Noggin wrote: ↑
The biggest issue I have with prepayment meters is that they are (or always used to be) more expensive. Even when not paying off a debt. So, the people with least money pay more for their energy/water because they have to be on a prepayment meter. That's the bit I think sucks
Poor people arent forced to have prepayment meters. People who dont pay their debts ar
Count Steer wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 7:32 pm
This is where I agree with Skrewdriver...if a few people can take a few ££ off a few million or billion people, they're rich and the poor are just a bit poorer.
If you need to borrow a large amount of money you get a good rate. If you need to use a pay day loan or even a credit card....kerrbloodyching. If you need to buy enough for one or two at the supermarket then you'd better buy a freezer and buy family packs of frozen rather than fresh. Need to use public transport because you're poor and/or old? That's kerrbloodyching now too.
System's ed
(As it has been for years).
For good or for bad there’s a reason for that. The poor tend to be a poor credit risk.
Count Steer wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 7:32 pm
This is where I agree with Skrewdriver...if a few people can take a few ££ off a few million or billion people, they're rich and the poor are just a bit poorer.
If you need to borrow a large amount of money you get a good rate. If you need to use a pay day loan or even a credit card....kerrbloodyching. If you need to buy enough for one or two at the supermarket then you'd better buy a freezer and buy family packs of frozen rather than fresh. Need to use public transport because you're poor and/or old? That's kerrbloodyching now too.
System's ed
(As it has been for years).
For good or for bad there’s a reason for that. The poor tend to be a poor credit risk.
But if the interest rates weren't so stupid, then the poor would be able to pay it off quicker. So if they're a poor credit risk, then why with high rates do the lenders want them to take longer to pay it off?
Noggin wrote: ↑
The biggest issue I have with prepayment meters is that they are (or always used to be) more expensive. Even when not paying off a debt. So, the people with least money pay more for their energy/water because they have to be on a prepayment meter. That's the bit I think sucks
Poor people arent forced to have prepayment meters. People who dont pay their debts ar
There is a lesson there.
That bollocks though Jack. If you don't have a decent credit rating and want a supply you'll have to accept a prepayment meter. Not having a decent credit rating does not mean you are a debtor. You may be many things but not necessarily a debtor. You may be living in rented premises. So, yes, some people are forced to have prepayment meters and not because the bailiffs have picked the locks and stood there while the gas/electric guy has fitted one.
Sure there are the crooks (I spent time with the 'theft of gas' team in Peckham and we found all sorts, including unattended marijuana farms where they'd bypassed the meter. You could see the heat signature from space ) but tbh the rogues, chancers and thieves were outnumbered by people who were, by circumstance, just poor in a rich nation.
So, what's your lesson?
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
Once upon a time I was poor. In fact for much of my childhood, and most of my early married life I was poor. I couldnt afford stuff, so I didnt buy stuff. That stuff often included food, home made sandwiches every day in place of canteen meals.
I am now comfortable, not rich but not poor either. I try to contribute to those less well off, but I do really object to the sense of entitlement of many of the poor.
Ant wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 8:30 pm
But if the interest rates weren't so stupid, then the poor would be able to pay it off quicker. So if they're a poor credit risk, then why with high rates do the lenders want them to take longer to pay it off?
Because the repayment amounts are lower, there’s more chance of them getting the money back plus an increased margin. The interest rates are high because the likelihood of them being repaid is low.
There’s definitely a place for more community based credit unions, but again, there’s a reason they are thin on the ground.
Mussels wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 9:38 pm
Some years back I was happy to be on a prepayment meter, it made it clear to everyone that energy wasn't an unlimited free resource.
Chinese balloon shot down into the oggin off Myrtle Beach. Ground stop at several airports & boats told to stay the fuck away etc until it's recovered.
ZRX61 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 9:15 pm
Chinese balloon shot down into the oggin off Myrtle Beach. Ground stop at several airports & boats told to stay the fuck away etc until it's recovered.
Been all over the news here also. Surly any info was beamed back to China instantly and the thing should have been zapped days ago.
Noggin wrote: ↑Fri Feb 03, 2023 6:54 pm
The biggest issue I have with prepayment meters is that they are (or always used to be) more expensive. Even when not paying off a debt. So, the people with least money pay more for their energy/water because they have to be on a prepayment meter. That's the bit I think sucks
I have a pre payment meter and ill never part with it. Think i work out around £50 for gas and electricity a week on a two bed house. I like the fact i am in control of my cash payments. I can see what i use in pounds and pence and top up online and not surprising bills.
Felix wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 10:53 pm
I have a pre payment meter and ill never part with it. Think i work out around £50 for gas and electricity a week on a two bed house. I like the fact i am in control of my cash payments. I can see what i use in pounds and pence and top up online and not surprising bills.
I lived in a flat with a (landlord installed) prepay meter that took 50p's. Landlord never found out I had a key to the cash box & just used the same 50p every time. I knew when he would be coming to empty it so would leave 3 or 4 50p's in it. Ended up paying about $7 over a course of a year. He wasn't exactly what you would call smart...
Yorick wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 10:56 pm
China must be amazing to send a hot air balloon thousands of miles with no way of steering it.
Not really.
General directions of wind is known eg the 'trade winds' for shipping in merchant sailing days.
Weather forecasting gives day to day variations, eg flow around high and low pressure areas.
Wind direction can vary by height, so that can be adjusted.
They shot it down today. News says they used an air-to-air missile, quite impressive that it can actually pick up a balloon (presumably quite warm due to sunlight?).
There's no explosion on the vid though, so maybe they took the warhead out, or maybe a canvas bag wasn't substantial enough to set it off! I would guess the former though, they probably want to minimise damage so they can inspect the debris.
Yorick wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 10:56 pm
China must be amazing to send a hot air balloon thousands of miles with no way of steering it.
Not really.
General directions of wind is known eg the 'trade winds' for shipping in merchant sailing days.
Weather forecasting gives day to day variations, eg flow around high and low pressure areas.
Wind direction can vary by height, so that can be adjusted.
Didn't the 'Loon' project try to get them to loiter around particular areas ie avoid getting moved around? Probably harder than trying to get them to move on a chosen path I suspect.
ed
) but tbh the rogues, chancers and thieves were outnumbered by people who were, by circumstance, just poor in a rich nation.
