Amigo Loans complaints, Period Dramas, Cladding Prisoners
The biggest guarantor loan company says it is at risk of going bust because of compensation claims from tens of thousands of customers. We speak to the boss of Amigo Loans.
Amigo Loans has proposed to cap payouts to customers with successful affordability complaints, it says the firm will go bust otherwise. Amigo is the largest firm offering guarantor loans, where a friend, colleague or family member guarantees that you'll pay the loan back. If you fall behind, the guarantor is liable to pay. Last year Amigo Loans received over 25,000 complaints from customers who claim the company didn't do proper affordability checks. The cost of redress is so high that Amigo wants to set up a 'Scheme of Arrangement' - a pot of cash from which customers will receive a share. The company admits payouts will be less than customers are owed, but warns they'll receive nothing if the firm has to enter administration. We'll be speaking to the Chief Executive of Amigo Loans.
We talk about the appeal of period dramas in times of uncertainty. There have been some popular modern takes on TV period dramas recently and there are lots more commissioned for this year. Ebay has reported an increase in searches for period clothing such as corsets, headbands and crystal jewellery. Let us know why you enjoy watching them.
We've been reporting on the situation for thousands of home owners trapped in flats with fire safety issues, many have found it impossible to sell their properties, or have been prevented from renting them. Some of those people are in shared ownership schemes, a form of affordable housing where a housing association owns a share of your home. We discuss whether housing associations should be stepping in to buy these properties back until the necessary safety works are completed.
Presented by Winifred Robinson.
Produced by Beatrice Pickup.