how keen they were, and how easy it was, for them to get hold of you - this same response time will probably be matched should you fall into arrears.
)3. We'll deliver your cash within 48 hours of a completed application being submitted (So I've just got to submit the application and pretty much regardless of what I put on it, it's all mine?
)We've already helped 100,000's of customers to... (Ahh, bless you - I believe everything you're telling me.
)
- Friendly, helpful home service (
! For the first few weeks or until you start to struggle...) - Your own personal agent (Some not always compatible with the above point.)
- FREE advice and help with your budget (Look, if you're really struggling, don't worry, they can give you an even bigger loan to help pay off what you owe them and some extra so you'll also have some spending money left over! I give free advice too - I'm not any good at it, but it's free.
Oops, I think they forget to put 'to help keep you out of serious debt' on the end there too.) - No fuss, no hassle, no complicated forms (First two points are probably perfectly correct - it's meant to be that way. The third point can be challenged in my experience as it's the length of a Parliamentary motion. However, they like you so much that they'll fill it in for you as you answer their questions and sometimes even 'help' you give appropriate answers - and the triplicate forms all come in pretty pastel colours too!)
Existing customer? (...peeks over the top of the couch...
)
If you are an existing customer it is quick and easy to apply online. (Plus then they'll have your email address to play with!)
Voted "Home Credit Provider of the Year 2007" by xxxxxx xxxxx. ()
246.5% APR typical (Remember that coronary I mentioned? Call the ambulance now!
)
All rates correct as at 14/11/2007. Loans are only available to applicants who are over 21...'' (blah, blah, blah.)
Forgive my glib comments and odd sense of humour folks. I will also post this on the DFW thread too.
I'll be back tomorrow, (I hope), with another post connected to this issue, so please wait another day if you're thinking of doing something like this. I do understand what you're going through and there may be partial antidotes to these situations.
Be kind to yourself guys!
Much Love,
Tiff xxx
)If you are an existing customer it is quick and easy to apply online. (Plus then they'll have your email address to play with!)
Voted "Home Credit Provider of the Year 2007" by xxxxxx xxxxx. (
)246.5% APR typical (Remember that coronary I mentioned? Call the ambulance now!
)All rates correct as at 14/11/2007. Loans are only available to applicants who are over 21...'' (blah, blah, blah.
)Forgive my glib comments and odd sense of humour folks. I will also post this on the DFW thread too.
I'll be back tomorrow, (I hope), with another post connected to this issue, so please wait another day if you're thinking of doing something like this. I do understand what you're going through and there may be partial antidotes to these situations.
Be kind to yourself guys!
Much Love,
Tiff xxx
"If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought." ~ by Peace Pilgrim.
***
'You just got Tiffed!' 
***
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