It is our money.

Does big business rip off us, the common citizen?

We would opinion, in many cases the short answer is yes. You could look at many options on how the large conglomerate’s bully us the customer into buying things we do not need or buying items which are overpriced. It is perhaps unkind for criticising the commercial world for acting in a businesslike manner as at the end of the day a company cannot pay its labour force (which is often us) unless it makes a profit, something we all must keep in mind. There is also the comment that without a profit companies will not be able to pay their taxes but that is more debatable. Nevertheless, the premise is that we are the customers, and we are the ones who should be dictating policy.

One of the cruellest tactics applied by large companies is making us pay for services or items before these are used or delivered. At any given time, we the customer must be servicing a considerable amount of a company’s capital or debt in the provision of upfront fees. Clearly this must be legally allowed but the question is, is it morally, correct?

We must not confuse a deposit with upfront payment. A deposit is us the customer confirming that we genuinely intend to pay for the service or goods. That is quite ethical. The demand for payment in full prior to delivery is just disingenuous and dictatorial.

The COVID pandemic brought a range of issues to the fore, one of these involves the travel industry and hospitality industry. The media only gave brief and flitting coverage of the problems consumers had getting their deposits and payment refunded when travel was stopped. The issue that no one has asked is when we pay for air tickets or holiday bookings where does the money go, is it put in an escrow account or is it used by the company to run their business before they have provided us with the service? It would appear to be the latter and that is morally wrong.

How do the consumer groups let this pass by unquestioned? Why do all members of parliament or legislators not do something to correct this? As regards why do the politicians not bother, well they are either not interested or it is in their own interests to let big business set the rules regardless of how it affects us the little people on the ground.

It is shocking that large numbers of people are made to pay hundreds or even thousands of pounds when they book a holiday, plane flight, ferry trip, hotel booking, weeks or even months in advance. The business community and establishment will throw at us many excuses of why this must be the way, some of which may appear to be valid in a commercial sense. However, do we get a massive discount for paying upfront, generally no. The reality is it is morally wrong to use our money to fund your business before you have provided us with the service.

Just think before you part with your hard earned and limited cash to some group who will use it to help their cash flow.

Let us get the ball rolling – SAY NO TO UPFRONT PAYMENT.

Only we the downtrodden can do this.  Pass this on to others and encourage them to help start the trend.

IT IS OUR MONEY SO WE ONLY PAY WHEN WE GET THE SERVICE/GOODS