BRIGHTHOUSE STORES to Sponsor TRISHA TV Show !

[Lefty]

This has got me really mad!

For much of the early part of this year I was involved with the producers of an TV documentary highlighting the problems of debt, loan sharks and predatory lending.

Today I find this...

BrightHouse to sponsor Trisha
Thursday October 11 2007

BrightHouse has announced an exclusive agreement with Five to sponsor The Trisha Goddard Show.

Research conducted by AMS Media, on behalf of BrightHouse, revealed that 70% of Trisha's audience fit BrightHouse's target customer profile.

Hamish Paton, Business Development Director said: “We are proud of the relationship we have with our customers. Our stores know their customers: they have close links to the community and many store staff are recruited locally. Our customers relate to the situations Trisha deals with on her show - real people with real issues. This deal is great for the company because it reinforces our community approach and our commitment to providing solutions for our customers.”

Trisha Goddard said: “I am delighted we have teamed up with BrightHouse to sponsor my show. I relish the challenges involved in helping real people solve their problems in order to live better, more fulfilling, lives and it's great that BrightHouse share those aspirations.”

Hamish Paton said: “As BrightHouse expands its store network, we are working hard to increase our brand awareness and people's understanding of what this company is about. We believe that the involvement with The Trisha Goddard Show will help this enormously.

“The sponsorship also marks the public launch of BrightHouse's new strapline 'Your Weekly Payment Store'. This reinforces the core message of our store proposition, which is to allow customers the opportunity to pay weekly for the things they really need.”

full article here


I think this is an absolute disgrace.

Comments, anyone?


Cheers
Lefty

[sequenci]

I don't know if I should laugh or cry.

[europa16]

Originally Posted by Lefty

Trisha Goddard said: “I am delighted we have teamed up with BrightHouse to sponsor my show. I relish the challenges involved in helping real people solve their problems in order to live better, more fulfilling, lives and it's great that BrightHouse share those aspirations.”

I'm not sure which planet Trisha Goddard is on...they don't help people to solve their problems - they create them by charging ridiculous amounts for every day items, and preying on the vunerable people in society. As soon as a payment is missed, well, that's when the $h1t hits the fan.

It's as pathetic as Carole Vorderman fronting FirstPlus.... none of 'em have got any morals whatsoever.

[sequenci]

Well I'm sure Brighthouse would have got a great deal and no doubt the seven or so viewers that the show attracts will be tremendously grateful.

Does anyone know who her agent is? Perhaps some e-mails outlining concerns should be sent?

[Lefty]

Originally Posted by sequenci

Well I'm sure Brighthouse would have got a great deal and no doubt the seven or so viewers that the show attracts will be tremendously grateful.

Does anyone know who her agent is? Perhaps some e-mails outlining concerns should be sent?

I've already emailed the show's production company - and channel 5! (like I said, this has really got me quite mad!!!)


Dear Sirs

I am writing to you to express my disappointment at your sponsorship deal with BRIGHTHOUSE Stores in relation to the TRISHA show.

BrightHouse to sponsor Trisha

Thursday October 11 2007
BrightHouse has announced an exclusive agreement with Five to sponsor The Trisha Goddard Show.

Research conducted by AMS Media, on behalf of BrightHouse, revealed that 70% of Trisha's audience fit BrightHouse's target customer profile.

Hamish Paton, Business Development Director said: “We are proud of the relationship we have with our customers. Our stores know their customers: they have close links to the community and many store staff are recruited locally. Our customers relate to the situations Trisha deals with on her show - real people with real issues. This deal is great for the company because it reinforces our community approach and our commitment to providing solutions for our customers.”

Trisha Goddard said: “I am delighted we have teamed up with BrightHouse to sponsor my show. I relish the challenges involved in helping real people solve their problems in order to live better, more fulfilling, lives and it's great that BrightHouse share those aspirations.”

Hamish Paton said: “As BrightHouse expands its store network, we are working hard to increase our brand awareness and people's understanding of what this company is about. We believe that the involvement with The Trisha Goddard Show will help this enormously.

“The sponsorship also marks the public launch of BrightHouse's new strapline 'Your Weekly Payment Store'. This reinforces the core message of our store proposition, which is to allow customers the opportunity to pay weekly for the things they really need.”...

I am saddened to learn that 70% of Trisha's target audience are seen as "sub-prime", "non-creditworthy" and ill-educated - because THAT is Brighthouse's typical customer profile.

Brighthouse are PREDATORY lenders who exploit the poor and more vunerable people in our society. They do this by "marking up" regular high street prices, charging extortionate interest rates (29.9%), adding non-negotiable "service contracts" and "damage liablity cover" inurance policies, yet dress this up as "affordable" weekly payments.

Take this example:

A Newhome cooker for sale at Brighthouse for £703.29. Yet if you choose to pay for this over 3 years at £9.99 per week using their credit deal, you'd end up paying £1,558.44.

Argos price - £495.00

Brighthouse are also very well known for their "bully-boy" tactics and blatant disregard for consumer law. I would suggest you aquaint yourself with a few selected threads from THE CONSUMER ACTION GROUP website.

Steven4064 - v - BrightHouse***WON***

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...lem-again.html

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...rly-crazy.html

Brighthouse Experience

I honestly think it is disgraceful for a national TV show - which claims to help "real people with real problems" to be associated with such a company, and I would urge you to reconsider this sponsorship deal.


With Kind Regards
Lefty

I've also brought this to the attention of the ITV company that was researching an "revealing" documentary regarding Brighthouse.

!!!!!!

[buzby]

I Still don't get it! The profile of Brighthouse's customers probably match the market segment that Goddard reaches. Voderman sings the praises of First Plus, yet anyone with half a brain will see there are cheaper ways of getting money than taking Voderman's word. 'Sponsorship' is nothing more than having a corporate name placed withing the 'bumpers' of an ITV show.

I don't have to like Barclaycard or use one to enjoy the program it sponsors, so there really doesn't seem to be much to complain about, except not watch the show.

[Lefty]

Originally Posted by buzby

I Still don't get it! The profile of Brighthouse's customers probably match the market segment that Goddard reaches. Voderman sings the praises of First Plus, yet anyone with half a brain will see there are cheaper ways of getting money than taking Voderman's word. 'Sponsorship' is nothing more than having a corporate name placed withing the 'bumpers' of an ITV show.

I don't have to like Barclaycard or use one to enjoy the program it sponsors, so there really doesn't seem to be much to complain about, except not watch the show.

Perhaps you don't get it, Busby. And, as ever, your views and opinions are clean cut and accurate.

However, I DO get it - and it makes me very mad. I, for one, disapprove very strongly to the lower classes (poor people, "chavs", benefit class - call em what you like) being wheeled out as entertainment (having usually been lured with a few quid expense money and a night in a hotel) to be laughed at by the rest of the population on these gutter level TV shows!

It then makes me even madder to think some executive has comissioned a survey that reveals that 70% of the show's audience are prime targets to be exploited by the likes of Brighthouse.

It's not just innocent sponsorship (if there is such a thing!) It's a very carefully thought out - and downright blatant - attempt to exploit some of the most vunerable people in society, locking them into ridiculously expensive credit agreements, causing misery and hardship, and all dressed up to look like a caring - community based - helping hand.

Trisha Goddard should seriously been ashamed of herself, and DESPERATELY needs to consider the consequences on her career of such a partnertship.


Cheers
Lefty

[Bigmac versus]

Lefty I could have written that myself.
Brighthouse target the vulnerable members of society with credit agreements that quite frankly are shocking.

[buzby]

Don't get me wrong - I do think those who are unable to realise when they're being taken for a ride should be protected, but then where do you draw the line? Booze and Gambling are highly regulated, yet anyone can still make the wrong choices and end up with irreplaceable livers and debt they have no chance to repay. Singling out Brighthouse, seems a tad unfair when there are worse firms out there with punitive interest rates (Provincial comes to mind). Similarly, those that have appeared in the press for having spend thousands on their phone bill on 09 numbers, all appear to be from that Socio-class. Why do we have a need for services like these, when a credit or debit card would suffice? (Like in the old days).

Trisha is just one of a long line of pseudo 'lifestyle' confrontation-fodder and tabloid tattle, as beloved of Kilroy, Kyle, Whale and the rest. I'd like to think folk will realise there's more to life than this packaged and manipulative cobblers, but if it wasn't Brighthouse, then Curry's could be waiting in the wings with their 40% APR 6-months free deals....

To be really effective - if you could get support to end Trisha and her clones, I'd sign that petition!

[Lefty]

Originally Posted by buzby

Singling out Brighthouse, seems a tad unfair when there are worse firms out there with punitive interest rates (Provincial comes to mind).

Yes. There are other (I would hesitate to say "worse") companies out there with more punitive interest rates than Brighthouse - you mention Provincial? Perhaps you mean Provident? (The Provvy)? APR's in excess of 177%?

I don't think I am being unfair to single out Brighthouse.

From my experience, (having been a campainer against predatory lenders for quite some time), there are only really three companies that SPECIFICALLY target the poor, set up shop in deprived areas, and generally milk the non-creditworthy. Provident (as mentioned), Cash Converters (the buy back store - 360% APR) and BRIGHTHOUSE.

However, where Brighthouse differ from the other two (ie: everyone knows their agenda - and have little, if any, ambiguity) Brighthouse attempt to appear "acceptable" and proclaim a company "mission" to "help" people get "the credit they deserve". It is this that makes Brighthouse worse than the others. Behind the very polished corporate image is a multi-million pound industry which has a 100% customer base that nobody else wants. The poor, the sub-prime and people on benefit.

Add to that their very well publicised disregard for consumer law (just search Brighthouse on this forum), their bully-boy tactics and highly questionable contracts and sales techniques, you may possibly appreciate my utter contempt for the company - and their sponsorship of the TRISHA TV show.


Cheers
Lefty

[sequenci]

Originally Posted by Lefty

I don't think I am being unfair to single out Brighthouse.

Nor me.

I have spoken to MANY folks who have agreements with both Brighthouse and Provident and the general consensus is that Brighthouse are a much, much, much worse firm to deal with.

[Bigmac versus]

Werent they refused permission to set up in France due to their targetting of low income families?
If so the french have something going for them after all.

[Lefty]

Originally Posted by Bigmac versus

Werent they refused permission to set up in France due to their targetting of low income families?
If so the french have something going for them after all.

Yes. They were called "Crazy Georges" at the time. They were thrown out due to their non-transparent terms (ie - service contracts, extra insurance schemes, etc) and left with their tails firmly between their legs!

Cheers
Lefty

[Bigmac versus]

Pity our goverments of past and present haven't got a backbone.

[Lefty]

Here's my first response to emails sent to both the show's producers and Channel 5. (I also found an email for Trisha herself! Ha ha!)

This is from Town House TV

Dear Lefty,

Town House TV makes the Trisha Goddard show but has nothing whatsoever to do with its sponsorship. Nor do we receive any financial gain from it. This is entir