Your comments: Can't Pay, Won't Pay

Thank you for sending us your comments on Panorama: Can't Pay, Won't Pay

The debate is now closed but a selection of your views are published below.

Panorama: Can't Pay, Won't Pay was shown on BBC One at 8.30pm on Monday 10 November 2008.

Read more about Panorama: Can't Pay, Won't Pay

I am incensed and disgusted! I have just watched the couple who have abused credit to allow themselves a certain standard of lifestyle and then avoided payment to the tune of £100,000. Whilst we have people who have credit card debts in genuine need and cannot pay, these people are beyond belief and I cannot comprehend how they can sit in their well appointed apartment bragging about their debt avoidance success.
Matthew Coxon

We, the honest people who only borrow what we can afford, or we save for things we want are paying for these people to have the life of luxury, whilst we struggle to get by.
Margaret

Why should it be the responsibility of the banks (or their shareholders) to take care of people? In this somewhat socialist society that should be the responsibility of the Government - lord knows taxes are high enough. For the couple that borrowed £100,000+ shame on them
Doug Eastman

Am I supposed to feel sorry for these people who have taken out thousands on loans and credit cards who then moan when they are pursued for these debts? And the guy who wouldn't pay £20,000 when he owned £800,000 in property? If you owe money, expect to be pursued!
Guy Taylor

I am absolutely disgusted about the couple showed on this feature, Basil and Amanda Rankine. I don't know how they dare get themselves in such a mess and then avoid paying it back. What a disgrace. I bet they did not offer to give any of their "luxuries" back and note they were sat in what looked like a brand new kitchen! Fair enough creditors do like us to be in debt but how dare they spend so much money and then openly flaunt their "avoidance" by cracking into a bottle of champagne! An absolute disgrace, where is their self respect. Me and my husband have worked very hard and gone without to pay off our debts in the past years to make sure we are financially stable to start a family. It makes a mockery of those hardworking people who actually go without these luxuries to make sure they are not riddled with debt instead of this uncontrollable greed. Shame on the Rankines! What an outrage!
Katy Moore

I think Panorama missed the point and had a perfect missed opportunity to present and highlight how greed manifests itself within society.
David

I am absolutely shocked that these people who have managed to escape payment have been allowed to do so. They are no better than people who take benefits that are not due to them. These people increase the costs for other people who try and do the correct thing. Why should they be allowed to evade payment when they have been happy to receive the goods? They do not seem at all ashamed of their behaviour. I have to say that the show does seem to almost favour this behaviour. We should not endorse this, but highlight what disgusting behaviour it is.
Jane Halls

I have no sympathy for people who get in large amounts of debt by living a life well beyond their means. People who take numerous credit cards and overdrafts should have no complaints if they get a charging order against them. A charging order is a method of enforcement against a person's capital. It makes sense to do this if the person does not have the income to pay the debt. Why should the lender not recover their own money? If you can't afford to pay back the loan, don't take the credit in the first place.
James

It is incomprehensible to me how someone with £28,000 debt can "buy" a £1,700 sofa and then complain about debt collectors. I have bought a sofa for £25 from Furniture Link - which is exactly what the blonde lady in the programme should have done. I can watch Panorama perfectly comfortably from it. And I don't have a single penny of debt.
Gabi

I think its rather 'rich' that the fate meted out to bankers who got themselves into substantial debt even though they should have known better isn't afforded to individuals described in this feature. So taxpayers have bailed out the banks and yet banks refuse to do the same for taxpayers, can't we elect to bail out ourselves too what's wrong with this equation its discriminatory at best and fraudulent at worst.
Theresa Cunningham

I work as a debt collector specialising in debts of wholesalers. From many years experience I can say that the won't pays are much more prevalent than your report indicates. Debtors use all sorts of tactics to evade payment and it is no wonder that creditors end up using what some people would consider harsh methods to enforce. Genuine debtors tend to respond to letters and make an effort but far too many others do not and think that they can sit in their large houses and drive their expensive cars whilst their creditors whistle for their money.
G Brown

I was disgusted by the smug couple who have had so many of their debts written off due to a slight error on their paperwork. Although this may be legal, where is their morality or human decency? They took out the loan agreements (to live lavishly) they should have to pay them back! I was cheered up at the end of the programme though to find out they owe the same now in legal costs, what goes around comes around.
Nicola Morgan

I am shocked to learn that the purchasers of credit card debts are able to gain court permission to have these debts become a second charge on the home mortgage, thereby turning an unsecured loan at high interest into a secured loan. This process could lead to further loss of equity causing the mortgage company to take repossession action. This loophole in the law must not be allowed by the courts.
Don Meny