Farepak

[Naomi]

Sandy I can see your point but for some people this is the only way that they can save for xmas.

I know my kids aren't going to get much this year and they are okay with that. Pressure from others and adverts that encourage heavy spending is a big lure on todays society. Nobody likes to see their families go without. Unfortunately in today's society credit cards, loans etc are so easily accessable to people that they often see it as a quick fix and therefore do not know how to budget properly. They dont think about 'what if I loose my job?' 'what if I change jobs and it's a lower wage?' (Been there, done that, written the book)

The cost of living here far exceeds the wages and the gap is growing day by day. Most people just cannot afford to put any money aside for savings. I know we can't at the moment but we know that it is something that we really need to do in the future.

I just hope that those affected will get some sort of compensation for the loss.

[EmmaG]

Oh I can really see MFI letting somebody pay a "small" deposit and pay the balance when it is delivered, I wonder what company in the UK would accept that???

I need to purchase some new windows next year, and other bits for my home, I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE but to pay upfront for these items.

Well you must be in a very lucky situation if you can do that, that is all I have to say on the matter.

[Donna]

I feel so sorry for everyone who has lost their money with Farepak.

Maybe things are different in Holland - the UK seems to be more expensive for everyting. Some people have to use savings schemes etc.

My children and 14 and 12 and the pressure on parents is IMMENSE. They have to have the right trainers, have to have the most recent gadget otherwise they are social outcasts.

I have not used this scheme, but do find Christmas very hard.

[sandy]

Originally Posted by EmmaG

Oh I can really see MFI letting somebody pay a "small" deposit and pay the balance when it is delivered, I wonder what company in the UK would accept that???

I need to purchase some new windows next year, and other bits for my home, I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE but to pay upfront for these items.

Well you must be in a very lucky situation if you can do that, that is all I have to say on the matter.

Perhaps you should ask the shops if they want to sell goods on a cash on delivery basis. Shops compete with one another in a very fierce market, and I have never found a shop unwilling to deliver C.O.D. If I did, I would just go to another shop.I bought a new computer last year, paid a 10% deposit, had it delivered, set up in my home, could see that it was working properly, and only then did I pay the outstanding amount.

The British consumers'programmes are always warning people not to pay for windows, gardening jobs, building jobs, etc., in advance. It's a mug's game. My own daughter decided to pay her electrician half the final price of the job in advance, against my very urgent advice not to do so. There is ALWAYS something wrong with companies who ask this. She got burned: he kept not turning up, wouldn't answer the phone, said he'd had a stroke, said he'd had a nervous breakdown, etc., etc. It took him 4 months to finally finish the job. If she hadn't paid him in advance, she could have kicked him out after the first week. She has learned a valuable lesson.

In a capitalist society, the law is not on the side of the consumer, who has to protect himself. Bankruptcy is an everyday event and when it happens, all creditors lose out. Banks are the place to save safely: they must by law have reserves to cover deposits up to a very large amount and your money is as safe as houses. If your wealth excedes the limit, you just have to use two banks, keeping under the limit with each. Sound financial sense.

[sandy]

Originally Posted by Donna

I feel so sorry for everyone who has lost their money with Farepak.

Maybe things are different in Holland - the UK seems to be more expensive for everyting. Some people have to use savings schemes etc.

My children and 14 and 12 and the pressure on parents is IMMENSE. They have to have the right trainers, have to have the most recent gadget otherwise they are social outcasts.

I have not used this scheme, but do find Christmas very hard.

Kids have always claimed they HAVE to have things, or will otherwise become social outcasts. My daughter tried this one on too. She was not successful. She did not become a social outcast. I'm a teacher, and I do not see kids becoming social outcasts because they don't wear the right clothes or trainers. They just don't become the alpha males/females in certain cliques, which is no disaster.

[sandy]

I was so bewildered by the claim here that it's not possible to buy anything C.O.D. in the UK that I've been asking around.

I've been told that it is possible but not usual, though:

" quality firms all have COD services if required.It happens world wide - UK is no different if you know where to shop."

Many people in the UK buy on hire purchase, and most others pay by credit card, cancelling the payment if the goods are not delivered on time. The credit card company has to recompense the buyer in cases of bankruptcy.So it's the people who pay cash that get done if the firm goes bankrupt or delivers damaged goods.

It has also been suggested elsewhere that Farepak may have been operating illegally: to function as a bank, you are legally obliged to work under the banking code, so to have reserves to cover all deposits. I check banks for their banking code status before making any deposits.

[EmmaG]

Ok just to prove a point I have just phoned... MFI, B&Q, Homebase and Focus DIY and NONE of these companies are interested in COD....so now WHAT??? go to a smaller firm who will charge me more???/have less come back if anything goes wrong???

[EmmaG]

Just answer me one thing, was this in the UK???

Originally Posted by sandy

Perhaps you should ask the shops if they want to sell goods on a cash on delivery basis. Shops compete with one another in a very fierce market, and I have never found a shop unwilling to deliver C.O.D. If I did, I would just go to another shop.I bought a new computer last year, paid a 10% deposit, had it delivered, set up in my home, could see that it was working properly, and only then did I pay the outstanding amount.

[EmmaG]

I hate to be so obvious but as a teacher I doubt very much that you see much bullying/children being taunted because of what they haven't got, it doesn't happen infront of parents/teachers, doesn't mean it doesn't happen???

Originally Posted by sandy

I'm a teacher, and I do not see kids becoming social outcasts because they don't wear the right clothes or trainers.

[sandy]

Originally Posted by EmmaG

Just answer me one thing, was this in the UK???

I'll answer any number of things for you, Emma.

No, it was not in the UK. I suppose there must be a shortage of shops in the uk, because over here in Holland and in Germany there are loads, and they are all competing for my valuable custom and are extremely happy to deliver the goods and then have me pay the delivery man.

Seems a credit card is the only protection for the UK consumer. What a dreadful state of affairs!