Comment on Disability pensioner charged $6,760 for renting a phone that retails for around $1,800

• Tankiedesantski@hexbear.net ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Except obviously it is because nothing on that website alerts the buyer to the possibility of paying 4x the price of the good as the total cost of transaction. 33% to 38% interest pa is already egregious enough as it is but 4x the base cost of the good is absurd and usurus.

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  • wahming@monyet.cc ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Sounds like you just have an ideological bias against consumer regulation

    I’m in favor of consumer protection laws on aspects like quality, safety, etc. Things that are more nebulous and harder or impossible to check. But at some point, I do believe consumers have a responsibility as well. I understand that convenience stores charge me more than groceries, and it’s fully on me if I shop there. In the same vein, if I buy a car that’s going for 50% above market value, I’m not about to scream fraud, provided all information on costs and fees were given to me.

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    • BelieveRevolt@hexbear.net ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      You can look at this from another perspective, which is the benefit of allowing a scam like this to continue vs. regulating it out of existence. The only upsides of allowing this to continue is the company perpetuating it making money and a smug lemmitor getting to feel superior to the poors and disabled people, so it’s obvious that it shouldn’t be allowed to exist.

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      • wahming@monyet.cc ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        It’s amazing how many hexbears can’t have a simple discussion without getting personal.

        I agree this BS needs to stop. I disagree on HOW it should be stopped. The market (and people out to make a quick buck) will always move faster than the govt can respond. Especially when the victims involved here have shown absolute zero financial literacy. Rather than treating the symptoms, I believe there should be more focus on education.

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    • Tankiedesantski@hexbear.net ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Things that are more nebulous and harder or impossible to check.

      Then please demonstrate how easy it is for the consumer to check their total payments by posting a screenshot from that website that alerts the consumer to the possibility of paying 4x the cost of the device as the total cost of transaction.

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      • wahming@monyet.cc ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        check their total payments

        If you’re signing a contract with no idea how much you’re going to be on the hook for, no amount of govt protection will keep you solvent.

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