thanks chris, there may be disagreemnts between us but there is far more in common and i hope we can build on that. I want individuals in indymedia to participate in the ssf and i also want the sheff-imc as an organisation to work with the ssf, i feel that both will benefit from it.

i think we should do something about loan sharks in manchester and salford also. they are predators on people and there is no limit to the interest they can charge. people need to know it is not a crime just to owe money, you can't go to jail if you really can't pay. there are some debts like, council tax, maintenance and magistrates court fines where you can be jailed if you could pay but refuse too. "normal" debts like rent, credit etc. you can make agreements at a minimum (the usual court order for rent on council properties if you are on full housing benefit is £2.75 a week).
don't misunderstand, the above is for information for people but i believe politically it stinks. we live in a society built on debt. there are other ways of living (its mayday, anarchy is good)

but in the meantime..

Great to see this event highlighted on Sheffield Indymedia: to me the event was much more than just a protest against Brighthouse which is just one element of a labrynth of businesses and individuals who exploit those with the least for profit. On Saturday,
a very diverse group of campaigners: Sheffield Social Forum, Green Party, credit union activists, Church people against poverty, Samba people, gave up over two hours of their holiday to highlight individual perpetrators such as Brighthouse and the Provident as well as the nature of debt, etc, but also noting positive alternatives. We gave out over a thousand leaflets, giving contact details for credit unions, contrasting the massive rates of the credit companies with that of the credit unions. We had debated earlier, whether credit unions are a good thing at the last SSF meeting when a worker from the credit union development agency had outlining the issues.

It was very different than a left demo or even the now rather formulaic direct action type event. There were no lectures on why you shouldn’t consume, (though this may become part of our wider message). Instead there was positive info such as mentioned above: how to join a credit union, advice of how to get help if you are in debt. Judging by the binned flyer ration (I would say only about twenty were tossed onto the pavement) it was a message that got through. The street theatre performed by members of the Creative Action Network (C.A.N) (originators of the Sharrow Lantern Festival) was excellent and drew many people into what could have been a very dry issue. However, to me, the mini-occupation was misconceived and uneccesary, but each to their own, eh?. Just as importantly, this was in a poor area of the retailing part of the city, it would have been easier to go to the usual spots in Fargate, with its generally more affluent mix, but I am so glad we didn’t. To me this was a major departure from politics as usual and a significant step in the maturity of radical politics in the city and bodes very well for the future. Well done to all concerned…

But bring some info banners next

we have had furniture and electrical goods off brighthouse for two years wich are now falling to bits,we have asked them to come out and repair them to no avail,so in return my partner and i have started paying late every week now we have been threatend by court action and still have not had our purcheses repaired.can you help

Hi,
My wife and i had a dispute with brighthouse, we had a total of 6 items sofa,tv,dvd,pc etc..., up until Oct 2005 we were paying monthly. on 21st dec my wife payed Bright a payment of £177.90p, nov & dec payment. the very next day the store manager called to say we were in debt!!!, not happy i attended the store with my wife, we asked for a full statement of accounts to date (your right under the CCA, although £1 fee per statement may be charged) i offered the admin charge, the manager refused point blank, and threatened us with re-possession, I informed the manager they would have to apply for a court order first as I have paid for the items for some time(as she well knew). I left and wrote a letter to caversham finance (parent company) informing them that even though we had since attended a further visit to the shop, without success we had no choice but to withhold payment and raise a dispute, i enclosed a p/order for admin charges and demanded copies of all my agreements also statements, they acknowedged on Jan 8th, we finally got documents in MAY, and only because trading standards contacted them on our behalf.

We had Paid an anstonishing amount of money!! £6,000 for a couch, 42'TV (£900 retail), DVD player, PC, Playstation.
They still wanted £4,500 on top. also they started court action (cannot while dispute unresolved), so we called their bluff, and counterclaimed for unfair trading, and asked the court to demand ALL Original Docs to be brought to court.
Guess what, they never attended, to cut a long story short(2 falsified agreements, oh yes! and much more dubious practices) case quashed, i won.

what i am trying to say is YOU CAN WIN against BRIGHTHOUSE

With the help of Damon from Debt On Our Doorstep
 damon@debt-on-our-doorstep.com

he will advise you regarding Brighthouse (special interest to him) he is extremly educated concerning the Consumer Credit Act, Brighthouse etc.. Contact him ASAP together you WILL get answers, trust me,I have done it.

P.S. Hidden Charges: Add up DLC ((Damage Liability Cover, scam) Electrical Isurance LTD is bogus Cavesham Fin company), Service cover & interest charges.
133% on top of in-store-price.

don't tell you that in store do they

Chris Booth (winner)

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