Conservative MP opens new BrightHouse Store!

[Lefty]

Oh my... There is no hope! What on earth is the point of mere "citizens" such as us questioning BrightHouse, and highlighting their exploitative trading methods, when our elected Members of Parliament legitimise and endorse them...


MP opens new Lynn electrical store

LYNN has welcomed a new shop in the shape of BrightHouse, the store which lets customers pay for electrical goods in weekly instalments.

Reading-based BrightHouse opened its first Norfolk branch in Broad Street on Saturday, with the help of North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham.

The firm, which sponsors the Trisha Show on Channel Five, says its pay-weekly deals mean people on low incomes can buy things they would not otherwise be able to afford.

Customers can also pay outright in cash, or set up monthly direct debits, and credit is arranged according to individual circumstances.

"Whether you've never applied for credit before or have struggled to be accepted in the past, then we can help," said a company spokesman.

"We provide our customers with choice and access to products, operating without the normal requirements of large deposits and credit ratings which can make everyday domestic products inaccessible to a significant section of UK society."

Full story HERE


Needless to say this email was zapped off to Henry Bellingham MP pretty quickly!

Dear Sir

I was somewhat shocked to see you open a new BrightHouse store in Lynn, Norfolk recently. I find it incredible that you wish to be associated with, and appear to endorse, such a company.

Contributors and users of the Consumer Action Group Forums have recently been researching BrightHouse at great length. This has included several researchers joining BrightHouse as customers, and, experiencing first hand, an inherent culture of social-discrimination, arrogance, lies, obstruction, rudeness, and even aggression towards customers. The forum is also actively collecting first hand "horror stories" of customers' experiences with the company.

Much of this research has been compiled into a Consumer Advice/Debt Advice Fact Sheet (enclosed as a PDF file for your attention) and makes very interesting reading. By unravelling a complex system of financial exploitation (aimed at some of the least well-off in society) this Fact Sheet is also essential for anyone who is - or anyone planning on becoming - a customer of BrightHouse.

(Short extract from Fact Sheet)

Please find time to study the full fact sheet, and keep it on file for when your constituency starts receiving complaints about BrightHouse. I'm sure you will find it useful.

Incidentally, BrightHouse were given every opportunity to respond to our research - and were asked to comment on our findings. We also asked if they would like to contribute and/or suggest any ammendments to the final draft. However, the company chose to ignore all our requests.

I would value your comments, and very much look forward to hearing from you.

Kindest Regards

Lefty

The email was quickly acknowledged by Henry Bellingham's PA, with an assurance of a full response in a day or so.

Will keep you posted.

Cheers

Lefty

[morrigan54]

A new store’s opened up in Lynn
With help from their MP,
Pay weekly deals mean people cant
Afford their ******** tea!
For those who live there on the coast
Take heed when I say this,
Buy a suite from Brighthouse and.....
There’s no more chips and fish!
Whether you’ve never applied for credit
Or have struggled in the past,
If you’re approached by Brighthouse staff...
Just leg it out there fast!


Good letter Lefty! I can't wait to read his response. I wonder if he's signed up for any of their products? Oh I almost forgot... doesn't John Lewis do a good package for MP's?

[Lefty]

Originally Posted by morrigan54

Good letter Lefty! I can't wait to read his response. I wonder if he's signed up for any of their products? Oh I almost forgot... doesn't John Lewis do a good package for MP's?

Don't worry. Just as soon as I receive Henry Bellingham's "full response" I will post it here.

By the way, Morrigan, you're a mighty fine wordsmith! You could say, You're a poet... and didn't know-it!


Cheers
Lefty

[Lefty]

This story just gets better and better...

I don't know... Opening a BrightHouse store at the weekend, then raising questions in the House of Commons about the number of people in Britain living in poverty the following Monday!!!!

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2008-03-31a.420.0&s=speaker%3A107 26#g424.7


Anyway, as I haven't received my promised "full response" from Mr Bellingham yet, I dropped a little reminder email this morning...

Dear Mr Bellingham

I refer to my email of 8th April, which was duly acknowledged. Thank you.

I am very keen to receive your "full response" as promised, and had really hoped for a reply by now.

I am even more keen than ever to hear your views about BrightHouse (and how they target people on low incomes), particularly as I note your concern at the National Office for Statistics figure of 5.2 million people living in poverty in the UK - a question you raised personally in the House of Commons only two weeks ago.

I would be grateful if you would confirm when I should expect your response.


Kindest Regards


Will keep you posted. But I can assure you, this story is NOT going to go away...



Cheers
Lefty

[morrigan54]

He featured on BBC radio 4 The Investigation programme last Thurs about drugs in prison. Incidently, I featured on the same show and he was full of %%%% on there as well.
Sorry if that's blunt but I'm one for speaking my mind.
You get politicians like this that harper on about poverty and the rest of it and there you have it, he goes and opens a Brighthouse Store.
He'll be mulling over your letter Lefty thinking how he can justify himself.
No doubt they'll be a nice 'fob off' letter coming your way shortly!

[Lefty]

I have a sneaking feeling that this story is going to pan out into something very interesting...

Here's another take on the same story:

Debt counsellors concerned over store

EDP24
By Chris Bishop

A store chain which lets customers pay for electrical goods in weekly instalments was set to open its first branch in Norfolk last night.

But debt counsellors warned its credit deals meant the poorest people could end up paying the most for goods.

Reading-based BrightHouse opens a new store in King's Lynn's Broad Street today, selling electrical goods and furniture.

The firm, which sponsors the Trisha Show on Channel Five, said its pay-weekly deals, some lasting up to three years, meant people on low incomes could buy things they would not otherwise be able to afford.

Interest on purchases is typically 29.9pc APR. With added service cover, customers would end up paying a total of £1,038 for a £526 laptop, £544 for a £245 electric cooker or £622 for a £280 hi-fi system.

Andy Cobb, from Norfolk CAB Debtline, said: "It's very unfortunate if the poorest end up paying the most. We advise people to shop around and get the best deal. If you ask 10 people what interest rate they're paying on their store cards nine of them wouldn't know.

"There are 11 different ways to calculate APR - the only reliable way is to look at the total you're paying."

Steve Wiseman, chief executive of Norwich and West Norfolk CAB, said: "It costs a lot more to be poor. There's always a risk that you can over-extend yourself with what seem on the face of it to be quite small weekly payments.

"We have seen so many casualties where people have made consumer spending decisions and regretted them later."

A spokesman for the company said: "BrightHouse serves more than 116,000 customers a year. We provide our customers with choice and access to products, operating without the normal requirements of large deposits and credit ratings that can make every day domestic products inaccessible to a significant section of UK society.

"Our optional service cover provides customers with full protection against breakdown and enables customers to return products at any time without penalty."

North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham, who will be opening the new Lynn store, said: "Their unique selling point is you can return the product without penalty. If you buy a TV or appliance from any other store and can't afford it, if you take it back you still end up paying.

"They are very keen on corporate and social responsibility and are putting a lot of money into the communities they operate in."

Full story HERE


Here's something to think over...


Does this sound in any way familiar to you?


"...They (BrightHouse) are very keen on corporate and social responsibility and are putting a lot of money into the communities they operate in..." - Henry Bellingham


Yes? Familiar? Thought so! This is where you heard it... From a recent BrightHouse official press release:


"...Just over two years ago, a new Chief Executive, board and top management team was installed at BrightHouse. Since then the team has implemented a number of changes throughout the business. (Amongst these changes) are to act as a responsible corporate citizen, and "put something back" into the community...


How about:


"...Their unique selling point is you can return the product without penalty..." - Henry Bellingham


Heard that before? Yep. It's another "official" line from a BrightHouse press release:


"...The proposition is almost unique as the key for customers is the ability to return goods without penalty..."


Either BrightHouse is writing Henry Bellingham's statements for him, or Henry Bellingham is so well versed with BrightHouse policies (and their official publicity) that he knows them off by heart!

Is it just me who finds that strange?






Cheers
Lefty

[Conniff]

are to act as a responsible corporate citizen, and "put something back" into the community...

So all you posters that thought you had a problem just dreamed it.

[Lefty]

I am trying really hard to "write between the lines" here... you REALLY need to READ between them...

Cheers
Lefty

[Lefty]

From the Office of
Henry Bellingham MP


Tuesday 15th April 2008


Re: BrightHouse

Thank you for the email in connection with the above.

I am grateful to you for contacting me, and also for bringing to my attention these various facts concerning BrightHouse.

When I was asked to open the new store in King's Lynn, I obviously carried out a certain amount of due diligence. I checked out the Board Members, a number of whom have excellent retailing experience and first-class individual reputations, and I also spoke to a number of key directors.

I certainly take on board what you say in your email and memo, but it is the company’s assertion that, although they had a number of complaints in the early days of the predecessor company, they have since changed their business plan and transformed the way the company is run.

Having said that, I will certainly make sure your comments are passed on to their Chief Executive and once I have had a response I will come back to you.

Finally, as far as King's Lynn in concerned, they have taken the lease on an important site in a part of the town centre that is currently undergoing refurbishment. They have appointed an extremely dynamic store manager and they employ a number of my constituents.

Kind regards,


Henry Bellingham M.P.

[Helford]

Hi all,

That's all right then?

Perhaps all you aggrieved Brighthouse customers (Victims?) have beeb dreaming it! Lol

H

[Conniff]

Keep your eye on this thread Lefty and then 'when' the first poster with a problem at Kings Lynn appears, you can copy it and send it back to the illustrious MP.

[terry123b99]

What do you expect, Conservatives keeping the poor.... poor and the rich...rich.