Why I hate the modern world

[wreck rider]

I applied for a tax refund online covering the last four years. Got my cheque for fifty odd quid. Job done.
Today I received an official looking letter with "important tax documents" stamped on the envelope. The letter was designed to mimic an official HMRC document. It was actually from a company offering to process the refund I had already sorted out. Buried in the small print was the fact that they would take 26% fee off any successful claim. This document was designed to look official and deceive people into losing over a quarter of their entitlement. That is our society now.
Semi-legitimate charlatans masquerading as service providers. Microscopic print hiding theft. That is naked capitalism. Indefensible. Dishonest. Yet legitimate.

 

[classic33]

I applied for a tax refund online covering the last four years. Got my cheque for fifty odd quid. Job done.
Today I received an official looking letter with "important tax documents" stamped on the envelope. The letter was designed to mimic an official HMRC document. It was actually from a company offering to process the refund I had already sorted out. Buried in the small print was the fact that they would take 26% fee off any successful claim. This document was designed to look official and deceive people into losing over a quarter of their entitlement. That is our society now.
Semi-legitimate charlatans masquerading as service providers. Microscopic print hiding theft. That is naked capitalism. Indefensible. Dishonest. Yet legitimate.

Nowt new, it's there where anyone offers to help.

 

[alicat]

That is our society now.

I suspect it was ever thus. The method deployed just changes from age to age.

 

[Tanis8472]

More interesting is how they know?
Sounds more like fishing to me

 

[Tin Pot]

Fraud, confidence tricksters, etc.

 

[Moodyman]

Yep - PPI companies, 'injury lawyers' and a whole host of intermediaries who take a slice of your cake.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I applied for a tax refund online covering the last four years. Got my cheque for fifty odd quid. Job done.
Today I received an official looking letter with "important tax documents" stamped on the envelope. The letter was designed to mimic an official HMRC document. It was actually from a company offering to process the refund I had already sorted out. Buried in the small print was the fact that they would take 26% fee off any successful claim. This document was designed to look official and deceive people into losing over a quarter of their entitlement. That is our society now.
Semi-legitimate charlatans masquerading as service providers. Microscopic print hiding theft. That is naked capitalism. Indefensible. Dishonest. Yet legitimate.

It may be dishonest and indefensible, but it isn't capitalism. Not even the naked variety.

 

[srw]

It may be dishonest and indefensible, but it isn't capitalism. Not even the naked variety.

Yes it is. Unless you think that capitalism isn't about making use of entrepreneurial opportunities to make money?

 

[Tin Pot]

Yes it is. Unless you think that capitalism isn't about making use of entrepreneurial opportunities to make money?

Because fraud doesn't happen in socialist societies.

 

[vickster]

I more hate the modern world as some evil man killed 59 people and injured more than 500 others who were just having fun at a concert and for countless other daily reasons even more harrowing

 

[Levo-Lon]

I blame humans

 

[brucers]

'Legit companies' do similar all the time and numerous other tricks. I call it legalized theft.

 

[srw]

Because fraud doesn't happen in socialist societies.

Fraud in socialist societies (whatever they are) is still an example of capitalism in action.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

Fake invoices and trade directory scams for hundreds of pounds are quite common too. Whenever my company does an exhibition somehow the scum know and try their luck.
We registered a couple of trade marks. Within a week invoices appeared for processing fees.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

We live in a narcissistic world.