to be hacked off that the Brighthouse vultures are opening a shop in our town?

[Meglet]

I know they charge extortionate interest rates so had a Google and am disheartened that they can take advantage of people like they do.

That is really quite shocking dilemma! Everyone should be directed to that website before stepping inside one of those shops.

The FSA did some research with young people when they were putting together a training pack for youth workers.

Many young people thought the higher the APR the better the deal. Virtually all had no concept of how interest builds up and builds up until suddenly you realise you can't even make minimum payments.

Brighthouse may be entirely legal, but I don't know how the management sleep at night.

I know a few people who have used BH, one of them got a tv which was costing them £17.50 a week for 3yrs. if he had bought it outright in a shop it would have been about £900 anyway. He moved and gave BH his new contact details, in writing, and 2yrs on he has a tv he has never had to pay for as he is "lost" in the system!!!

But it looks like there's a legal loop-hole which means that non-payment of goods results in Brighthouse wiping you off their system rather than sending the bailiffs in. since they don't perform a credit check before offering the goods they have no legal right to enter your house. Dimwits.

I think it would be a good idea to let as many people know about this as possible. :)

I do agree cupcakes, but at the same time, I wouldn't want people to get involved with them in the first place, especially since they harrass to the point of abuse, and not only with their victims customers, but with the unsuspecting people they use as references. This company are one step outside of being illegal. I personally would rather not deal with them at all, than endure 90 days (so three months) of shit just to get a TV or piece of furniture which by most accounts are not usually workable. Thanks dilemma456 for the link :).

That is shocking ItsAllGoingto BeFine

I like to pay my utility bills weekly using a card so I can't be shafted for increased direct debits when I'm actually in credit (have had this lots of times)

Recently the water company announced that I could no longer pay at any newsagent but I could go into Brighthouse to do it.

I have my own reasons for paying this way but some people have no choice and these very people are being enticed into these wankery places

LucyLou, I meant if any of us know people already using them, we should let them know how to fuck them over. Definitely would be having words if I knew anyone thinking of getting stuff off them :(

Nobody has to buy from there if you are that bad at money management that BH is your only line of credit, you shouldn't have it.
The reason the APR is so high is because the chance of them actually getting all their money back is slim. People in rented accommodation with no fixed jobs are a huge risk.
There are social security loans that take a few pounds out benefits each week for genuine purchases like beds etc, what they will not lend you money for is a playstation or TV so if you are so short sighted and stupid that you think playing double for it is a good idea then you get what you deserve.
For what it's worth I used to work for British Gas who charged 35% APR on cookers, fires etc and you used to have to spell out the figures loud and clear or you'd be strung up, I doubt BH is any different.

My sister does. She thinks Brighthouse are wonderful along with Provident Loans because "they're the only people who help you out"

So what could happen?

Looks like the washing machine meglet linked is £598 cash, £891 with weekly payments but £433 from a different shop.

Is this any different to Freemans catalogues which everyone used when I was a child?

i agree though, it is depressing. And taking advantage of the vulnerable. The problem is that everyone sees possessions such as playstations and tvs as a right, instead of a luxury. But we live in a free market, and as long as there are customers (vulnerable or not), businesses such as these will spring up to serve them.

I suspect that the difference with Freemans is that they a) do credit checks and presumably won't loan to those who can't afford it and b) won't be sending the Mitchell Bros rahnd wiv a basebawl bat to sort it aht when you miss about one payment.

hmm. don't be too presumptive in thinking that every customer of BH and the like can truly get their head around repayment schemes, APR, interest, etc etc. Trust me they can't. I vividly recall sitting around with colleagues a few years back and listening to prob 8 out of 10 of them admitting that the day they turned 18, rushing out and getting all the credit they could lay their hands on - because they could. Most (think we were about 24 at the time) were still painfully in debt with no much to show for it!

I think comapnies like BH should have to display posters on thier doors of alternative sources of affordable household goods (local recycle centre, second hand shops, chairty shops and all the specialist baby good suppliers (nct, surt start etc).

we have a huge empty woolies store here in plymouth, cross your fingers it will be poundland and not BH!!

Oh cupcakes I quite agree with you! I just personally would be careful with what I say about getting out of payments with them, because some people I know would see that as a reason to deal with them, not realising the abuse they are in for for three months.

I completely disagree that there is a need for enterprises such as Shitehouse. If we, Joe public, didn't think everything had to be got now, this minute, people may save and buy things when they can afford them., You know like people used to before credit was so readily available./

Agree with Posie.

We can afford new furniture, even if it's just cheapo flatpack from Ikea, but last week I went to a charity shop and bought a dressing table for £30. I'm sanding it and painting it grey. Much cheaper than new AND it's customised :) I can feel a second-hand furniture habit coming on... There is nothing wrong with second-hand. Better than something new that you can't afford, it must be.

also agree with Posie but i think many people are very naive plus BH advertise during Trisha - shameless imo

The trouble with using charity shops and Freecycle is that if you live in a shite area, you'll get shite recycled.

I have never seen the sometimes never-worn lovely clothes I've given to local charity shops actually in those shops. They do it by demographic and it really pisses me off that the needy people where I live don't have access.

I've taken to giving DD's unworn but outgrown spare uniform directly to the school now.

I am a bit sad though, Milady, and drove to the posho town up the road to look for furniture. My SiL works in a very affluent part of town and got a Cath Kidston oilcloth from the BHF shop for £3! The poor old dears who works in there usually mark well below what they would go for on eBay because they don't know it's desired stuff, bless 'em!

Also, actual LOL at this "plus BH advertise during Trisha" They know their market, that's for sure.

I do that, but I have to drive fifteen miles and pay parking to get anything decent. Not an option for everyone.

I didn't know about the advertising during Trisha FGS.

"I wish a few more needy people knew about it and used it instead of resorting to horrible places like this"

They probably wouldn't be seen dead in your cast off's that's the truth of the matter, the less people have the more they seem to spend on crap.

Have you ever tried to get a washing machine on Freecycle? I haven't personally, but I've seen the emails that come in afterwards thanking everyone for the massive response. I'm not even sure you could buy a washing machine from a charity shop, and buying second hand means no warranty and possibly another person's problems. These places know that - it's not always the case that people won't wait for the goods, sometimes they have no choice but to pay over the odds for something like a washing machine if they can't get credit elsewhere.

You can buy second-hand white goods from reputable retailers and most of the time they offer a twelve-month warranty.

We bought a second hand cooker to tide us over christmas (we moved on 14th December, into a house with no oven/cooker) and it cost us £140, with one year warranty. It was bloody better than the £800 range oven I forked out for that is just downright crap. My MiL now has the third-hand oven and I look on enviously as she pulls out perfect Yorkshire pudings from it

Yes, but that assumes you have £140 or whatever up front, or that you pass the credit checks that other retailers do. BH do no checks at all, so anyone can sign up for their stuff.