To give you a feeling for how this might look in real life, one individual who was seekingdebt advice owed three companies money: the sum of £625 plus £162.50 in interest to QuickQuid; £200 plus £34 in interest to TxtLoan; and £225 plus £63 interest to Speed-e-Loan.

Being perfectly blunt, no-one compelled them to take out those three loans. I’m all for tightening up checking procedures, but sometimes people… well… lie on the application forms. See here:

Katie, of Devizes, Wiltshire, said: “It’s stupid because I’m on benefit and there’s no way I can afford to pay it all back.

“When I first started taking out loans I was in a stable relationship and me and my partner both had jobs, meaning when it came to pay day we could pay back what we owed.

“But now I am on my own and unemployed. Wonga haven’t looked into my change of circumstances though and they’re still allowing me to borrow.”

No, you carried on applying for loans without telling the companies. They’re not mind-readers, and I bet there’s a clause in the agreement which requires to applicant to report changes of circumstances.

Also look carefully at the cards, one of which appears to be from a boyfriends. So much for being single.

Had she used to money to buy essential appliances or one of two gifts for the children (instead of a raft of expensive items), I’d have had more sympathy. Instead what I see is a concerted decision to max-out on loans with several companies (not just Wonga), then plead poverty and ride-off the manufactured outrage against Wonga… hopefully get a benefactor to pay it off.

This person had also within six months defaulted on a loan from Wonga. They wereseeking advice because the next day repayments for two of the loans were due, and they could not repay.

And yet they carried on taking out loans.

~alec