[TAG] The Public Domain: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

[Mike Orr]

Jimmy O'Regan wrote:

>On 9/3/05, Mike Orr <mso at oz.net> wrote:
>  
>
>>Jimmy O'Regan wrote:
>>    
>>
>>>Mike Orr wrote:
>>>      
>>>
>>>>Jimmy O'Regan wrote:
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>>>The ESB, Ireland's electricity company (erm... semi-state company)
>>>>>provides a hire purchase facility for electrical goods, where the
>>>>>charge is added to your electricity bill (which is pretty convenient).
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>>>What kinds of "electrical goods" are available?
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>Everything from blenders to washing machines, digital cameras to
>>>computers, TVs, heaters, etc. They don't have a wide range of brands,
>>>but those they do have are pretty reputable.
>>>      
>>>
>>And what is the lease rate compared to the purchase price?
>>
>>    
>>
>
>Depends on the amount of repayments. Seems to be around 22.9% APR, and
>it seems they're not calling it 'hire purchase' anymore, it's an
>'appliance loan' (administered by the Irish branch of the Bank of
>Scotland). Have a look for yourself:
>http://esb.ie/retailasp/esb_shops/product1.asp?cat=21&subcat=3&prodcode=6272840
>  
>


22.9% interest?  That's even worse than putting it on a credit card.  
The maximum credit cards can charge here is 18%.  But if they're talking 
loans and APR, that's different than I was talking about.  I was talking 
about something more like a subscription.