To think that Park must be a con

[Favouritethings]

So the irritating Park christmas savings ads which are on the TV... Are they a con? Or have you saved with them and found it a good way to save for 'a debt free christmas'?

I did the Post Office one alongside Park and I thought it was not as good. Most shops listed didn't even know they accepted it and some wanted me to remember my balance as they claimed they couldn't check it (so every time i bought something I was expected to calculate-didn't make for a fun shopping trip!). This was two years ago so not sure if it has improved or if I just happened to get bad service in every single shop I went in. It is a good idea in theory but nowhere near as good as the vouchers Park do.

I didn't realise the post office account wasn't just cash that you withdrew in November Jelly.

I used to use a hamper company a few years ago (can't remember which one), mainly for the high street vouchers which I used for christmas shopping. I did buy food hampers a couple of times as well. I didn't consider it a con, I got what I paid for, at the price that I agreed to pay for it (which in the case of the vouchers was face value anyway).

Celibacy I had bad credit before and couldn't get a current account with a few places. However, Halifax let me open an easycash account. I now have that account, an ISA and a savers account (that I can't touch for a year after opening) I have no money in my savings accounts though. I set it all up online and can transfer money between each account (apart from my regular saver to another account) really easily.

I don't really struggle financially but I direct debit £20 per month to park and get a £200 high street voucher at xmas - I've usually forgotten all about it until it comes through the door so its a nice surprise.

sashh why would I do that when I'm happy with the system I have. We don't entertain at home so I have no need to buy lots of food at Christmas but my DP has a lot of siblings so I have lots of presents to buy. Vouchers just make life easier also it means they're allocated for presents and I can't over spend when they're gone they're gone.

Right then you 'orrible nest of helpful and informative vipers.

I went to the bank today and asked if they could sign me up to internet banking. They did. I've no idea why I couldn't do it previously

I then decided to add to my list of financial resigning, a hard-to-get-to savings account.

I will give it a try.

I plan to transfer, weekly, anything I can to the account. My mum is having the book or card and must not give it back to me until November.

I still like Park and I still would recommend them, but I think I need to give the other way a try.

Blimey Bogey that sounds ever so complicated.and time consuming!

*financial rejigging

After the farepack/home farm hampers the company now has protection against anyone losing money! The food is overpriced yes but thats what you get for paying it weekly & the delivered! Vouchers are handy

celibacy , it is! But it can save you hundreds a year so its worth it. If you keep a log of the time you have spent and divide the hours by money saved you can work out how much per hour you have earned yourself!

The best place to go is the MSE website, they have all the tips and tricks to get the best deals with the least amount of work :)

That's great, thank you Bogey

No!!!!! FLowers cost money! :o

It's just yet another way of how the poor pay more for the same things as the wealthy. It's a rip off but some people don't have a choice. Some people can't get a bank account. Banks aren't obliged to allow you to open one.

It's just yet another way of how the poor pay more for the same things as the wealthy. It's a rip off but some people don't have a choice.

Wrong. RTT

If you or I or the Queen paid £500 to Park for vouchers you would get £505 back in vouchers. This is because you get exactly what you pay for in vouchers, and commision on top.

Its only the goods that they overcharge on, most people have got wise and will buy the vouchers to use to buy the goods at a more competitive price.

The wealthy 1) don't need to save for Christmas 2) have access to high interest savings accounts & 0% credit

Therefore it is another rip off for the poor

Sorry, didnt mean to sound so snippy

True but with Park you get out what you put in with a teeny bit extra. Its not for example Brighthouse where you agree to buy a sofa that would cost you less than £500 in DFS, for £800 and then get stung by the APR on the weekly repayments so it ends costing you over £1500.

www.dfs.co.uk/valiant/2-seater-sofa-venezia-100021464p--1#e2BCFXahSGshLisf.97

www.brighthouse.co.uk/sofas/siena-2-seater-sofa/ check out the repayments bit.

Compared to that, Park is brilliant!

"If you or I or the Queen paid £500 to Park for vouchers you would get £505 back in vouchers. This is because you get exactly what you pay for in vouchers, and commision on top."

So how are Park making money then? They are not a charity. They will need to make a profit. So where along the retail line Park users will be paying over the odds.

Are they putting all your money into investments or something?

Someone up thread said Park pay something like 90p to the £1.00 for the spent vouchers.

So.shops that sign-up only get 90p back for every £1.00 spent with them.

That plus the interest earned while the money is with them.

On their website it is explained in the FAQ's about security etc.

They're not like Brighthouse and co. You get back what you pay in. Unless, as Bogey says, you buy goods.for them which are overpriced.

But come on, where else can you buy this beauty in instalments!!?

For JUST £179!!! Bargain.
referrer!www.getpark.co.uk/budgeting/catalogue/C54/7380/Gifts-and-Jewellery/Home/Tiger-Head-Table.item

Link fail. It was only to the actual page selling the table.

working link

Do the shops bank on having the custom of park shoppers' vouchers which they might not otherwise have had if the only option was cash and they had spent it all on other stuff earlier in the year? Or do the shops just put the prices up to cover the shortfall? Are cash buyers subsidising the voucher schemes in effect, if so?

I've used them for 4 years, I get the Love2Shop vouchers.
Really handy for Christmas presents and a new outfit for my Christmas do!