Buổi 62: Reading – T/F/NG + multiple choice (mua trước, trả sau)

Buy now, pay later

(Bài đọc tự viết; nhân vật, công ty, khảo sát và số liệu là giả định.)

When Lena, a 24-year-old graphic designer, needed a new laptop, she did not use a credit card or save up for months. Instead, at the online checkout, she chose to split the cost into four equal payments over six weeks. There was no interest to pay, and approval took less than a minute.

This kind of service, often called “buy now, pay later”, has become increasingly common in online shopping. For customers, the attraction is obvious: they can receive an item immediately while spreading the cost. For shops, the main benefit is that customers tend to spend more when they do not have to pay the full price at once.

The companies that provide these services usually make money in two ways. They charge shops a fee for every sale, and they charge customers a late fee if a payment is missed. Because many of these services carry out only a basic credit check, it is easy for people to sign up for several at the same time.

Critics warn that this convenience can be a trap. A survey by a consumer organisation in one city found that a third of young users had missed at least one payment, and many said they had bought things they did not really need. Financial adviser Karim Hassan argues that the problem is not the service itself but the lack of information. “People see ‘interest-free’ and assume there is no risk,” he says. “They don’t realise how quickly small payments add up.”

Lena herself is more positive. She says she always checks that she will have enough money in her account on each payment date, and she uses the service only for large, planned purchases. However, she admits that some of her friends have used it for clothes and takeaway food, and have struggled to keep track of what they owe.

Several governments are now considering stricter rules, such as requiring full credit checks and clearer warnings at the checkout. Supporters of the industry argue that too much regulation could remove a useful option for people who manage their money responsibly.