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HAVE YOUR SAY

ARE SHOPS TO BLAME FOR CONSUMERS' SPIRALLING DEBT?

Monday May 21,2007

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(14)

A COMPULSIVE shopper who once spent £14,000 on clothes in one spree has gone bankrupt with debts of £250,000.

Shopaholic Jody Huxley admitted her addiction was “predominantly” the reason for her bankruptcy but has promised to make a fresh start.

Ms Huxley, a mother of two, became notorious in 2005 after going out for a toothbrush and returning home £14,000 poorer.

She once likened her addiction to the “buzz” of a drugs hit, saying that in the shops, she was a woman possessed.

Once, the big spender went out for groceries and returned with a car.

*But what do YOU think?

Should shops take some blame for consumers' spiralling debt? Should they be allowed to give teenagers store cards with huge spending allowances?

Or is it down to the buyer?

Are we given too much lee-way on how much debt we can take out?

Have YOUR say.

TAXES & PRICES INCREASE WHILE INCOME STANDS STILL

26.05.07, 6:05pm

The problem isn't just the amount of credit available to people it's the high rates of interest, high prices & high levels of tax we pay on everything. These constantly increase while our incomes stay the same or even decrease.

• Posted by: Mandi • Report Comment

ARE SHOPS TO BLAME FOR CONSUMERS' SPIRALLING DEBT

25.05.07, 3:19pm

well no shop has ever dragged me in off the st to make me buy things. of course shops are not responsible., but like everything else in this country now a days no one is expected to take responsibility for anything.people who get into debt are greedy and of the "i want it now culture" .

• Posted by: jenny • Report Comment

OBTAINING GOODS BY DECEPTION

23.05.07, 1:08pm

No sympathy for kissdboots If you are unable to afford it go without like the rest of us do. You are responsible for your own actions not the the bank manager or shopkeeper.

• Posted by: Jay_R • Report Comment

STORE CARDS?????

23.05.07, 12:19pm

So says Seraphine...............
"having credit cards opens up a whole other world of credit to you...store cards, etc."............What on earth has that got to do with spending money you do not have or cannot afford to repay? I have used credit cards and now store cards since the start of Barclaycard and have always found them very useful. They enable me to buy things without carrying cash or a cheque book. They do not, and never will, enable me spend more than I have in the bank or can pay off almost immediately. There have been many, many times over the years when the money is just not there. During those times I restrict purchases to what I need and ignore what I would like. A simple philosophy but tends to work rather well.

• Posted by: James • Report Comment

BEST DECISION????

23.05.07, 11:53am

So kissdboots blames everyone but herself........ BEST? decision. For who? certainly not the organisations you owe money to and that means everyone else because it's us in the long run that pay for people like you to be indulged. You say you were given credit card after credit card and blame the banks but did anyone hold a gun to your head and told you to use them? If you were given a stick to beat your children would you use it? I suggest not as it would be self restraint that stops you. Something you have only selective use for, I suggest. If bankruptcy law did not exist to let people like you off the hook I would be at least £11,000 better off today.

• Posted by: James • Report Comment

SIX AND HALF A DOZEN.

23.05.07, 10:14am

On one hand, the customer is guilty of obtaining goods by deception. IF they knew they could never pay back the initial debt.

However, the shops/banks are culpable in that they give this credit without properly checking credit worthiness.

BOTH are guilty.

• Posted by: von_Spreuth • Report Comment