• jeffw@lemmy.worldOPM
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    7 months ago

    In response to an article about how poor people are trapped by loans… you recommend that? Really?

    • jballs@sh.itjust.works
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      7 months ago

      Absolutely. Did you read the article? The people interviewed explicitly say that they don’t know anything about interest rates and how financing works. One guy had a 75% interest rate because he apparently had no idea what that meant he would be paying , which is several times the price of the car.

      If you’re going to finance a car, you need to arm yourself with the tools to figure out what that is going to cost you. Go in prepared. Don’t count on the dealer telling you the numbers, because they are not on your side. They are trying to hide that information from you to get you to agree to something for their benefit.

      • jeffw@lemmy.worldOPM
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        7 months ago

        Poor uneducated people are being oppressed by corporate shills… Best you got it "learn the rules of the game: basically?

        • jballs@sh.itjust.works
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          7 months ago

          You’re oddly hostile for a post where I offered advice. Obviously we’d be better off if there were strong protections in place. No one is arguing otherwise. I offered practical advice that you and your loved ones should follow to protect yourselves and you act like I’m saying the system is perfect and nothing should change.

          If you posted an article about people were dying in car crashes and I said to make sure you wear a seatbelt, you’re acting as if I said we shouldn’t continue to try to make travel safer. Wear a seatbelt! And make sure you know how finance works before taking out a loan.

            • NewNewAccount@lemmy.world
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              7 months ago

              Well I don’t disagree but if those protections aren’t in place then it’s up to the consumer to protect themself.

              • girlfreddy@lemmy.ca
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                7 months ago

                That’s something the gov’t is supposed to mandate because businesses don’t give a shit. They’re only there to make money for the corporate bosses and investors.

                Caveat emptor is not a universal mantra everyone knows or understands.

                • Habahnow@sh.itjust.works
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                  7 months ago

                  I mean the government hasn’t put up any protections yet. I support them putting up protections. Until they do, someone’s providing actual advice of what to do instead of crying, getting scammed, or not buying a car.

    • blurg@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      And what would be better recommendations for the poor individuals trapped by loans?

      • jeffw@lemmy.worldOPM
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        7 months ago

        Regulatory reform? Not “just go buy a laptop and study amortization before you buy”.

        • blurg@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          Yeah, that sounds reasonable in the long run (years), while the laptop plan is more immediately useful.