I'm shocked this is allowed to be aired.

Oh well, at least I can now say I've heard of children who don't have Xboxes.
My grandsons are both football fanatics and play several times a week. (It gives them a break from slouching in front of a screen stuffing their faces)

The system, unfortunately, doesn't work for or cater to everyone's circumstances and the future doesn't look promising. On the other hand, I've just watched the first episode of a new series about the Corinthia Hotel in London, where the vast majority of staff, at all levels, are foreign workers. From a 16 yr old school leaver with a great work ethic and ambition, to the German general manager who was headhunted from Claridges. Hardly anyone English. It's the same in the NHS and a lot of the building trade. No proper work ethic. Want without work. None if my AC or CG had or have Xboxes. They'd rather do sport or be doing some outdoor activity than indoors on social media.

Only people on certain benefits can apply, and they have to have been on them for 6 months or more.
I found that when I got carers allowance I wasn't eligible for anything at all!

Paid back out of benefit, yes, but there is a limit as to how much can be withheld from benefits. .I understand that it can be topped up to a regulated limit, to buy other necessities when a certain amount is repaid.
It's similar to that which another poster proposed. Lending money, to be repaid out of benefits at source.

We're both hard knocks from Liverpool who made good.

What help do you think unemployed with children get towards basics?
Its news to me.
A loan which needs to be paid back out of benefit money.
Grants were done away with a few years ago, as far as I know.

Esther McVey is your alter ego GabriellaG?.

There are jobs to be had. You can't afford to be picky if you want food on your table and you don't need degrees to earn good money.

* Oops! save.

I don't understand how people can't sace, even small amounts. No need for lavish weddings if you want to furnish a home. No reason to have two or three children if your income only provides for one (plus parents, of course)
No need for a 50" tv or iphones or expensive trainers either. People think they need these things but it's more like want. They have little or no understanding of living within their means.
Take out meals, wine at weekends, holidays 3 times a year. Credit cards maxed out and always waiting for the end of the month to pay back what they borrowed to live on the previous week which leaves them in an even poorer situation.
If the only people struggling to buy cookers and washing machines etc are bereaved and those whose husbands have left or families on 12k pa, then it's a small proportion of society, as unemployed with kids get help with the basics such as beds, cookers, washing machines. People can't afford to get depressed about it, one of them needs to seriously look for work, two jobs if necessary if they have children and no childcare.
It's all too easy to rely on the state ir parents nowadays...or crowdfunding for Christmas. Whatever next...

no way .i wouldnt bother.... bloody rip off merchants..

I think the exploitation of those who have the least is despicable.

Having coped without a washing machine for four months (family of 5) I can sympathise. Jeans, towels and bedding I took to the laundrette but the rest I did by hand.

I think places like brighthouse also have the 'advantage' of someone being able to walk in, and walk out with a machine - well, not literally.
When things are getting on top of someone, there is no money, none on the horizon, and piles of smelly washing building up...

No, MissA, definitely not. However, some people may not be in a position to help their grown up children and, if the loan business was better regulated and the prices kept at the level of those in retail shops, then it wouldn't be a problem.

I don't know what the HP interest rates were years ago but it seemed to be an acceptable way to purchase household goods and so it should be still for those who can't afford to buy outright. You pay a bit more, but it wasn't extortionate as these firms seem to charge.

These firms must bulk-buy as well, so they are already making a big profit without the high rate of interest.

A reconditioned cooker cost 180 pounds from a reputable shop 3 years ago, when my daughter bought it, by the way.
You'd be lucky (or silly) to get one for 100, unless from family, assuming you have family.

The more things change the more they stay the same MissA

I find it strange that people always say things are so different these days.
Parents are under such stress that they need to both work, can't pay childminders (so granny kills herself doing it)
They have to have date nights and weekends away, and its all so different than when we were young.
The minute that people are struggling to buy a washing machine and have to resort to brighthouse, everyone points out how they went without, and so on.
I wonder if you would allow your grown up children to be without a washing machine or cooker, with zero chance of being able to scrape up 100 pounds to buy one?
Xbox? Maybe different, but I don't know any children who don't have one..

Sorry missed that part of your post - so yes your suggestion of PayPal is pie in the sky

PayPal do a credit check GG

As you admit yourself GG catalogues PayPal etc. All do credit checks and if you can’t pass these you are doomed . I’m not talking about the latest gadgets just everyday necessities such as washing machines, fridges, cookers, modest TV etc .

There should be government control over the amount of interest which can be charged.

However, HP was very popular in days gone by; my DM would buy an essential item on HP and when she had finished paying for it, then buy another item. I don't know what the interest rates were then, but it seemed to be an accepted way of buying things and in fact the only way for many families.

Renting televisions was also the accepted way of having a tv for very many years - probably paid for over and over again. We were considered unusual when we eventually bought a tv in the late 1960s or 70s.

As long as the rate of interest was not extortionate then it always seemed to be the way to slowly acquire household goods in the 1950s - remember, when we were told 'You've never had it so good'.

The problem is the lack of legislation regarding interest rates and the greed of these companies.

As for the advert, no-one has answered my question about why this is allowed but the Iceland advert was banned.
I find that morally wrong.

I understand gillybob but there are catalogues which have low interest rates over a number of months.
PayPal have never asked me how much I earn and, although I only used them when buying/selling small amounts, they offered me credit.
Having checked my credit file, I see that they made a search, so yes, I doubt anyone with a poor credit history would be eligible.
I do have sympathy for those who genuinely struggle, but have none for those who have the latest gadgets and clothes but cry poverty.

Fgs ( your words) GabriellaG I am talking about very small amounts of money ( say up to £200) to enable a qualifying person to purchase a necessary item at a low interest rate ( the likes of rates enjoyed by many other people instead of the exhorbitant rates charged by BH etc.) The money could be repaid directly from benefits if necessary. Maybe I live in a different world to you, but I really can’t see a problem with this.
And it’s Nothing at all like borrowing to buy a car at no interest !

I remember Brighthouse being on the main news several weeks ago for the extortionate rates of interest that people had to pay. It is scandalous they are allowed to charge these amounts. Unfortunately it is people who are on really low incomes that buy from them as sometimes it is the only way they can afford a necessary household item like a washing machine etc. However I would not consider an Xbox an essential item ....wants and needs are entirely different.