Payday loan companies stand accused of grooming children to be irresponsible borrowers.
The young ones are exposed to adverts with catchy tunes and funny puppets and believe that taking out a loan at extortionate rates of interest is normal behaviour.
In the absence of action - like when the Glasgow polis used to arrest loan sharks - egregious usury will remain a curse upon the land. If charging 5000 per cent APR is acceptable, then why wait until the children are groomed? Let Wonga and company get into the business of pocket money loans.
Run out of cash for sweeties? You don't have to wait until Friday to buy a Crunchie. Just go online and your loan will be processed and in your bank account in a matter of minutes. Don't worry about repayments, these will be taken automatically from the bank of mum and dad. Or maybe just let it all roll over and pay the debt when you inherit the house.
There is the risk of irresponsible borrowing. Children high on E-numbers will not think twice about going for a second loan to get another Curly Wurly hit.
They will exhibit the same behavioural pattern as the parents. Father has been on the bevvy and takes on another payday debt to play poker in the online casino.
Mother is on her medication and is at the virtual bingo. Maybe the weans can get in on the act with a punt on an internet game of snap or Monopoly for real money. Perhaps because I am Scottish and allergic to paying interest, I do not get the so-called charm of the adverts for payday loans.
I remain baffled by the Wonga commercials. It seems to me they're not to do with borrowing money but all about an octogenarian ménage a trois. Or maybe there's something in my cup of Ovaltine.
The names of the lending companies are certainly catchy. Although Cashnowcow sounds too close to the customer being a cash cow.
Payday Pig is missing the word poke in its title. Toothfairy Finance is definitely for the deluded who will pay £36 monthly interest on a £100 loan.
How can a sensible parent teach children the folly of giving a finance company a huge chunk of your month's income?
Simple, just give them a £10 advance and enjoy the protests when there is £15 missing from the next pocket money instalment.
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