Times are tight for many in the UK. Inflation is on the rise and there has been little or no real wage growth to speak of. The result is that, for families and individuals all over the country, there has been a real squeeze in household budgets that has left little room for bigger purchases. Step forward the rent-to-own sector, which was designed to give those on restricted incomes the opportunity to get credit on an item where a regular lender might refuse.
What is rent-to-own?
It is a sector that revolves around household goods, such as TVs, washing machines, furniture and computers. The idea is that if you’re not able to purchase one of these outright then you can do this via rent-to-own instead. Many of those who use the rent-to-own sector are struggling with a bad credit score and so wouldn’t be eligible for credit from a mainstream lender. Rent-to-own is meant to be an alternative way for people to pay rent on an item, such as a washing machine – and own it once that rent is paid off.
What’s the problem?
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK’s financial regulator, has recently stepped in with respect to Bright House, one of the biggest names in the rent-to-own sector. Bright House has 283 stores around the UK and more than 230,000 customers. However, the FCA has found that Bright House has not been acting as a responsible lender, principally due to the high cost of the credit that it has been providing to its customers. There are unfortunately many examples of how Bright House has been using its position, appealing to those without many other options, to charge excessive amounts. For example, the FCA found that Bright House had charged more than £1,000 over a period of three years for its cheapest washing machine. Research by the media has found that a similar model washing machine, with breakdown cover, would cost just £250 – £350 if purchased outright. Another customer purchased a laptop from Bright House that would have cost £600 if bought out right. When the laptop was finally paid for with Bright House the total payments came to £2,287 over 26 months – almost four times the laptop’s actual value.
What does it mean to be a responsible lender?
Most of us accept that when we take out credit, whether that’s to pay for household items or as a straightforward loan, there will be interest to pay for being able to borrow. However, the excessive credit costs that Bright House has attached to its borrowing mean that it’s a world away from being a responsible lender offering credit at reasonable and affordable rates. The FCA has now ordered Bright House to make compensation payments to 250,000 customers totalling £14.8 million. This payment is broken down in a number of ways including:
81,000 customers who were incorrectly assessed by Bright House in terms of their ability to repay the loan – and consequently forced to hand back the items – will be repaid (with interest).
181,000 customers who cancelled their agreement with Bright House before receiving the goods will have their initial payment refunded plus interest of 8%. This applies to customers who signed up after 1 April 2010.
What are the alternatives?
Bright House’s success is driven by a lack of credit options for those who may not have access to mainstream credit. So, where do you turn for purchases if you’re in a similar position?
Other rent-to-own providers. The rent-to-own market is a growing one so there are certainly other options. However, it’s always important to make sure that you don’t end up in the same position as Bright House customers. What are the credit costs and how much will you pay overall?
Not-for profit credit providers. There are not many of these but organisations such as Fair For You provide funds for household goods that are much more in line with what the FCA considers to be fair lending practices.
Bad credit lenders. It’s often worth looking into whether other lenders might be able to offer less expensive terms. For example, a payday loan could be a better alternative because you’ll be able to buy the item outright and then pay off the loan at the end of the month. If you’re looking for longer-term finance then guarantor loans could give you the same up front payment advantage. Although some interest rates can be higher than mainstream lenders, it’s easy to find a lender that doesn’t charge fees and the credit charges are likely to be far lower than those offered by a business like Bright House.
Alex Hartley is a keen advocate of improving personal finance skills. She's worked at Solution Loans since 2014 and written hundreds of articles about how people can manage their money better. Her interest in personal finance goes way back to...Read about Alex Hartley
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