The Buy Now Pay Later Problem

"Buy Now, Pay Later Often a Debt Trap."
by Herb Weisbaum, The ConsumerMan

Despite stretched household budgets and concerns about the economy, American shoppers are expected to spend more—and take on more debt—this holiday season. Consumer spending on gifts, food, decorations, and other seasonal items is expected to hit a record of $902 per person, $25 more than last year, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey.

The number of shoppers using buy now, pay later (BNPL) financing continues to grow. Adobe predicts BNPL will hit a record $9.5 billion during the month of November and it forecasts that Cyber Monday 2024 will be BNPL’s largest day ever, at $993 million.

The financial technology companies offering these point-of-sale loans (and they are loans) have a marketing message that appeals to cash-strapped families who don’t have credit or have maxed out their cards. They promote BNPL as “a smarter way” to pay than with credit cards, one that offers “flexibility” and “no surprises.” Approval is instant, and there’s no hard credit check.

When used wisely, these loans can help consumers deal with cash flow problems without turning to more expensive credit, such as payday loans or high-interest credit cards. When they aren’t used wisely, they can turn into high-cost loans with serious consequences.

READ more at: https://www.checkbook.org/boston-area/buy-now-pay-later/