Feels dirty and ashamed asking this....

cmjohnson_86

KellyB wrote:

I currently work for Provident.

I am in a huge amount of debt and needed to find work to fit around things.

My dad is an agent too.

What really annoys me is when people are nasty about the job I do.

If there wasn't a market for it, there would be no Provident.

I am not a debt collector. Yes, I collect money weekly from my customers but it is in no way forced. The customer agrees to the weekly call. If for some reason they can't pay for a week or two, they don't.

I lose money if my customers don't pay but I would never force money out of them - unlike some.

Also with regards to the interest - Yes, it is a very high interest rate. Common knowledge. But the customers know exactly what they are getting into. That interest rate does not change. If they don't make payments for weeks on end, they don't get charged. It is cash, convenience and no late repayment fees that make the rate high, amongst other things.

Some of my customers are pretty poor, monetary wise, but they thank companies like provident who provide this service. They know that if all goes wrong and they can't pay for a while, there are no charges added on. They won't be charged left right and centre....unlike other companies.

There is no hard sell. At all. Whatsoever. All of my leads have come from people calling the office. None have been sold to.

Provident don't allow people to have "huge loans" either. Everything is based on what the customer can afford.

I'm not saying Provident are a fantastic company or any such thing but I do think they are sometimes misjudged by people.

I'm sorry to rant about this but I take offence when people think I'm some sort of traitor or low life because I'm trying all I can to keep my head above water.
It's not an ideal job but it's not the worst I can think of either.

I completely agree with you. I used provident once about a year ago as a last resort. I got less than I wanted so its not like there forcing you into loads of debt, he went through everything before I signed my contract and was very nice evrytime he collected money and when I missed the odd payment. No offence but hopefully I dont have to use them again, but I thank god they were there at the time I did use them, as I would have been up the creek without a paddle as they say.

If you need the money and think you can handle the stress, then go for it. I wouldnt hold anything against you :rotfl:

skylight

Check out Martin Money Morals - this was a "problem" a few weeks ago.

My personal point of view, is a job is a job. You have your own mouths to feed and you can always jack it in if you don't like it.

My personal morals would forbid me from working for an arms company (not limbs - guns!!)

skylight

Here we go:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=315113

Lots (and lots!) of opinions here!

Tr@cker

Our City Council are setting up a credit union for those who cant borrow at reasonable interest-usually the poorest. Last advert sent to me by provident showed an APR of 177%, that isn't reasonable it usuary and i hope they perish along with all the other loan sharks.
Not blaming anybody desparate for a job but personally i couldn't do it.

Tr@cker

Usury rather.

justruth

1. Interest with companies like provident is front loaded, so while you may not earn as much commission if the customer can only afford to pay £1, you wont be worsening their situation with charges and extra interest.
2. For some people this is the only option available to them, your are servicing a need.
3. You can advise customers on your round about MSE!
4. You earn money.
5. They would still have the provident debt if you worked for them or not, at least this way you can do it without trying to force unreasonable debt onto them as some agents would!

I believe that you have to have a good credit rating to work for them, as you get credit searched, but otherwise the points as I see them are above.

sara1980

i used to work for them & i hated it.....it's not the job, it's the getting 'messed' about when people ask u to call back 'tomorrow' but u know that tomorrow they will ask u to call back again. And the ones that 'hide' from u really do your head in.

I always asked my customers to not to hide & to just be honest if they couldn't pay as otherwise i would wasting my time & petrol calling back when they aren't going to pay anyway.

I'm also a soft touch & when they say that they can't pay I used 2 just let it go, my boss on the other hand used to try & MAKE them pay something.

justruth wrote:

I believe that you have to have a good credit rating to work for them, as you get credit searched, but otherwise the points as I see them are above.

u don't need to have a good credit history to work for them, just no CCJ's

HTH

justruth

Thank you for the clarification, I knew there was something.