Carl Packman
Carl is a health researcher; he writes book reviews for Left Foot Forward. Carl has written for the Guardian, New Statesman, Tribune Magazine, and The Philosopher's Magazine and blogs regularly at Though Cowards Flinch and Liberal Conspiracy. He is currently writing a book on consumer debt.
Three reasons why we need a cap on the cost of credit
Payday lenders have been called to a summit today to discuss the future of the industry, new regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority, and what should be done to make payday lending less exploitative.
Osborne’s budget gift to payday lenders
We've a gaffe-prone chancellor in George Osborne: before it was the 4x4 in the disabled parking space, then it was the fine for not having a first class ticket. Now he's caught out by The Sun for eating a “posh burger”.
Asking borrowers to pay more is not the answer for credit unions
In the wake of changes announced by chancellor George Osborne last week on the amount at which a credit union can charge in interest for one of its loan products, Joseph Wright of Civitas has written a paper entitled Credit Unions: A Solution to Poor Bank Lending? exploring the industry and its rates.
The payday lending industry punishes people for its own faults
The payday lending industry punishes people for its own faults: they don't carry out the correct credit checks then continue to charge borrowers excessive fees and interest on loans they probably couldn't afford to begin with.
While we wait for action on payday lenders, can Catholic Social Teaching show citizens how to go it alone?
The charity StepChange have recently reported that twice as many people who sought their help with debts in 2012 had payday loans out compared with 2011. Reports like this remind us that change is needed to the way payday lenders are allowed to operate in the UK.
While the world argues about chemical weapons, Syrian civilians are still being slaughtered by the regime
Despite the fact that Carla del Ponte, a former prosecutor for U.N. tribunals investigating war crimes in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, has talked only of "suspicions" regarding the Syrian opposition's possible use of chemical weapons, her comments have gained a lot of attention over the weekend.