Not sure if this is the right place - re. Brighthouse

trisontana

poppy10 wrote: »

Hmmm... from what I remember of their adverts, they don't sell food and water, but rather large LCD TVs, PS3s and, like this poster, laptops and PCs.

Not essential household items, and if they really wanted them they should have saved up and bought it outright a few months down the line (saving the taxpayer a few hundred pounds in the process)

Though they do sell such items, they also sell "essentials" such as cookers, fridges and washing machines. All of which are more expensive than if you bought them in an "ordinary" shop.

cavycrazy_2

poppy10 wrote: »

Hmmm... from what I remember of their adverts, they don't sell food and water, but rather large LCD TVs, PS3s and, like this poster, laptops and PCs.

Not essential household items, and if they really wanted them they should have saved up and bought it outright a few months down the line (saving the taxpayer a few hundred pounds in the process)

I quite agree with your second paragraph. However, the shop in Nottingham sell beds, washing machines, microwaves, three pieces etc in addition to luxury items, the first two of which I would call essential. I assumed all branches sold the same things. I only called in once when I didn't realise what type of shop it was and I saw a nice fireplace in the window.

Although a homeworker could be in need of a pc/laptop in a hurry to continue his/her job.

SingleSue

My cooker went bang last year and as I am on a low income (as in benefits) it put me in an awkward position for getting another one.

I could not have saved up for a new one as I needed one straight away, I couldn't afford to buy a new one as I am on a low income and the money is strictly budgetted, I could not get one on a normal hire purchase/finance etc due to being on benefits, so did look at this company in desperation.

Thankfully there is not a local one to me so couldn't get anything.

I ended up renting a cooker via our local electrical chain, ok not ideal but ooddles better than paying out over the top fees for a cooker and I can hand back to the shop after one year (only a one year contract) after only paying the princely sum of £65! (They had a special deal as it was not a brand spanking new cooker so got rental half price).

Think what I am trying to say though is that for those on low incomes/benefits who may need essential items (cooker,washing machine etc), companies like the one mentioned are the only answer...and then they get ripped off because of it!

shellsuit

poppy10 wrote: »

Hmmm... from what I remember of their adverts, they don't sell food and water, but rather large LCD TVs, PS3s and, like this poster, laptops and PCs.

Not essential household items, and if they really wanted them they should have saved up and bought it outright a few months down the line (saving the taxpayer a few hundred pounds in the process)

What have taxpayers got to do with it?!

poppy10_2

shellsuit wrote: »

What have taxpayers got to do with it?!

I'd bet that the majority of Brighthouse's customers are benefit recipients.

shellsuit

poppy10 wrote: »

I'd bet that the majority of Brighthouse's customers are benefit recipients.

So what if they are? Again, what does buying something from Brighthouse have to do with the tax payer?

mute_posting

I agree with many of the comments above - the adverts make me laugh..

Because I have run up debts with all and sundry I can't get credit to buy the 52 inch plasma I needed for my skyHD subscription (too keep up with Dave and Victoria next door), but Brighthouse sorted me out! Now I'm frittering away even more of my meagre funds (for the next 10 years) on something that's hardly essential and I will end up paying for 5 times over. Wow!

Fools and there money are easily parted! (I think I'll change my sig to that)

bitsandpieces

Yes, the service cover should be optional. A new laptop should last longer than a year anyway - if it broke down after a 1 year warranty you may have a case under the Sale of Goods act (although this isn't certain, and would be a hassle). £600 is a *lot* of money for a laptop maintenance contract - you can buy a pretty decent laptop for that now, and laptops will only get cheaper...

I suspect you'd do better to cancel the maintenance contract and put what you would have spent on that in a bank account, in case the laptop breaks (though you should also budget for insurance to cover the laptop).

hollydays

What they are trying to do is little short of extortion.
Tell them you will have the laptop,but you don't want the optional cover.
Make sure you check out with some techie forum that this laptop is worth having.