Killed by my debt (8 Viewers)
- Thread starter Covstu
- Start date
Sick Boy
Super Moderator
I watched half of it but have been meaning to rewatch. It was incredibly well written and realistic, and as you say, tragic.
I_Saw_Shaw_Score
Well-Known Member
I read an article on the bbc website few months back about a lad who was about 18 got fine for being in a bus lane or something didn’t pay and it just went from there, is this the same story?
Grendel
Well-Known Member
Yes it is
fernandopartridge
Well-Known Member
I watched it, heartbreaking. His mother's call to the debt collection agency was awful to hear.
Councils really are the pits. Disproportionate powers to fine for minor traffic violations and then quickly pass debt on to these scumbags to collect. I hope the bailiff in this case is proud.
Councils really are the pits. Disproportionate powers to fine for minor traffic violations and then quickly pass debt on to these scumbags to collect. I hope the bailiff in this case is proud.
Covstu
Well-Known Member
It was horrific that the cost spiralled so quickly on top of his zero hour contract which raped his wage each week. It was extremely powerful and certainly made me think differently about people who struggle financially and what impact that has on depression and suicide.
Worth a watch as really thought provoking
Worth a watch as really thought provoking
Been doing that for close to 30 yrs now.
It's meant to be something like 3 months continuous employment, then you should be on the cards but I guess there are loopholes or clever accountimg this is in Construction /Exhibitions.
Nick
Administrator
I think the other dangerous thing is when they do it to young people who don't fully understand it. They go for a job interview and slyly say they are self employed halfway through and sign here. They will have no idea they have to sort out their own Tax / NI.
On the program as well the way the fines went up and up was shocking, there should be a cap on how much a fine can go up in it's lifetime.
jimmyhillsfanclub
Well-Known Member
I watched it too...and whilst it was heartbreaking, the lad had several opportunities to get out before becoming overwhelmed.......he certainly didn't help himself.
I believe this lads case also helped provoke the crackdown on the payday/last resort lenders........although I'm aware that crackdown in itself, has lead to an increase in the kind of "break-yer-legs" doorstep lending that used to rife in the 80's & 90's recessions.
I believe this lads case also helped provoke the crackdown on the payday/last resort lenders........although I'm aware that crackdown in itself, has lead to an increase in the kind of "break-yer-legs" doorstep lending that used to rife in the 80's & 90's recessions.
Nick
Administrator
I think some of that is down to educating people about it and the dangers of debt and managing money.
The scene with the salesman selling him his motorbike was pretty true as well.
He probably could have asked his mum at the time he got the ticket to see if she can help and pay it off straight away.
fernandopartridge
Well-Known Member
It is personal pride isn't it? The key message was the start where his family had said how proud they would be of him earning (and the value of the OTE that the courier company had conned him into believing he'd be earning). That set the scene really.
City Sprint, the company made net profit of £5m, £4m, £3.8m for 2014, 2015 and 2016. They're based in Surrey, the home of the Tory spiv. Disgusting.
Covstu
Well-Known Member
It’s an education thing I reckon, money is too easy to obtain hence the reliance on pay day loans and equally there needs to be clearer instructions on what could happen if failure to pay. They are usually very confusing but in this instance he didn’t have the money so put on the back burner in the hope of getting the cash, then he had a bike to pay for etc etc. Overwhelmed I think
Sick Boy
Super Moderator
We live in a society where money is valued more than human suffering.
Nick
Administrator
Yeah that's the thing. Was embarrassed of not being able to afford it when he first got the ticket.
Credit is still so easy to get hold of and anyone who's a little indisciplined with money or has a change in circumstance can soon find themselves in a world of trouble. Sadly i'm one of those that's indisciplined and once you get into a hole there's very little chance of getting out of it.
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I_Saw_Shaw_Score
Well-Known Member
I’ve said this ever since school they should do lessons at 15 onwards on finances, understanding pensions, mortgages, loans etc I had nothing at school on this yet we used to have PSE lessons once a week you’d rotate around about 8 topics for half a term but none focussed on this sort of thing.
Nick
Administrator
People get out of school and get credit thrown at them, it's dangerous
I_Saw_Shaw_Score
Well-Known Member
I’ve heard some outrageous stories of people (in their teens) taking out £50 Wonga loans for a night out and having to pay back hundreds (sure it was £480! I’m not an expert on loans etc so is that possible?)
Covstu
Well-Known Member
I did an A level in business and it didn’t cover anything practical! They teach you how to cook a friggin pizza at school but not how to repay the huge loan you took out for the cooker!
chiefdave
Well-Known Member
Its made worse currently as there are so many jobs where you aren't even paid by the hour, you're paid per delivery or similar. The amount of deliveries you have to do an hour to get anywhere near a working wage is pretty much impossible to do.
Nick
Administrator
Same for carers, my wife got paid per visit when she did it.
Not the drive from Nuneaton to cov back to Nuneaton again in between.
Sick Boy
Super Moderator
I'm 33 and we did PSE or something like that, from years 7-9 we had it for 2 hours each week and it'd basically be a teacher reading a story to use about an 'edgy situation'.
Massive waste of time. I hope that they've moved on from doing that these days.
I_Saw_Shaw_Score
Well-Known Member
It varied topics were ‘sex education, men and women’s health (ie checking for lumps’) so that was relevant.
Then other stuff was spirituality and a few imo nonsensical areas.
no_loyalty
Well-Known Member
I fucking hate the council, I am still awaiting a compensation payment from them for an accident, it was supposed to be paid mid May. My solicitor is chasing them, apparently the initial cheque they wrote was incorrect and now they have paid the money into the wrong account allegedly.
Sick Boy
Super Moderator
I worked for the local council down here for a while doing various odd jobs in administration and homelessness phonelines, and the amount of incompetent people was unbelievable. I got the impression that they could get rid of at least a quarter of the workforce and still function if people did their jobs properly.
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Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
That's funny I've taught it to Year 7, Year 10 and Year 11 PSHE. Usual stuff banded around by people who haven't been in a school for decades
I_Saw_Shaw_Score
Well-Known Member
That’s fair enough then I’m glad it’s in place now because it certainly wasn’t when I left school 10 years ago.
Hopefully the younger generation will be well clued up on finances then......
Sick Boy
Super Moderator
I feel like I've finally joining the moaning old gits' club (that probably happened a while ago though).
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
That's when I left school too, a lot will depend on where you did it and when etc. I've found myself having to talk about fake news, managing money, radicalisation etc. Not easy as none of us doing it are PSHE specialists but we try and impart what common sense we can.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
I'm 27 and finding myself surrounded by 13 year old wannabe gangsters is a never ending twilight zone
Gazolba
Well-Known Member
My daughter, 26, doesn't even have a job yet, she's still attending school and already has considerable student debt.
But she still gets offers of credit cards in the mail at least once a week.
And I'm an older parent and I get offers for prepaid funerals, cremation services and hearing aids every week.
They can't wait to get all your money when you're young and shove you in a box when you are old.
But she still gets offers of credit cards in the mail at least once a week.
And I'm an older parent and I get offers for prepaid funerals, cremation services and hearing aids every week.
They can't wait to get all your money when you're young and shove you in a box when you are old.
Covstu
Well-Known Member
Over 8000 posts ago that was fella!
Covstu
Well-Known Member
I think access to funds is so much easier as well as false information on how it works on the net. Back in the day (even up to 10-15yrs) there wasn’t the pay day loan sharking issue which was widely advertised, of course there was always ‘that guy’ who did it but young kids would hardly fall into that trap so there needs to be better regulations on this.
I think the pressure has increased on youth of today particularly with having the latest stuff I.e. technology and fashion. Wasn’t really massive when I was growing up or at least not in your face as much