• antimidas@sopuli.xyz
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    10 days ago

    Klarna 'bout to find out their business model doesn’t work as well in the US compared to the Nordic countries and EU, as

    1. People are already up to their neck in debt, putting Klarna to the back of the queue in case there’s a default
    2. Personal bankruptcy is a thing

    Especially the Northern Europe personal bankruptcy is really not a thing, fuck up your finances and you’re never going to see a penny you make (above what you strictly need to live) until everything has been paid back. Debt that is actively being collected also never expires.

    There’s a good reason Klarna’s been able to thrive in this environment – getting debt from banks is quite difficult and you have added security from the draconian collections process.

    In the US a company ignores credit scores at their own peril. The bankruptcy process is one of the few things that works better in the US than in e.g. my home country Finland.

    • huppakee@piefed.social
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      10 days ago

      People are already up to their neck in debt, putting Klarna to the back of the queue in case there’s a default

      People in debt (before there is professional help) end up paying the important things first (such as rent) and then choose to pay off the debt that is most within their reach. Klarna is much more likely to be a low amount compared to their creditors.

      It might be true their loans are more likely to be payed back while also they might have less to loose in case of a personal bankruptcy.

      But that aside, i have no clue on whether Klarna is making a smart move. But i assume they are because companies that are both evil and stupid don’t tend to come far.

      • antimidas@sopuli.xyz
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        10 days ago

        I’ll try to find some and link, but I’m not sure if there are good ones.

        Edit: couldn’t find one with quick googling. Guess I’ll have to write one when I have time.