MSE News: Vulnerable consumers pay triple high street prices for Rent-to-Own goods

Hazzinho

Is the only way they'll be able to buy these "essential" purchases.

fermi

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31440752

:eek:

AndyT678

fermi wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31440752

:eek:

BBC wrote:

Lizzie from Hull, who was not part of the court case, told Radio 4's You & Yours that she had to give up her keys after buying a 50-inch TV and Blu-ray player.

Says it all really; more essentials!

carmina_piranha

In a way this really is 'news' as it has shock value and might make the people who shop at brighthouse think again and try to find another way.

carmina_piranha

As a child I remember my parents rented their TV. The 'Provident' van came round every so often to display their goods, and a woman knocked weekly to collect payments. Some things were bought from the Kays catalogue on weekly payments, and although my parents usually went without what they couldn't afford we did have an ancient TV, and we each got a christmas present - sometimes new.

Weekly payments are a way of budgeting for some people. Personally I have some debt which is equally foolish, (it's my husband's debt from before we were together) but I would rather shop around for a cheap washing machine and buy on a credit card, using 0% transfers - it still means 3.5% transfer fee or whatever, or 4% if doing a money transfer so I can buy second hand, but using a spreadsheet I shift the debt around to minimise the cost.

By not having top brands, or new, I can get goods for a tiny fraction of what they would be from Brighthouse.

Nasqueron

This was mentioned in the Observer at the weekend - columnist used it as a platform for a reader friendly Tory bashing about benefits but did highlight another of the remarkable costs of these things - £644 for a Fridge/Freezer is more than I would pay and I don't have debt issues - let alone paying about £1600 or so for the insurance and long term rental.

You can get a new unit with 12 month warranty from Argos on ebay for £179.99 or on budget - a Teknix A+ 50cm combi for £51 (about 4 weeks rental from Brighthouse) or a collection one for £30 buy it now currently on 0.01p bids that needs some cleaning and has cosmetic damage.

The only people Brighthouse are dealing with are people who want to keep up with the Jones but don't have the budget to match their eyes