They lend it... You spend it

[YorkshireT]

Series about a credit union in Doncaster.

Some of the borrower's seem like worthy causes, but not sure about others.

These are really financially stressed people.

Loans for weddings. If it were me, I'd get married for next to nothing in a registry office. In fact we didn't have much money when we got married, so we had a tiny bargain basement job, 25 years ago. Had some sympathy with her though as her mother was poorly.

Young fella, looks fit and healthy, wanted loan for kids presents. Unemployed, not sure why. He had 2 Xbox one's, two Netflix accounts and was even wearing new looking Armani Jeans. £800 lent. Never bothered paying his water bill but £80 + jeans on.

One guy gets a loan to buy a giant Wendy house for his daughter.

[ERICSMUM]

If they paid it all back on time and with any required interest or fees, I don't see a problem. Better than running up a credit card bill !

[cornishfrogboy]

An interesting thread.

I spent many years as a DC (thankfully retired),in my local area and in that time, attended many homes uninvited, with no warning and after the door was 'knocked' using a very large, red knocker.

I have seen homes where the occupants are living in absolute squalor, but have left the detritious of clearly a daily fast food for dinner habit scattered around the kitchen. Despite the fact that it was August, the heating would be banged right up and there would usually be a very large flat screen on the wall with PlayStation and sky as feed accessories. All occupants would be heavy (expensive, even when invariably duty free) smokers. The children would be clothed in rags. Strange priorities and I assure you that I am not exaggerating. It is only when a Police Officer, Paramedic or Social Worker that you witness such things.

I guess that it is up to each individual as to how they spend benefits, borrowed cash or even criminal proceeds (generally, why we were there). That's human rights, giving people dignity etc. Another issue was Labour stopping direct payments to Landlords, rather giving it to tenants to pass on (or often not). I struggle to watch the programmes such as you refer to as I cannot decide whether these people are vulnerable and should be helped/have their finances managed by court order to Social Services or whether they should be left to simply fall off the financial cliff that they create (often repeatedly). I have similar issues with the adverts of these 1300% payday loan companies and also the online gambling adverts placed on the breaks of daytime TV shows.

Of course a counter argument would be that they simply have different priorities to others and should be left to it.

[novocastrian]

i cant watch these type of program (cant pay, benefit street etc etc) really cant decide if its social comment or poverty porn just making tv of vulnerable* people for us to get all holier than thou with

awful stuff

* although one assumes they agree to be filmed & shown on TV ? im sure they cant put your face on TV if you dont agree to it...?

[DisneyDaffodil]

I have mixed feelings about these type of programmes. I do watch some of them, and some well made ones do provide an insight into the problems with living on benefits. However a lot of the programmes are set up as entertainment, showing people living their lives in a way that many would disapprove of and making it appear as if all benefit claimants are stupid or lazy.

It is true that many spend their benefits unwisely, same as many working people spend their money unwisely. It’s not only people on benefits that live outside their means and end up with debt.

Many claimants don’t have the ability to manage their income, but I would totally struggle to manage on how little some have and I am very good at budgeting and managing our income (which has been very variable over the years). Benefit payments are barely enough to pay bills and food, so how can they manage when the cooker breaks? Should we judge them as bad parents if they get their child the latest trainers for their birthday or would we judge them as bad parents if their children had shoes with holes in them? Should we judge people at all for how they spend their money?

[Mickeys Mrs]

As someone who has been on both sides of the coin I find these programmes difficult to watch, We had trouble living within our wages, not because we had all the frills at home but were using credit cards to survive and buy the basics like food for quite a while. Then we would try and get help and be offered a consolidation loan but our circumstances hadn't really changed and no one cared and we were desperate and at the time thought we were being given helpful advice and opportunities. It was a vicious circle of people throwing money at the vulnerable with high interest rates meaning we were getting further and further into debt.

We finally spoke to Stepchange and paid a whopping £35k of debt off and are now in the process of buying our own home having never returned to that circle an having saved a £20k deposit in 9 months, but we have to battle the demons of the credit card and loan companies trying to encourage you to take out credit with them and if we were not as strong willed it would be VERY easy to go straight back to where we were, especially if you feel like nothing is changing.

The credit union lending seems a positive way to steer people away from door step lenders with astronomical interest rates, but I am not sure the real problems behind their need for the credit in the first place is being dealt with. There is much more to it than sometimes meets the eye.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Mickeys Mrs

As someone who has been on both sides of the coin I find these programmes difficult to watch, We had trouble living within our wages, not because we had all the frills at home but were using credit cards to survive and buy the basics like food for quite a while. Then we would try and get help and be offered a consolidation loan but our circumstances hadn't really changed and no one cared and we were desperate and at the time thought we were being given helpful advice and opportunities. It was a vicious circle of people throwing money at the vulnerable with high interest rates meaning we were getting further and further into debt.

We finally spoke to Stepchange and paid a whopping £35k of debt off and are now in the process of buying our own home having never returned to that circle an having saved a £20k deposit in 9 months, but we have to battle the demons of the credit card and loan companies trying to encourage you to take out credit with them and if we were not as strong willed it would be VERY easy to go straight back to where we were, especially if you feel like nothing is changing.

The credit union lending seems a positive way to steer people away from door step lenders with astronomical interest rates, but I am not sure the real problems behind their need for the credit in the first place is being dealt with. There is much more to it than sometimes meets the eye.

See more...

Good for you! You should feel very proud of yourselves.

[sam7]

[QUOTE=YorkshireT;13690396]Series about a credit union in Doncaster.

Some of the borrower's seem like worthy causes, but not sure about others.

These are really financially stressed people.

Loans for weddings. If it were me, I'd get married for next to nothing in a registry office. In fact we didn't have much money when we got married, so we had a tiny bargain basement job, 25 years ago. Had some sympathy with her though as her mother was poorly.

Didnt watch the show but I agree with you. We got married in a registry office, found a pub that offered a room for £50, we make our own food on the morning of the wedding. My dress was 2nd hand, the cake was shop bought birthday cakes with wedding decorations put on. We used money given for a wedding present to buy our guests their first drink. We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary last year.

[tocpe321]

Credit Unions and organisations like Christians Against Poverty do a fantastic job in helping people to become independent and breaking the cycle of extortionate debt.

[Lisa-72]

I found it very interesting to be honest, one loan from a doorstep lender can get out of control very quickly and then you’re left in a spiralling debt.
I work very closely with consumers who are in these situations, some live beyond their means others are so desperate it can be heartbreaking.
The concept seems good and reminds me of the old Cooperative days.