Do you think I have a chance re; store cards

[youshouldnthavetoask]

I got my first store card when I was 18, at university and earning £6 per hour, working 12 hours a week.
Over the years, my bad impulse control, youth and low income meant that I wracked up so much interest. Littlewoods just kept giving me more and more credit. At one point my minimum payment was £500! My mum had to bail me out more than once.
Now I'm older and slowly becoming better with money (although impulse control is still poor) I feel slightly annoyed that these companies were able to lend me so much and that no one ever questioned my eligibility.
I've seen companies which offer to look at these store cards in terms of offering you credit limits you weren't eligible for but I wondered if anyone had any personal experience of getting compensation.
I am not saying that I wasn't too blame but to be fair I was just an 18 year old, living on my own in an unfurnished house. I had never been offered 1000 of free credit before. I feel they should have asked more questions as a lender.

You spend recklessly, with money you didn't have and blame credit providers?
I feel sorry for your mum who had to bail you out, you should be providing compensation to her.

You’re also most likely going to be told you’re time barred - sounds like most of those credit increases were more than 6 years ago which means the banks/financial institutions don’t have to handle your complaint and the FOS wouldn’t make them. You MAY have a case based on the fact the debt is still outstanding (if it is) but about the specific increases etc please don’t be surprised to be time barred - you have 6 years to make a complaint to a Bank and they are under no legal obligation to keep records more than 6 years old.

I don't know the legal definitions but they didnt lend you money. Ycu chose to spend their money you didn't have and then couldn't repay

That was on you and the fact you did it multiple times confirms that you didn't learn your lesson the first time

Even 18 year olds know there's no such thing as free money

So campaign for better laws, or greater awareness, or volunteer for a debt charity.

Stop trying to make someone else responsible for your actions.

You're not going to get anywhere with this, OP.

Yes it was irresponsible of them I suppose but it was how it was at the time & nobody made you take it.
In 2006 I would've been offered a loan or credit card every single week often with the forms all filled in for me to sign. No questions asked but actually I was in no position to afford the repayments so I just didn't take the loans.
You took the cards & got into debt & I'm guessing you've still got debts & would like a decent payout but even though you were young you have to take responsibility.

Op

You have not recovered from your spending addiction if 18 years later you are looking to blame someone to get compensation

So campaign for better laws, or greater awareness, or volunteer for a debt charity.

Exactly this @MaggieThatchersFridge

If you care about this and want companies/ lenders to listen, this is the approach to take.

Trying to claim compensation for something that happened 18 years ago with shaky reasoning and little to no evidence is going to fall completely flat.

I completely agree with you that responsible lending is very important and vulnerable people are at risk, and are being exploited.

But if you care, get involved in some charitable causes and tell your story on social media.

@coffeemoon but that's partially what this post is about, raising awareness. Everyone I knew had store cards in sixth form, wracking up debt for nights out, furniture for our first crappy rented flats, or bedrooms as we couldn't move out. We weren't rich, I come from a poor area and I think this got to our head a bit. Our parents were very 'pay for everything in cash' and didn't have credit cards, loans etc.
Littlewoods etc were the saviour. Christmas presents etc were all whacked on the account. Loads of people in my area (large council estate) used to and still do buy masses of products on store cards, sell them on marketplace or in the days before in the school playground, in order to get the cash to buy... other things. And does that money ever go back into the account so they can make the minimum repayments and avoid interest and charges? No. And so the skint cycle continues.

Bollox it’s about raising awareness OP

Whilst I think that there should have been checks, you do realise that this is the same pattern? Easy money via store cards and now easy money via compensation.

I'd look at getting help around this if you really want to make your life better.

“I’m not blaming everyone else but here’s why it’s everyone else’s fault”

Do you think I have a chance re; store cards

Sure OP - it’s about “raising awareness” 😂

I should add that the example I used was from a template letter from someone who was successful and do not relate to the real dates of my debt/ accounts.

debtcamel.co.uk/get-refund-overdraft/

@youshouldnthavetoask If you want to raise awareness, get involved in larger things like a charity. This post isnt going to do much and your angle is that you want compensation, which is completely off putting.

If you care, get involved and campaign.

I'm not putting pressure on you to do this, by the way, it's up to you - I'm just saying pursuing compensation or even talking about wanting compensation is definitely not going to help this issue, and people will switch off.

Where would the compensation ultimately come from?
Me, and other responsible shoppers like me.
YABVU.

As i say

go for it op

then report back to let us know how goes!

Our parents were very 'pay for everything in cash' and didn't have credit cards, loans etc.

Because they learnt from their mistakes.

If it really is just about campaigning then just do that.

Agreed. It does seem to be about the money and wanting a payout.

OP if you want to raise awareness then just post your story and raise awareness.

Don't ask for advice on how you can get more easy money.

I had a credit card at 18. I never got to the point of paying interest but I was using almost my whole pay packet to pay it off each month. Paid it off and I've never got into that trap again. It was a good experience to have at that age instead of a few years later as a single parent!

@Sirius3030 oh do one, do you really think store cards want responsible shoppers? They want irresponsible shoppers. Those with good jobs, credit etc rarely have store cards or use overpriced sites like Very or Studio. Why would you when they're 20% more than other retailers? The grimy truth is that these companies feed off lower income or no income families. They actively target that audience.

@coffeemoon I already work full time in the public sector, plus volunteer at my local community centre. So I'm alright for altruism ta.
It's funny how everytime poorer people go for compensation it's labelled grabby or entitled. How much do the rich claim? How many reimbursements or discounts do they receive?
At heart, so many still revel in their serfdom

No. It's the hypocrisy, OP. You are saying you want to raise awareness when actually you want compensation.

If your goal is to raise awarness, then peope are trying to tell you that going for compensation is not the best way to achieve that goal. It's unlikely to work, and you will not have a wide reach/ audience.

If your goal is to get some money then that's fine - go ahead and try and good luck to you - but don't label it as altruism when it's not.

I think you just need to suck it up. Hate this idea we are not accountable for our own actions so let’s blame someone else and get money for it.