Black Friday's Tempting 'Buy Now, Pay Later' Offers Raise Debt Charity Alarms
As Britons prepare to indulge in a shopping extravaganza this Black Friday and Cyber Monday, money experts are sounding the alarm over the dangers of "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) deals. With record numbers of people seeking help with shopping debts, charities and regulators warn that consumers should be cautious when tempted by BNPL offers at checkout.
According to debt charities, billions of pounds will be spent online and in shops over the coming weeks, with more than a third of Britons planning to use BNPL to stagger their Black Friday spending. However, experts say shoppers should think carefully before clicking on the buy now, pay later button, as it can lead to financial problems if not managed properly.
Citizens Advice is helping "more people than ever before" with BNPL-related issues, warning that using this form of credit can be a quick solution for bargain-hunting but still comes with risks. The charity advises consumers to take caution, especially those struggling with bills already.
The use of BNPL has skyrocketed in recent years, rising from 14% to 25% of UK adults in just 12 months. While it offers interest-free payments, regulators and consumer bodies have long raised concerns that some people may end up taking out loans they cannot afford to pay back on time, leading to charges and debt.
In the UK, over 3 million customers missed payments last year, with many potentially facing debt collectors. The BNPL industry is set to thrive this festive season, with £6.4 billion expected to be spent on Black Friday purchases – up slightly from last year.
However, experts warn that consumers should not underestimate the risks of BNPL. "It's certainly not risk-free," says Vikki Brownridge at StepChange. Juggling multiple BNPL payments alongside rent, bills, and other debts can quickly become overwhelming, leading to financial strain and debt spiral.
As the Financial Conduct Authority prepares to regulate BNPL on July 15, 2026, charities are urging consumers to take heed of the dangers before it becomes a regulated credit agreement. With this last Black Friday and Christmas as an opportunity to shop without protection from consumer legislation, experts hope that consumers will exercise caution when tempted by the "buy now, pay later" offers.
As Britons prepare to indulge in a shopping extravaganza this Black Friday and Cyber Monday, money experts are sounding the alarm over the dangers of "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) deals. With record numbers of people seeking help with shopping debts, charities and regulators warn that consumers should be cautious when tempted by BNPL offers at checkout.
According to debt charities, billions of pounds will be spent online and in shops over the coming weeks, with more than a third of Britons planning to use BNPL to stagger their Black Friday spending. However, experts say shoppers should think carefully before clicking on the buy now, pay later button, as it can lead to financial problems if not managed properly.
Citizens Advice is helping "more people than ever before" with BNPL-related issues, warning that using this form of credit can be a quick solution for bargain-hunting but still comes with risks. The charity advises consumers to take caution, especially those struggling with bills already.
The use of BNPL has skyrocketed in recent years, rising from 14% to 25% of UK adults in just 12 months. While it offers interest-free payments, regulators and consumer bodies have long raised concerns that some people may end up taking out loans they cannot afford to pay back on time, leading to charges and debt.
In the UK, over 3 million customers missed payments last year, with many potentially facing debt collectors. The BNPL industry is set to thrive this festive season, with £6.4 billion expected to be spent on Black Friday purchases – up slightly from last year.
However, experts warn that consumers should not underestimate the risks of BNPL. "It's certainly not risk-free," says Vikki Brownridge at StepChange. Juggling multiple BNPL payments alongside rent, bills, and other debts can quickly become overwhelming, leading to financial strain and debt spiral.
As the Financial Conduct Authority prepares to regulate BNPL on July 15, 2026, charities are urging consumers to take heed of the dangers before it becomes a regulated credit agreement. With this last Black Friday and Christmas as an opportunity to shop without protection from consumer legislation, experts hope that consumers will exercise caution when tempted by the "buy now, pay later" offers.
its like they think buying stuff now and paying later is gonna solve all their probs lol nope not even close. ive seen friends get stuck with bills they cant afford and its super stressful 
and what really gets me is that some companies r making a killing off these buy now pay later deals 
like the bnpl industry just exploded from 14% to 25% of uk adults in just 12 months wow thats crazy fast 
anyways im all for shopping but we gotta be smart about it people dont wanna end up with nothin but debt and stress over christmas 
.
i mean think about it, billions of pounds are gonna be spent on BNPL this year and what's gonna happen to all that debt? 
especially if u can't afford 2 pay bck 
3 million ppl missed payments last yr 
£6.4 billion expected 2 b spent on black friday purchases 
but experts r saying beware 
juggling multiple bnpl payments can be overwhelming 
so pls do ur research & take caution 
! It's like, you know how tempting those Black Friday deals are, but think about it... you're basically taking out a loan that you might not be able to afford? Like, what if you can't make the payments and end up with debt collectors at your door? 
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. like, sure, interest-free payments sound nice, but what happens when u gotta juggle multiple payments and can't afford them all? it's like debt trap alert 
. and dont even get me started on those people who cant even pay the minimum payment, let alone the full amount... charities r right to warn ppl about this. btw, did u know that 3 mil ppl missed payments last year? crazy 
dont let the temptation of cheap stuff get the best of u 
, you're basically asking to go into debt just so you can save a few quid! I mean, I get it, Black Friday deals are tempting, but seriously, have you seen the stats? Over 3 million people missed payments last year and that's not even counting those who are struggling in silence 
. And don't even get me started on the £6.4 billion that's going to be spent this year - it's like we're all just throwing money at each other 
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. I mean, what's the real cost of saving £20 on a TV if you're going to struggle with bills afterwards? 
It's not just about overspending; it's about getting caught up in these interest-free payments and then facing financial strain when you can't keep up. We should all be like "Black Mirror"-style, careful with our finances, 'cause BNPL might seem harmless at first but it can lead to serious debt issues 
Take a step back, think about whether you really need the stuff before clicking that "buy now" button. And don't even get me started on those interest rates... it's like, hello, you're basically taking out a loan with no financial stability to fall back on 
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its like, yeah sure its cool to have interest free payments but u gotta think about the fine print fam 
and 3 million ppl cant afford their payments last yr is straight up scary 
we gotta be careful out there and make sure w/e we spend our hard earned cash on isnt gonna leave us broke 