Should unsolicited financial promotions be allowed?
The announcement that MBNA, one of the U.K.'s major credit card companies, will cease to issue credit card cheques after 31 March has prompted a discussion amongst UK consumers. Each and every day brings new and often unsolicited financial promotions to many in the UK at a time when funds are tight and credit can be difficult to come by. However, should unsolicited financial promotions be allowed?
Even though the level of unsolicited promotions has fallen dramatically over the last two years, partly because UK banks have tightened their loan criteria, there is no doubt this has been a very lucrative area of the market for many financial companies. While many people in the UK can perfectly support their credit cards and other financial instruments there are many for whom the temptation of spending a credit card cheque and applying for a credit card is too much.
In days gone by it was often more difficult to be rejected than approved for a new credit card as the credit card companies around the UK fought tooth and nail for the next customer. However, thankfully the UK government now seems to be attacking the financial sector and the temptations which are often placed in front of inappropriate potential customers. Whether we have seen the last of unsolicited financial mail remains to be seen but we should start to see a reduction in the number of marketing letters in the weeks, months and years ahead.
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